Video: HO scale Denver & Rio Grande Western

David Powell's HO scale Denver & Rio Grande Western model railroad

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Featured in Great Model Railroads 2020, David Powell’s HO scale Denver & Rio Grande Western layout models the majestic Rocky Mountains in only 13 x 18 feet. Watch trains run along the main line in this short video tour.   […]

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How to solder and conceal track feeder wires

trackfeederslead

Soldering track feeders isn’t that difficult. Learn this easy method for making reliable wiring connection that are also easy to conceal on a model train layout. Soldering feeders to the rails is a wiring method modelers have used since the hobby began. By soldering feeders directly to the rails instead of using other types of […]

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New model trains for the week of October 10, 2019

Wm. K. Walthers Inc. HO scale Electro-Motive Diesel SD70ACe diesel locomotive

HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division GP7 diesel locomotive. Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (black-and-gray scheme with “Everywhere West” slogan); Chicago & North Western (repaint in two road numbers and passenger service with “Route of the Streamliners” slogan); Denver & Rio Grande Western (orange-and-black scheme with Flying Grande lettering, four numbers); Maine Central (gold-and-green scheme, four numbers); […]

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F40PH cabin view

Cabin view from f40ph locomotive

With a mini-camera positioned inside a modified F40PH cabin, Carlo Spada navigates around his HO scale layout. The sounds are taken from Train Simulator 2018. […]

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HO scale Cajon Pass

HOscaleCajonPass

Name: Cajon Pass Layout owner: Pat Smith Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 33′-2″ x 40′-7″ Prototype: Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Union Pacific; and Southern Pacific Locale: Southern California Era: Early 1950s to early 1960s strong>Style: walkaround Mainline run: 475 feet Minimum Radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: 3 percent Benchwork: open grid Height: […]

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HO scale New York New Haven Hartford RR

HOscaleNewYorkNewHavenHartford

Name: New York, New Haven & Hartford RR Layout owner: Richard Abramson Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 12′-6″ x 19′-6″ Prototype: New Haven electrified zone Locale: southwestern Connecticut Era: 1950s to 1960s Style: around-the-walls Mainline run: 65 feet Minimum radius: 36″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 2 percent Benchwork: open grid Height: 49″ Roadbed: Homasote […]

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HO scale Placerville Branch

HOscalePlacervilleBranch1

Name: The Placerville Branch Layout owner: Tom Ebert Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 11 x 27 feet Prototype: Southern Pacific Locale: Northern California foothills Era: 1930s Style: double-deck continuous-climb walkaround Mainline run: 110 feet Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 2 percent Benchwork: L-girder and open-grid Height: 34″ (lower staging) to 62″ Roadbed: cork […]

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Four compact track plans

QuanaAcmePacific

Present and former members of the Model Railroader staff designed these four model railroads. Each can fit a 150-square-foot space. That space could be a 10 x 15-foot spare room, an 8-foot-wide stall in an 18-foot-long garage, a 5-foot-wide space along a 30-foot basement wall, or anything in between. What resulted was a variety of […]

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HO scale Georgia Northeastern

HOscaleGeorgiaNortheasternRR

Name: Georgia Northeastern RR Layout owner: Thomas Klimoski Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 9′-2″ x 10′-6″ Prototype: Georgia Northeastern RR Locale: Georgia Era: present-day Style: linear walkaround Mainline run: 36 feet Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: none Benchwork: open grid Height: 54″ Roadbed: cork Track: Micro Engineering code 70 Scenery: extruded-foam insulation […]

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