Track Planning for Realistic Operation: Prototype Railroad Concepts for Your Model Railroad (Model Railroader)(3rd Edition) (Paperback)

by John H. Armstrong (Author) "All railroad operations rest on transporting freight and passengers in trains of individual cars..." (more)
Key Phrases: special trackwork, stub terminals, flat switching, United States, New York City, Union Pacific (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Provides step-by-step design techniques and track planning tips to save model railroaders time, money, and headaches. This must-have book also covers aspects of prototype freight and passenger operations, route design, and contemporary railroading.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Kalmbach Publishing Company; 3 edition (August 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0890242275
• ISBN-13: 978-0890242278
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #18,969 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #1 in	Books > Home & Garden > Crafts & Hobbies > Model Trains
  #4 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Engineering > Civil > Transportation & Highway
  #4 in	Books > Nonfiction > Automotive > Accessories

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-have for layout builders, January 7, 2002

By	Peter M. Brown (Gambrills, MD United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you want to build a decent layout, are just curious as to how real trains operate on real tracks, or want to know why tracks are setup the way they are, this is the book for you.

This book was recommended to me as an essential read by a friend, and he was absolutely right.

The first part of the book focuses on real trains, yards, switching, sidings, passing, mainlines etc. The second part of the book applies that information to the world of model railroading.

The worst part about this book is it will make you want an even larger space for your railroad so you can incorporate all the stuff you read about :-)

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive guide to railroad operations for model RRers., December 22, 1998

By A Customer

John Armstrong is the leading expert in railroad operations as it relates to model railroding (although well known in model railroading, he also has written books used for training by the real railroads). This book explains actual railroad operations in great detail, making extensive use of illustrations and photos, concentrating on operations typical in the 1920-1970 timeframe. John then shows you how real railroad track design and operation applies to the design and operation of model railroads, with 18 different model layout track plans as examples. This is a must own book for modelers interested in operating.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-have for model railroad design, August 26, 1998

By A Customer

John Armstrong (a professional layout designer)gives all the info you need to design your layout. The first half of the book looks at actual railroad operations; the second half tells you how to translate these operations into a layout. A sample layout is designed step-by-step to show his approach to layout design.