The Big Book of Model Railroad Track Plans

Rating:
Summary: Very good
Review: An excellent book about designing a small to medium layout. Many track planning books assume that we all have huge basements and rarely focus on smaller spaces, like a spare bedroom.
At first glance, a number of the plans seem similar. When you study them closer it becomes clear how a plan can be transformed by adding an around-the-wall shelf or changing a part of it. I think this sort of evolutionary designing gives a lot more insight into the design process.
The shelf layouts are nice and show how you can build a layout in a very compact space. They look more like British designs, which usually have a visible station and some staging sidings.
The room-size layouts pack a lot into a modest room. By adding a second deck the operations are substantially increased albeit at the cost of more complex construction. There is a relation between the space and the amount of model railroad that we want to fit in. If you want to squeeze in more mainline run in a small space, sooner or later you have to consider multidecking. It's up to the reader to decide if the extra effort is worth the trouble.
This brings me to the observation that most plans in this book feature point-to-point type operation. The emphasis is on smaller lines like shortlines, logging railroads or secondary lines of larger railroads. A logical choice as this sort of railroad is far better suited for a small room than trying to model the Union Pacfic mainline in HO in a 9x9 room. If this isn't your cup of tea then this book is probably not for you.


Rating:
Summary: Disapointed
Review: Very disapointing to say the least. THE BIG BOOK OF MODEL RAILROAD TRACK PLANS boasts "99 complete plans", I beg to differ. I accept the fact that many people do not have the room for large class-1 type railroad layouts, but many of the "shelf" plans are little more than a place to display your scenery talents and some rolling stock, nothing that could accurately be described as operational.

Moving on to the larger layout plans, it doesn't get any better. They all seem to be based on just a few basic designs with only minor changes like an additional siding or where the railroad is based in the world. You're left with the feeling of "if you've seen one, you've seen them all." Another point to consider is, not everyone wants to build a multi-level or spiral layout to gain operational ability. I also don't think that most people want a design that requires a turntable or wye at each end. If they do, then there's plenty to be happy about. Most of the plans seem suited to small steam powered logging railroads or for someone with a huge imagination to fill in the blanks.

It isn't my desire to bash anybody, but at least in my case, it didn't even offer a fresh idea. Mr. Schleicher's book, "Building your next model railroad" offers many good tips and ideas on the actual building of a layout, but this book is a real let down. My advice is to look elsewhere.