Small, Smart & Practical Track Plans (Model Railroading)

--Features prototype railroad operations

--Includes original, custom-designed HO and N scale layout designs for spaces no larger than 10x12 feet

--Each layout design features full-color plans and layout perspectives

I recognized seeing many of the ideas -- such as sector plates, fiddle yards, and train cassettes -- in some UK model railway magazines. Soon enough, I found some of Mr. Rice's books published in the UK. (Some of which can be readily found on the Amazon.com's British site at www.amazon.co.uk if they can't be found ion the Amazon.com site.)

This book does a decent job of translating those British small layout ideas into USA railroad settings. For many model railroaders, this is be an eye-opener, making us think of creative ways to work in small spaces. For anybody who wanted to build a model railroad layout but has been discouraged by lack of space, this book may be the catalyst to pursue the dream.

One caution, not to deteract from the book's value, the illustrations are wonderfully captivating but they are suggestions for the scenic possibilities. They are not scale blueprints. So for some of the plans, not everything shown in the drawings will easily fit into the space, especially if one doesn't custom hand-lay the track. Not a major flaw; there are ways to adjust the plans or make compromises.

Even if one can and will build a larger space railroad layout, the book is a wonderful inspiration. Some of the train handling concepts, such as train cassettes, can be used in any size layout.