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Background -- Byron Henderson
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Helping clients achieve their Layout Vision

I have created dozens of custom model railroad track plans for clients since beginning formal layout design consulting in 2004, as well as helping to develop operating plans for layouts large and small.
 
My first custom layout design and operations project was a layout for the 1950s-era Santa Maria Valley Ry. for a modeling friend in 1995. An updated version of that design has been published in the 2004 issue of Model Railroad Planning and can be seen here. From 1996 until 2001 I was editor of the Layout Design News and Layout Design Journal publications of the Layout Design Special Interest Group.

In 1997 I moved to the San Jose, CA area and had the good fortune to meet Rick Fortin and become part of the crew on his fabulous ATSF Fourth District layout. Rick graciously allowed me to develop an operations plan for the layout. Sessions have grown over the years and now include dozens of trains, 18 to 20 operators, and over 5 hours of activity.

Many of my custom track plans been published in the model railroad press (see listing at right) and some example designs are also found in my Layout Design Gallery. Client comments can be seen on the Results page of this site. I'm also available for editing and authoring for publishers, SIGs and Historical Societies, etc.

My own modeling interests are focused on the Bay Area railroads, including the Southern Pacific, Western Pacific, and Santa Fe. I'm building an N scale layout featuring rail-marine freight terminal operations in the 1950s. The first tiny test section of this layout is described in the Layout Design SIG's Layout Design Journal #29 and here. I am a member of the NMRA, Layout Design SIG, Operations SIG, and the SP, ATSF, and WP historical societies.
 
track_laying.jpg
Laying temporary flextrack at Rick Fortin's layout. Photo by Rick, goofy look by yours truly.
Partial list of articles and clinics
 
"Dallas on a Door"
(Compact M-K-T N scale switching layout)
"Parr Terminal"
(Portable N scale layout based on Bay Area terminal RR)
Model Railroad Planning 2010
 
"Black Diamonds and Beer"
(Modern-era PA shortline in N scale)
Model-Railroad-Hobbyist Jan/Feb '10 -- Issue #5
Download this issue free at the above link
 
"Slim Rails in Stages"
(S.P. Keeler Branch [CA] in HOn3)
Model-Railroad-Hobbyist Oct. '09 -- Issue #4
Download this issue free at the above link
 
"Alcos in the Alcove"
(MILW-inspired switching layout in HO)
Download this issue free at the above link

"Track Warrant Control and Other Operating Forms"
OpSIG Dispatcher's Office June 2009
 
"Best of the West"
(Tehachapi, Cajon, more in HO)
Download this issue free at the above link
"Espee's 'Orange Grove Route'"
(Visalia Electric Railroad in HO)
Model Railroad Planning 2009
 
"Down by the Shore in Hoboken"
(Hoboken Shore RR in HO)
Download this issue free at the above link
 
Two clinics at NMRA 2008 in Anaheim:
"Layout Design from the Prototype" and
"Creating an Operating Session".
Click here for descriptions and notes.
 
"Railroading in Paradise"
(The Oahu Railway in HOn3)
Model Railroad Planning 2008

"A Baker's Dozen Yard Ideas for Design and Operation"
How to Build Realistic Layouts: Freight Yards
Model Railroader Special Issue August 2007
 
"Variations on a Waybill Theme"
OpSIG Dispatcher's Office July 2007
 
"Planning the Midland Pacific"
LDSIG Layout Design Journal #35; Dec. 2006
 
 "A Little Love for the Yard" and "Forget the Fast Clock"
OpSIG Dispatcher's Office July 2006
(links are to similar versions on this site)
 
"The Pacific Electric Orphan Branch"
Model Trains International # 63 
 
"Hamilton City"
Model Trains International # 62
 
Three clinics at the NMRA 2005 National Convention
Designing Practical Layouts Based on Prototype Railroads
Small Layout Design - Beyond the Timesaver
A Quick and Easy Start for Operations
 
"On the Streets of San Francisco with the Ocean Shore Railroad"
Layout Design Journal #32; April 2005
 
"Folding Belt Line on a Shelf"
(Alameda Belt Line in N)
Model Railroad Planning 2005
 
"Ops at the Shops"
Model Trains International # 57
 
"Op Session Design -- Freelance and Prototype"
Clinic, PCR/NMRA Convention 2004
 
"X-Factor Staging"
(Santa Maria Valley Railroad in N)
Model Railroad Planning 2004
view this trackplan

"Another Angle on Urban Switching Layouts"
Layout Design Journal #29; Jan. 2004
View this layout in the Design Gallery

"Linking Unconnected Decks with Operations and Staging"
Layout Design Journal #28; Spring 2003

"Realistic Small Switching Layouts"
Clinic, LD/OpSIG Regional Meet 2003

"Design Principles for Garage Layouts"
Layout Design Journal #27; Autumn 2002

"Houston's Port Terminal Railway in N Scale"
Model Railroad Planning 2002
view this trackplan

"Ventura County Railway to Share a Garage"
Layout Design Journal #26; Spring 2001
 
"CLIC / SPINS / ZTS Track-Industry Maps as a Design Resource"
Layout Design Journal #26; Spring 2001
Except photo, Copyright © 2004-10 by Byron Henderson
LayoutVision and Model Rail Services are services of Byron Henderson Consulting

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