Allen McClelland encouraged modelers to look at their layouts not as stand-alone entities, but as links in the North American rail system — looking beyond the basement. Take a look at Allen's HO scale Virginian & Ohio layout, one of the best-known layouts of all time. This inspirational layout pioneered many concepts that later became standards in layout design.
Allen became well-known not just for his V&O's realistic scenery, setting, and theme, but for showing us how to:
- Use walkaround command control to take advantage of linear track plans
- Choose a railroad name and theme that reflect prototype regions and railroads
- Adopt operating procedures based on prototype practices
Find inspiration in how the Virginian & Ohio was conceived and developed, and get ideas for applying the same concepts to your own layout!