Layout photos can be a great resource when you are trying to make your Model Railroad as realistic as possible, or just give you some ideas and inspiration for your own layout.
If you are interested in submitting photos of your own Model Railroad to showcase here, visit our Contribute Content page for details. We’d love to see your pictures.
Below you will find a collection of photos from both my past and present N Scale Model Railroad layouts. Many of the shots show a work in progress, mockups can be seen throughout, and there are various stages of completion. These methods allow a Model Railroader to assess a scene. Often times new ideas or placement come to light.
Composition and perspective are also an important part of the planning process, as well as the use of leading lines, either straight or curved, to guide your eyes through a scene. Background elements are purposely sized smaller to reinforce depth of field. These and many other techniques we will be sharing in detail with you as we continue the build-out process of our page. Click on images to view full size.
THIS VIEW ON MY N SCALE LAYOUT SHOWS THE NORTH END. THIS IS A SMALL INDUSTRIAL AREA AND ALSO THE YARD LADDER TRACKS AND LEADAN OVERVIEW OF THE YARD ON MY N SCALE LAYOUT. ALSO VISIBLE IS THE CONTROL PANEL FOR DC OPERATIONAN OVERVIEW OF MY N SCALE LAYOUT SHOWING THE SOUTH END TRESTLE, AGGREGATE PLANT, AND GENERAL MILLS FACTORYAN OVERHEAD VIEW OF MAIN STREET, SHOWING THE CUSTOM ROAD MARKINGS ON MY N SCALE LAYOUTTHIS VIEW SHOWS PART OF THE MAIN YARD WITH THE TEAM TRACK AREA. THE BACKGORUND FLATS OBSURE THE STAGING TRACKS BEYONDHERE WE SEE THE GENERAL MILLS FACTORY ON MY N SCALE LAYOUT AFTER WEATHERING TECHNIQUESTHE FRONT ENTRANCE TO AMERICOLD, A REFRIGERATED SHIPPING COMPANY. ALSO VISIBLE IS A SCRATH BUILT CROSSING CANTILEVERA LUMBER OFFLOADING FACILITY ON MY N SCALE MODEL RAILROADTHE SOUTH END OF THE YARD TRACKS WITH THE GENARAL MILLS FACTORY IN THE BACKGROUNDTHE INDUSTRIAL SPUR TO GENERAL MILLS CROSSES OVER RAILROAD AVENUERAILROAD AVENUE LOOKING SOUTH ON MY N SCALE LAOUT. THE SPUR TO THE AS YET UNBUILT GENERAL MILLS FACTORY IS IN THE DISTANCELOW RELIEF BACKGORUND FLATS ARE USED TO BLOCK THE VIEW OF THE STAGING TRACKSA VIEW OF A SMALL JUNIK PILE SCENE ON MY N SCALE LAYOUTTHE SIGNAL HEADS AND RAILROAD CROSSING CANTILEVERS I SCRATCH BUILT FOR MY N SCALE LAYOUTTHIS PICTURE ON MY N SCALEY LAYOUT SHOWS THE GENERAL MIILLS FACTORY PRIOR TO THE WEATHERIN PROCESS BEING APPLIEDA GP7 AND RS11 CROSS THE CURVED DECK GIRDER BRIDGE ON MY N SCALE LAYOUT. TREES ARE ALL HANDMADE.A CLOSEUP VIEW OF SOME TALL GRASSES AND SHRUBS ON MY N SCALE LAYOUT SHOWING A VARIETY OF MATRIALSA SCRATCH BUILT CURVED TRESTLE ON MY N SCALE LAYOUT WITH POURED EPOXY WATER EFFECT A CLOSEUP SHOT OF SOME OF MY SCENERY DEPICTING THE CALIFORNIA FOOTHILLS SHOWING MY HANDMADE BLUE OAKA TRAIN COMING OUT OF THE DOUBLE TRACK TUNNEL PORTAL ON MY N SCALE LAYOUTAN AGGREGATE TRUCK TO RAIL FACILITY ON MY N SCALE MODEL RAILROAD
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Absolutely fantastic! The pictures make me a bit sad. My Dad and I collected and built an amazing train display in the basement of the house where I was raised. We had an very old Lionel diesel and cars and a not so old steam engine on one level. The diesel have 4 cars with tongues that connect to what my Dad called Trollies. We had a huge higher platform with tracks running through a city, suburbs and forest. it was HO scale. Back in the day, I collect lots of different engines with gum band drive on the back wheels and then appropriate cars to go with them. Unfortunately, the set was given away when our family home was downsized without my knowing it. I have never had the space to rebuild. Your article has made me rethink that.
That is a wonderful memory you shared Anastazja, thank you for leaving a comment. I truly hope you consider getting back into the hobby of Model Railroading. We have a lot of great articles coming up that I’m sure you will find helpful. Model Railroading is an amazing hobby and a great way to build lasting memories like you shared. Thank you again for visiting Model Railway Techniques.
Thank you for your passion and attention to detail are evident in each photo, and it’s inspiring to see the level of creativity and craftsmanship that goes into building these miniature worlds.
As someone who’s not particularly familiar with the model railway hobby, I found the article to be a fascinating introduction to the hobby. Your explanations of the different techniques used, such as ballasting and weathering, provided helpful insights into the process of building a model railway layout.
how long it typically takes to complete a layout of this scale and complexity?
Thank you, Maxon, I appreciate your comments. It really is different for everyone. The layout in the pictures with mountain scenery took about 3 years to get to that point. The other layout is a work in progress, and I have about 3 years into that one also. On average, I spend about 20 hours a week if I’m continually working on them. There are times when I just do a little here and there, or just run the trains themselves.
Absolutely fantastic! The pictures make me a bit sad. My Dad and I collected and built an amazing train display in the basement of the house where I was raised. We had an very old Lionel diesel and cars and a not so old steam engine on one level. The diesel have 4 cars with tongues that connect to what my Dad called Trollies. We had a huge higher platform with tracks running through a city, suburbs and forest. it was HO scale. Back in the day, I collect lots of different engines with gum band drive on the back wheels and then appropriate cars to go with them. Unfortunately, the set was given away when our family home was downsized without my knowing it. I have never had the space to rebuild. Your article has made me rethink that.
That is a wonderful memory you shared Anastazja, thank you for leaving a comment. I truly hope you consider getting back into the hobby of Model Railroading. We have a lot of great articles coming up that I’m sure you will find helpful. Model Railroading is an amazing hobby and a great way to build lasting memories like you shared. Thank you again for visiting Model Railway Techniques.
James.
Amazing! You are so talented! Thank you for sharing some of your work!
Thanks! Come back and vist us again, we have more great articles on the way.
James.
Thank you for your passion and attention to detail are evident in each photo, and it’s inspiring to see the level of creativity and craftsmanship that goes into building these miniature worlds.
As someone who’s not particularly familiar with the model railway hobby, I found the article to be a fascinating introduction to the hobby. Your explanations of the different techniques used, such as ballasting and weathering, provided helpful insights into the process of building a model railway layout.
how long it typically takes to complete a layout of this scale and complexity?
Thank you, Maxon, I appreciate your comments. It really is different for everyone. The layout in the pictures with mountain scenery took about 3 years to get to that point. The other layout is a work in progress, and I have about 3 years into that one also. On average, I spend about 20 hours a week if I’m continually working on them. There are times when I just do a little here and there, or just run the trains themselves.
James.