The HO scale Pennsylvania RR Apple Gap layout

A model railroad tracplan with a man standing at the layout at its bottom left corner

Facts and features Name: Pennsylvania RR Scale: HO (1:87)Size: 6′-8″ x 12′-6″Prototype: freelanced, inspired by PRRLocale: northeastern PennsylvaniaEra: changeable between 1870-1915, 1916-1942, and 1943-1959Style: island Mainline run: 31 feetMinimum radius: 36.5″Minimum turnout: No. 6Maximum grade: none (flat)Benchwork: tabletopHeight: 511⁄2“Roadbed: corkTrack: Micro Engineering flexible code 83Scenery: foam board and Kingspan underlayment on 3 ⁄4” medium density […]

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The S scale Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville layout

A model railroad trackplan

Facts and features Name: Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville (Monon) Scale: S (1:64)Size: 38 x 62 feetPrototype: MononLocale: west central IndianaEra: late 1940sStyle: walk-in Mainline run: 180 feetMinimum radius: 48″ (main), 36″ (sidings and spurs)Minimum turnout: No. 6Maximum grade: 1% (main), 2.5% (to staging)Benchwork: L girderHeight: 46″ to 49″Roadbed: HomasoteTrack: code 100 (main), codes 83 and […]

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A disappearing mountain layout

A track plan for a toy train layout

The idea for building this small disappearing O-27 layout came to me after reading an issue of Lionel’s Inside Track magazine from 2009. This track plan brought back for me memories of a similar O-27 layout at a department store during the holidays in the 1950s. – Bob Espenschied Download the track plan for this […]

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Art Volz’s O-27 gauge layout

A toy train track plan for Art Volz's O-27 gauge layout

Name: Art Volz’s O-27 gauge layoutDimensions: 10 x 20 feet Track and switches: Lionel (diameters range from 27″ to 31″)Motive power: Lionel (postwar, modern)Rolling stock: Lionel (postwar, modern), MenardsControls: Lionel Nos. 1033 and 1034, type-ZW transformersAccessories: Lionel, MTHStructures: Atlas O, Lionel, Menards, MTH, scratchbuilt, Woodland ScenicsVehicles: Ertl, Lucky Die Cast Products, MTH, SpecCast CollectiblesFigures: Bachmann […]

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Tom Kaiser’s O gauge layout

A toy train track plan for Tom Kaiser's O gauge layout

Name: Tom Kaiser’s O gauge layoutDimensions: 10½ x 11 feetTrack: Lionel FasTrack (diameters range from 31 to 60 inches)Motive power:Atlas O, K-Line, Lionel, MTH Electric Trains, Ready Made Trains, WilliamsRolling stock: K-Line, Lionel, Menards, MTH, Ready Made Trains, WilliamsControls: MRC transformers (2)Accessories: K-Line, Lionel, MarxStructures: Bachmann, K-Line, Lionel, MTH, Plasticville U.S.A., scratchbuiltVehicles: American Heritage Models, […]

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The HO scale Hudson, Delaware & Ohio and Trenton Northern Transportation & Light Co. layout

A large model railroad track plan for the Hudson, Delaware & Ohio railroad layout

Facts and features Name: Hudson, Delaware & Ohio and Trenton Northern Transportation & Light Co.Scale: HO (1:87.1)Size: 40 x 40 feet (phase I), 60 x 80 feet (phase II, under construction)Theme: freelance, inspired by Eastern Class I railroadsLocale: northern New Jersey and PennsylvaniaEra: steam-to-diesel transition (circa 1955)Style: multi-level walkaroundMainline run: HD&O (40 x 40-foot section), […]

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The HO scale South Durham Railway layout

A model railroad track plan for the south durham railroad, with two figures seen from above standing in an around-the-walls layout

Facts and features Name: South Durham Ry.Scale: HO (1:87.1)Size: 9’-6″ x 11’-0″Prototype: freelancedLocale: North CarolinaEra: 1970sStyle: around the wallsMainline run: 22 feetMinimum radius: 22″Minimum turnout: No. 4Maximum grade: none (flat)Benchwork: shelf Height: 57″Roadbed: cork on HomasoteTrack: code 83 extrackScenery: tabletopBackdrop: photo backdrop from Backdrop JunctionControl: Lenz DCC   Click the link to download a PDF […]

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The HO scale Southern Pacific Tehachapi Subdivision layout

A model railroad track plan

Facts and features Name: Southern Pacific Tehachapi SubdivisionScale: HOSize: 72 x 128 feetPrototype: Southern Pacific Tehachapi SubdivisionLocale: Bakersfield to Mojave, CaliforniaEra: 1950s-1960sStyle: Multi-level walkaroundMainline run: Bakersfield to Mojave: 1,500 feet; between staging yards, Goshen Jct. to Lancaster: 1,800 feetMinimum radius: main tracks, sidings and yards: 48″; branch lines and industry tracks: 36″Minimum turnout: main tracks, […]

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The HO scale Winnebago Rapids & Northern RR

A model railroad track plan

Facts and features Name: Winnebago Rapids & Northern RRScale: HO (1:87.1)Size: 14 x 18 feetPrototype: freelancedLocale: WisconsinEra: 1956Style: walk-inMainline run: 120 feetMinimum radius: 24″Minimum turnout: No. 6Maximum grade: 31⁄2%Benchwork: L-girderHeight: 41″ to 49″Roadbed: HomabedTrack: code 83 (handlaid in visible locations, extrack in hidden areas)Scenery: extruded-foam insulation board and clothshellBackdrop: painted drywallControl: NCE ProCab Click the […]

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The On30 Owl Cove Lumber Co. layout

A model railroad track plan for the Owl Cove Lumber Co layout

Facts and features Name: Owl Cove Lumber Co.Scale: On30 (1:48, 30″ narrow gauge)Size: 6 x 40 feetPrototype: freelancedLocale: Washington’s Northern CascadesEra: 1930sStyle: around-the-wallsMainline run: 26 feetMinimum radius: 18″Minimum turnout: No. 4Maximum grade: 6%Benchwork: L-girderHeight: 40″Roadbed: corkTrack: code 83 handlaid and flextrackScenery: hardshellBackdrop: hand-painted on wallsControl: NCE Digital Command Control Click the link to download a […]

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The HO scale Long Island Rail Road layout

A model railroad track plan for the Long Island Railroad layout

Facts and features   Name: Long Island Rail RoadScale: HO (1:87.1)Size: 27′-7″ x 48′-9″ Prototype: Long Island Rail Road Locale: Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and north shore of Long Island (to Greenlawn)Era: 1964 (diesel) or 1954 (steam)Mainline run: approximately 300 feet Minimum radius: 24″Minimum turnout: No. 4 (yards), No. 6 (main and crossovers) Maximum grade: 3%Benchwork: […]

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Olli’s Railroad in large scale

Facts and features   Name: Olli’s RailroadScale: large scale (1:29)Size: 20 x 430 feetPrototype: Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe and Burlington NorthernLocale: American WestEra: 1970s and 1980sStyle: walkaround gardenMainline run: 850 feetMinimum radius: 7 feetMinimum turnout: LGB R5 (main), LGB R3 (industrial area)Maximum grade: 1.2%Benchwork: welded steel framework backfilled with earthHeight: 19″ to 38″Roadbed: noneTrack: […]

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