Why The Shelf Layout? | River Road - Vlog # 120 

This is one GORGEOUS layout. Wow. World class in every respect. I'm tearing mine down tomorrow.

I have watched every video from the beginning. I can’t begin to describe how much I’ve learned from you. Look forward to many more from the master!

I love when I get a Boomer Diorama notification! Thank you for all the work you put into these.

Very true words Sir !!

BEAUTIFUL! 🌟⭐⭐😂

Greetings from England. Your modelling skills are ace, but also your filming is top notch to. Thank you for your videos, they really do help.

I realy like yiur words: "satisfaction has nothing to do with the size of the layout". I couldn't agree more to this. My layout is also small. You have a wonderful sanctuary there!

Really love it when you run trains.

Boomer…. You’re the best. You have ruined me from watching many many other videos on various model railroad vids. I think it’s the philosophy and depth you go into for why you do things the way you do rather than just saying I use number 34 burnt orange for rust color. Nobody that I’ve watched goes into depth of explaining things and techniques such as multiple layering not just two maybe three. Your love of what you’re doing is so prevalent and obvious it makes it fun for me to watch. Keep it up.

Excellent detail and weathering. Thank you for sharing.

the weathering is amazing

Very cool ending, looks so real and added sound 😊

Everything you said is so true Booms. I’ve built 3 layouts, bit off more than I can chew and never finished any. You can easily become overwhelmed and discouraged. Not only are you a master modeler but your incredible knack for camera angles, shot composition and sound is outstanding !!

Simply spectacular!

Just love the track work especially the weathering. Very nice.

I am into yard and switching operations, since I was a freight conductor. This kind of layout allows you to understand switching operations to serve your customers, make up and break down trains. It is a beautiful layout. Thank you for showing it.

Love your layout. What an inspiration!

I must say, the scene starting at about 8:53, the way it is lighted, your expert modeling and the camera angle is so real it completely fools the eye. It is brilliant. Love it. Rob

You have those photos you took looking down under the bridge along the river. I can really see the likeness in your thumbnail.. you nailed it mate!

There is so much practical wisdom in this video, and it doesn’t apply solely to model railroading. It can apply to most art forms. Thank you for sharing your experience.

"Like a serpent eating it's own tail"... Boomer, your experience and knowledge of the hobby is immeasurable. Thanks for sharing. Cheers!!

Astonishing work, it’s a delight and a privilege to see, the painting, terrain and trees are absolutely spot on... A true master indeed...

Your insight on shelf layouts is great food for thought. Mine is essentially a fat shelf layout of historic logging times. I may never complete it and really don’t care if it actually runs. I love the designing, planning, and creating. Also it is inevitable that it will have to be moved at sometime.

Thank you master ! It’s beautiful…

Love the details of the underpass. Great video

Wow, your videos are really causing me to do some soul searching. You are absolutely right and, though I have heard before that smaller layouts allow you to focus more on detail scenes, this layout is an example of that. Thanks!

For those who do operations, I highly recommend a shelf layout as a newer layout designer. There are still some that could care less for operations and just like to railfan and I would still recommend a shelf around the room layout but sometimes their space doesn't allow for it. Each person's needs and wants are different but I said above, I highly recommend the shelf layout with no more of a depth of 24" in HO scale or 18" in N scale. - Jason

Almost 60 years ago, I was fine with my/my dad's 4X8 train layoutS. then after turning 8-9ish and discovering mud and/or spiders, homework, bikes etc. I didn't have time/interest in model trains. Then came You Tube. WOW! Things have changed! THEN.....A couple years ago, your channel popped up. I've been hooked since. I will NEVER have your patience. I WILL never have your steadiness. I WILL NEVER have your talent! I'm not jealous. Just in awe.

Model Railroading at it's finest, and a fantastic video to compliment it!

You do astonishing, magnificent work and video is an excellent medium for displaying it. I cannot help but think, though, that, if you put all of this into a book, it would be a great supplement to the videos and much more convenient to learn from. I would certainly buy a copy - maybe more. Thanks for sharing these examples of your talent.

mind blowing detail! just awesome

Definitely, your model railroad is a museum of realism in a detailed art and design. Nice 👍

Wonderful commentary! Well done!

I greatly enjoy your psychological insights into model railroading. Inspiring and confirming my attitude about our chosen hobby. Great looking layout you have!

For a long time, I thought I had to have a continuous layout. Then I got a small taste of switching and I have a shelf layout that I never imagined I could ever have in my space.

Great perspective on a shelf layout

Large layouts are all well and good and have their own place and following. My view has always been that when you stand looking at the real railway you can normally only see a very restricted distance or view (not 20 miles in each direction with mountains and valleys). When you build a smaller layout and being in the UK it's pretty much the norm, you create something that is more personal and more intimate to your own particular way of modelling. In your own words it becomes more immersive and you're drawn into it on so many levels. I'd rather have 20 fully detailed and weathered freight cars and 4 locos than hundreds of cars that are squeaky clean. Anyway keep up the good work and thank you for everything you have done. Andy

This Vlog is excellent, and so true! Almost all the railfanning I watch on RU-vid consists of shortline switching, and like the shelf layout it's just fascinating. There is so much that can be packed into a small space, and yet it never seems to become overwhelming, unlike a large layout. I would never go back to a large circular format.

Excellent 👍

Perfect idea for a little bit of enjoyment down the road. I model in N Scale, You discover that an oval track is not going to satisfy your needs. You can get really bored fast, however a shelf layout gives you more to discover ,new talents ,and more perspective on how to create something new. Thanks for sharing Boomer .Really appreciated the time You spent walking me through some great details and how to address problem areas on my layout. Thank You, Sir. Bruce in Minnesota

Beautiful track work and weathering. The detail is amazing

There also excellent for space. I've entered the hobby after taking VIA Rail almost everyday for the last 3yrs, now because of covid i've been mostly working at home. So naturally I went out and purchased an HO scale of the corridor and budd cars I use to ride. I then realized that I need a 22 radius track to run my trains. A 6x8 table whould be too big for my space...so a shelf layout is the only layout that whould work for me.

Shelf layout you can go for all the details, little tricks to make it perfect and for a fraction of the costs and space while you have more fun.

Your fantastic camera work and editing really brings the viewer in close with your layout and great detail work on both rolling stock, structures and background.

Absolutely awesome vlog! My shelf style switching layout is all I need. Like 2.5 feet wide L shaped with 10.5 feet on each leg, keeps me busy classifying cars in the yard! it's awesome indeed, and you don't get modeler's burn out!👍👍

Took a break from my project car to get back into the hobby.. ive done loops and shelves in ho and n scale.. and yes shelves are the way to go. Everything you mentioned was spot on

When I started my third layout a couple of years ago I had been studying the Inglenook Sidings Puzzle for about a year. This included writing computer programs to find solutions to the puzzle in a reasonable time on a PC. (Even with my background in mathematics this was not a trivial effort.) The idea of the new layout was for it to be portable and used as a platform to share the fun of the puzzle at train shows. For this reason it was built on a 6 x 1 foot shelf. However, there were deeper reasons for the small size. First, my age and health meant my endurance had taken a nose dive, so I didn't want to bite off more than I could chew. Second, my main interest had always been either electric traction or diesel switching operations. Third, I had never finished my first two layouts, even though I had gotten close. (And I had recently read a book on John Allen's layout and found out that although it was innovative, beautiful, and provided great fun for many people over a long period, but John had died before he had completed the last bridge on the main line.) The small layout allowed me to actually "finish" it, complete with track details, structures, and groundcover. Even with its small size there are different opportunities to photograph different scenes to share on social media, and people who have viewed my pictures before seeing the layout all say, "I didn't realize it was so small!" So even a very small layout can be satisfying if your expectations are reasonable. Sorry to go on so, but you know how baby boomers can be!

You make a number of excellent points. I am currently muddling through building a shelf layout and I'm getting a lot of fun and learning in. I use the term "muddling" because it is a learning process. I watch your videos and others and might decide to try a different technique in some area or project. I also don't feel driven to "get it done" - I enjoy the planning and creating. I am no longer young, but having a modest size railroad means that I should still be able to have a running layout in my life. Another positive - large layouts mean large maintenance issues. I already have enough things that I need to go back and do better, I don't need to invite even more gremlins to visit. Thanks for your comments. Your modeling skills keep pushing me to improve my own!

I once had a grand plan on having a basement empire but realized that a shelf layout will be a great option. It is nice to be able to enjoy the process of modeling and not trying to rush to get it finished with basic scenery.

Nice job adding train sound!

I'm building mine large. 2 tables on the outside 4x45 ft and 2 inner tables 8x35 ft. Connected in the shape of a W. At one end is a large port and an 8 track working hump classification further down. A large industrial park. Table 2 is a mountain pass that sortof resembles the cascades table 3 is drier rural area with a canyon connecting 3 to 4. Table 4 is a small town and transfer yard with another good size industrial park. Overall almost 40 manufacturing outfits, large and small. Lumber, oil, coal, steel mill, produce farming, grain elevator, and lots of misc manufacturing.. the idea is to incorporate a full working economy. My friends and I used to play monopoly on my old train layout as a kid. This time i'm building it bigger (968 square feet) and more realistic! Since we have a port and mainline that goes inland, we can add products, change supply and demand all the time to keep things interesting. 10 changes are randomly made every week directly effecting production, and supply / demand. Kinda like our own monopoly game, but with trains!!!

Thanks again. I have been with you while you were working on the other layout and I still learn and enjoy. Sharing skills is a large part of the hobby for me. Enjoy !!

Absolutely beautiful layout. The track work is awesome and the turnouts and sound effects are sweet. Great video, too. I agree completely with your modeling philosophy. Thank you for a beautiful video.

Everything you just said man. Right on spot. As a 36yo architect and illustrator I've always been chasing that "rabbit hole" you talk about. And I've been into modelism for a bit too long. This year I start buying gear to start my layout, and I was about to make a "traditional go around on" until I saw this :) When you said "Shelf layouts are perfect for the Lone Wolf". Thanks allot man, and cheers from México City.

Came across your video browsing for inspiration. Last layout I started was a few years ago before I moved halfway across the country. Got the bug to do it again. Went for prototypical ops but also just being able to watch trains run. 222 feet of track in N-scale, double main line is really only 40 feet or so straight through. Including a scene I love. The south end of the UP Hollywood yard in Shreveport, LA goes to a wye. In the center of that wye is a neighbor hood of about 6 houses. Not modeling a specific part of the UP, just industries I want to include and features I want on the layout. Your layout is absolutely beautiful though, I hope I can do half as good a job on mine over the coming years.

I've combined shelf layout construction with The One Module Approach. It allows me to expand as time goes on.

I like to have some travel time between the various sidings/yards on my layout. So I have a loop layout But the loop is single track. With 3 industries I can do shunting with, one of which is a small loco depot. So I'm quite happy with it in that sense. Cheers Boomer!

I enjoy switching and shelf layouts the most, but I also like seeing long trains snaking through curves. That's why I joined a club for the long trains and will build shelf modules for switching. The best of both worlds.

Agreed,we need Operation Potential.Industries,Mines,Ports.Destinations.A long round and round is ok too,but yes it can be boring without operation.

Some of us don’t have a choice but to build one. Personally, as long as I can get a decent running session in I’m happy

Layout design is very important, a lot of layouts are only track plans with stuff added afterwards, you need the concept area, at the very least, before you go near the track plan because that's the way the real things evolved. And that's why I like this layout so much.

First time I've seen any of your videos. The sounds are very realistic: the car creaking and knocking against other and the prime mover in the locomotive sounds way better than the locomotives I have (I won't mention the manufacturer out of respect!) Is the locomotive using "Rolling Thunder" because it sounds like the real thing, big and throaty.

You make some great points , I could stair at the 6 foot of layout for hours . The details are endless , its really what you want it to be. I'm an N Scaler and thinking about doing a small HO shelf layout , point to point do to room. Thanks for inspiring me and others thinking about this.

Well said and I agree. I am now downsizing and changing it to fit that I really want. I love the shelf idea.

The first pieces of my “dream” monster layout started coming down last weekend. I learned a lot, but it’s finally time to move on to my proto48 adventure. Thank you for your inspiration

John Allen was a great model railroader had the same concept. Although he modeled large layouts they were filled with deseption to fool the eyes with mirrors holding tracks and colors. Great work.👍👍

My wife said, "If it's a model and it looks real, then it's Boomer's." I really do agree with everything you have said. Big changes coming for me and my modeling. Not sure when I will be able to announce it, but it will be a shelf layout patterned after your comments and work. Thanks for keeping me inspired!! Cheers - Larry.

Well said with beautiful photography as usual. The other subscriber who mentioned that your shot was as real as the real thing was right on. I resisted the shelf layout for a while but have to admit that it is the way to go for me too. Still considering putting a helix,at at least one end, to have a fiddle yard, where your bench is, but we shall see. Need storage space as I have way too much rolling stock

Hi Boomer, I agree 100% with all your comments. Shelf layouts can be as fulfilling, and maybe more, than a larger layout as it allows you to really focus on the details. With a smaller layout it allows you to keep your momentum up and complete tasks as the finish line is not out of reach. You have a fantastic track plan with plenty of operations to keep you busy. I had an ops session the other day with some friends and "just" switching six cars in and out at four industries plus a little yard switching took over 2 hours. You can easily have a 1 to 2 hour ops session with your track plan. Fantastic job on editing in the prototype sound with the model railroad action. Your work and modeling is always inspiring. Thanks for posting and promoting the small layout.-Tom

Glad your took a break. Was happy to see you again.

Another reflection on our reality Boom! I related to your observations about becoming “stalled”. Mark

at 8:00 I'm surprised you don't have an engineer in the cab Don't take that as criticism, anyone would have to work really hard to find things to suggest on this road. I am leaning heavily on your videos for inspiration in my own 8 ft x 32 inch world. you are the reason I decided highly detailed, heavily researched scene modules are my path forward, rather than a "super-layout"

Listening, looking watching your train run smoothly at x.xxx mph without stalling, beautiful. Also, as for me, I’ve found more joy building my layout than operating it. 09/04/2022

I agree with you 100%. It all comes down to details. I will stop working on mine to get more ideas about a certain scene. I focus on small areas at one time and put all the effort into that once I’ve taken a break

Railroad to infinity is how it goes, as your hobby is what keeps you sane, happy and creative. What I live is operation senarios, wish I had a 500 foot x 20 foot wide scenery layout to muck up and add to from time to. Cities change all the time never stay constant. Buildings go up and come down, same way with neighborhoods and fam land, roads and highway, bridges and infrastuctural pieces. There are no master in this hobby or any hobby to that matter, it is a continual learning process hand over hand, Teacher/student and Student/teacher it is all the same no matter where you are in your life. Happy modeling!

Hear ya 👍 One section at a time.

Fantastic layout! Bigger is not always better.

Awesome video Boomer. Great food for thought on modelling / planning and brilliant railfanning ops on the layout.

I agree completely. Over the years, I've begun and never completed layouts in 3 different houses I've lived in. The only thing I ever "finished" was a module or two for the club I was in back in Milwaukee. Now that I'm doing a shelf layout (16' x 24") I can see how I can use all these disparate skills I've picked up over the years, and sometimes use many of them in the same session. I did the benchwork first, and then the backdrop, before anything else, a lesson from experience. Now, since I'm doing a prototype, I've done extensive research and know what I need and I am building all my structures first at the workbench before the track work is even in, setting up the postage stamp scenes. Then I'll be able to "model" the track work as I build and complete these small scenes. I'm having more fun now at 61 than I ever did on the 3 layouts I built, one each in my 30s, 40s, and 50s. Thanks for the vids! - Paul

Mad Skills. Boomer. Have you ever checked out Lex Parker’s channel. He is not making videos anymore but you would appreciate the detail he put into his railroad and scenery. I learned everything from him. His waterfalls are absolutely incredible.

Beautiful layout, great scenery and details. One thing missing (in my mind) is an engineer in the cab. When you run it at realistic speeds and with realistic sounds the empty cab stands out. I am also building a shelf layout and with about the same length of run. Great fun. As a retired M&B employee it is nice to see that load of wrapped lumber on the bulkhead flat.

Awesome Video 🤘🏻

better than real!

Very well said Master Boomer!! 💯👍🍻

Great prototype sound effects. Fabulous artwork in this build.

I think I’ve found the perfect place for a shelf layout, the first three rooms of my basement are filled with my layout but I could run a spur into room four and fit a nice 12’ shelf layout there 😊

I like what you said but I guess to each there own as well. I have a shelf type layout but with continuous running through hidden staging I feel I have the best both worlds. I really enjoy having computer controlled automation but still being able to operate manually my yard. If I have to ever down size I would just build a simple shelf design.

Quality vs quantity. Its clear which one you're 'chasing'! Cheers.

We all arrive at a similar conclusion after so many failed attempts at modelling our dream layout, More from the frustration and lack of knowledge of results which continuously sabotage our plan. Not that that's a bad thing, it helps us grow as modelers and refine our wishes and desires to ultimately come to the conclusion as you have pointed out. I always say, take the proverbial 4x8 sheet and rip it into 4 - 1x8 shelves, you still have 32 square feet of modelling available, but the results and outcomes will be farther than you could have imagined. The shelf layout offers so much more then just switching, but unfortunately, you have to arrive there by trial and error once you have realised that the pathway to it is littered with ideology which as modeler we have to sift through.. (read more track. turnouts, space, just more of everything) There is no easy road, except Glover/River road as an example. 😀 Great filming and scene composition by the way. Cheers.

Well said.. seems everyone has to do bigger and bigger all for minute 45 seconds of a train running and you miss it all.. 100 cars.. loads and etc.. everyone looking to one up. By far your shelf layout and immersive setup is far better than the 30k dollar layout for YT clout and clicks.

Another very inspiring shelf layout "Master" is Tom Johnson. I first found his work some years ago on ModelRailroadHobbyist, and he even posts in one of the Facebook Groups. He's a retired art teacher. And like yourself, he creates some of the most realistic scenes I've ever seen.

Boomer thank you for your insight and views about what model railroading is really about. You are absolutely correct and you have created the essence of a much larger scene all boiled down to highly detailed segments of reality. Would you please consider putting your thoughts into words for the NMRA British Region magazine Roundhouse of which I am the editor here in England and sharing your model making with Canadian modellers in the United Kingdom?

Good points

Boomer notifications are one of the few that don't irritate me

Nice modelling. I’ve had a shelf layout for 15 years and it’s still not finished. Like you said “every aspect “.👍🤠

What can I say you have nailed it on the head and it’s the very reason I have a shelf layout. My Facebook group on shelf layouts has grown to over 13,000 members in 18 months. My layout will be featured in the UK NMRA magazine in January including the cover page. Thanks for all your inspiration

You always give us a road map whether it is doing building, paint, trees and the pros of doing a shelf layout. Like I have commented before my train layout fills a 26 X 16 area. Because my friends on train night like to operate I have 3FT. aisles. The plan is a shelf layout double sided they are about 18" deep so easy to do track , scenery, and switching. Yes I model in N Scale have since the 80's. What I do is scenic 3 FT. at a time get 90% done and move on to the next 3 FT. section ( how do you eat an elephant? , 3FT at a time.) I did provide for continuous running but not on OP night. When it is just me I work my steel mill or coal mine, steel mill is 2x4 and the coal mine is 18" x 4 FT. A question: I don't remember seeing figures on yours? Thoughts on that subject.

Your sure can make a point and a good one it is !

Loving your channel. Great modelling and tips. Just wondering if you have finished the log truck? I am into the 1/25 scale truck building as well as the rail modelling and was enjoying your build

At the end of video, I would think the train and scenery was real if nobody told me it was a model.