Bob's Track Plans

Welcome to Bob's Track Plans

Custom model railroad layout designs for any scale, any gauge, any prototype, any era

Robert W. (Bob) Sprague has created hundreds of layout plans, including more than fifteen published in Model Railroader.

Bob specializes in designs based on prototype locations, routes, and scenes. He makes sure that the resulting layouts are satisfying to build and provide realistic operation.

View many examples of Bob's plans in the Gallery, and please use the contact form to request a quote.

Some Recent Plans

Ben Nance's Magnolia & Gulf Railway

The 3-rail guys have found me, and this is the latest in a string of designs for O scalers. Ben had a single-car garage available and wanted the largest curves possible for his big steamers. We were able to come up with a design that had a 45" minimum mainline radius and offer the flexibility of operating as two loops or—using the cutoffs near the station—one longer twice-around.

32 minutes ago

Paul Whatley's Norfolk & Whatley Woods RR

Paul had a small room but some large equipment to run, so we ran staging around the walls where it can be "deemphasized" with trees and low hills while operators focus on the track near the aisle. Paul wanted a Wabash flavor so we stole Jacksonville, Illinois as the main location and worked in some good local switching opportunities in addition to the small yard.

Dec 28, 2025

Bob Andrycha's PRR / Cleveland, Akron, & Columbus RR

Bob had a nice space and a distinctive prototype in the Cleveland, Akron, & Columbus Railroad, a Pennsy-owned short line in Ohio. He also had a very inconveniently located pipe protruding from his basement wall - but we managed to design the peninsula to take advantage of the interruption in the long wall. A circuitous route to the staging helped with access to the lower-level tracks and gave Bob about the longest mainline possible in the space.

Nov 28, 2025

Luke Parker's Eastern Idaho RR

Luke came to me with an interesting prototype and an interesting space in which to model it. The Eastern Idaho RR is a collection of former UP branches in the namesake state. One segment begins in Idaho Falls, where it exchanges with the UP, and heads northeast and then southeast into the Grand Tetons. Luke had two modest-sized rooms connected by a narrow hallway, with unobstructed access needed to the utility room in the middle. We came up with an expansive double deck layou

Oct 24, 2025

Fuad Saba's Milwaukee Road 14th Subdivision (modified)

Fuad asked for a modified version of a commercial track plan. Fortunately, he had more room rather than less for his version. Can do.

Sep 21, 2025

WHY A CUSTOM TRACK PLAN?

Every advanced model railroader has unique preferences, goals, and space available. Working with an experienced track planner helps you take full advantage of your layout room, while ensuring that the layout you take years to build will continue to keep you satisfied and challenged.

Bob Sprague has designed more than 250 detailed, operation-oriented railroads. While insisting that "it's your railroad," he can supply valuable experience and perspective to help you get the most out of your hobby.