Current Layout by Bill Lane

Layout Name:

"Lane's Trains"

Official Web Site:

Visit

Layout Status:

active

Track Type:

Layout Space:

12'4" x 29'8"

Layout Style:

Oval/Rectilinear

Track Manufacturer:

S-Helper Service, turnouts by John Wickham

Rail Size:

code 138, 100 (branch)

Ruling Grade:

YouTube Channel:

visit

Notes:

The layout is basically very similar to a typical S-scale modular layout set up at a train show, in that you walk around the layout on the outside. It is set up in the center of the room, with the interior of the layout hidden via backdrops (to hide the structural poles used in the house. While the layout supports switching on both sides of the long edges, Bill's preference is to run long trains, which he can definitely do. Be sure to check out his YouTube channel where he features a lot of long S-scale trains doing run-by's.

Videos:

November 19, 2022 by Don Thompson

April 18, 2021 by Don Thompson

Called the "PRR Alphabet", this "photo-stacked" photo shows Bill's various PRR steam locomotives, from left to right: A5 (0-4-0, "Switcher"), B6 (0-6-0, "Shifter"), I1 (2-10-0, "decapod"), J1 (2-10-4, Texas"), K4 (4-6-2, "Pacific"), M1a (4-8-2, "Mountain").

Another stacked photo showing the front of the Reading coal drag all the way to the back perfectly in focus.

A long, American Models-based, Amtrak train snakes its way through Bill's layout. The A-A consist pulls a head-end car and 9 passenger cars.

The PRSL lives on on Bill's layout.

This photo was taken during a 2012 visit to Bill's layout. It shows how Bill did his layout's facia. This portion of the layout has scenery below the main line's track, which yields a very dramatic effect. The entire facia is composed of the track plan, for easy control of the various turnouts.

This scene is set on the back porch of an Overland Models EMD SD40-2, decorated for Conrail #6469, where the crew is taking a break grilling some ribs and hamburgers.

Bill calls this photo his "Sea of EMD".

This is one impressively-long unit tank train, with cars were produced by Downs Model Railroad Co.

The converted-to-scale Lionel Norfolk & Western Y3, pulling a train of the new ScaleTrains hoppers, runs around the freight bypass while the two "Red Bird" GP9 locomotives are in the station. Bill enjoys switching time periods as the mood strikes, so this photo shows a (temporary) transition-era scene. He is currently exploring modeling the more modernday period in S, and so he stated that after this photo, he will put his modern equipment back on the layout.

Bill Lane recently completed his yellow "Year of the Cat" SD40-2. He stated that he must have spent about a hundred hours into getting the model as shown in the photo. These are very early brass models that usually didn't run well (remember, brass models were initially intended primarily for display purposes), had cold-solder joints, arrived unpainted, and these particular engines were gauged to the old NMRA wheel standard of the time. The second engine in this lash-up was Bill's first SD40-2 that he completed in 1990. You can see a video of this consist pulling a very long mixed-freight train in his YouTube video.

Over 32 feet of locomotives! These were all operated and moved into their position. The 5-amp NCE power region handled it just fine.

The passenger train, led by a pair of Overland Models E6 A-units, leaves the station. The engines are brass models that were imported in 1984. Bill bought these second-hand. These were professionally painted and lettered for the B&O by the late Charlie Carangie. The head-end consists of an Overland Models M53 wagon-top box car and a River Raisin Models ex-troop sleeper car. The passengers cars are all by American Models. An interesting thing to note in this photo is that a model of the famous painter, Bob Ross, can be seen center right, painting the face of one of Bill's Dachshunds. The 3D-printed model is available from CatzPaw Innovations, but Bill commissioned co-owner, Sherri Johnson, to paint the model as you see it in the photo, including the portrait. Models of Dachshunds are also available from that company.

Frank Titman built two of these Central Railroad of New Jersey 4-6-2 Pacific locomotives. Bill Lane had one of them. At the 2024 NASG Convention, a handful of modelers showcased models they owned that were scratch-built by Frank. The other CNJ Pacific also made an appearance, and Bill was able to negotiate a price with the owner to finally own both of these models. The consist is shown running on Bill's home layout. The train the engines are pulling consists of Trainstuff passenger car kits, also built by Frank.

Bill completed repainting and detailing an American Models GP35 (plastic) for the Norfolk & Southern. This model had been converted to the high-hood version by its previous owner. He then had a collection of five reworked and detailed "high hoods" to pose for this photo. The other models are a Greenbrier Railroad Models GP30 (brass), two Overland Models GP38-2 (brass), and an Overland Models SD40-2 (brass).

Bill was able to fully ballast his mainline tracks.

Just for fun, Bill set up about 30 feet worth of engines on his layout so he could take this photo. There were a few more than that could fit in a single photo. All of these engines were in one 5-amp DCC district. While he stated that the DCC system managed to handle it, starting the system up with these engines all in the block did not work. This is likely due to the in-rush current that the decoders (especially if they have sound) and any "keep alive" circuits require when they are first turned on; they draw more current than what they need after everything has stabilized. It does show, however, that modern S-scale locomotives can be very efficient with regard to current draw.