hmm ...

... hopefully, this will not become a 'regular' feature (in its current context).  While I do enjoy the "its a Model" photo recaps every month; the 'Track Plan Database' thread of the forums seems to be more of a 'holding place' until the 'new' forum format gets rolled out (announced over a year ago now?).

In its present format the "Track Plan Database" is simply a collection of track plans ... any discussion/photos is explicitly prohibited and deferred to another thread.  This severely constrains the 'usefulness' of the 'database' thread.

One possible improvement (until such a time as a true 'wiki-like' database becomes available), would be for each submitter to start a separate thread for their track plan that would allow them and others to comment on its virtues and perhaps suggestions for improvements or adaptations to other room sizes or scales.  Each of these threads should include only the track plan diagram as the first post (as it will appear at the top of every page); and the second post(s) should be the authors comments about the plan including things such as givens and druthers, design goals, prototype basis (if any), prototype/layout photos, etc.  Following that others could post comments as well and perhaps some interesting discussions will follow.  Could also post progress updates if the model is still under construction.

Then each of the posts in the "Track Plan Database" thread could include a link back to the discussion thread for that plan.  Now, a viewer could quickly scan through the 'data base' (as they can now); but if they find something interesting they can go get more information about it or ask questions if they have any.

One could also go back through the old posts and 'capture' any previous discussions of layouts that included a track plan and add them to the database with a link back to the existing tread.

This article is a one-time shout out

This article in MRH is a one-time shout out for the TrackPlan database, such as it is, on the MRH website.

I know the promised upgrade to this site is taking a long time, but we're resourced constrained and right now if it doesn't make the company some money (read: keep the lights on) then it's taking a back seat.

Maybe it's a cliche, but if you want to see more happen sooner, then encourage all your model railroading buddies to buy some eBooks or sign up for TMTV. As it is, there's not a lot left over once we pay the help for what we're currently doing.