The Salt Lake Route, Part 1: The inspiration for a small layout

MRRC0110_01

The rugged mountain desert scenery of the Meadow Valley Wash provides a picturesque backdrop for trains on the N scale Union Pacific Salt Lake Route. The 4 x 9-foot model railroad, built by retired managing editor Dick Christianson, features Kato Unitrack with superelevated curves. Model Railroader associate editor Cody Grivno and graphic designer Drew Halverson […]

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Canadian Canyons Series: Part 8 – Staging yard turnouts

David Popp next to layout

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page David dives into laying track in the staging yard on our N scale project railroad, but before he even opens that brand-new box of flextrack, there’s a lot of other work to do, including painting the roadbed, drilling holes for the switch motors, […]

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Canadian Canyons Series: Part 7 – Installing cork roadbed

David Popp next to layout

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page The plywood panels are now in place, and the track centerlines are all marked! In this episode of the Canadian Canyons series, it’s time for David to begin the track laying effort by first installing cork roadbed. Follow along, as he demonstrates tips […]

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Video: N scale Union Pacific Oregon Middle Division

model train pulled by a steam engine crossing a bridge

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Gary Randall’s N scale Oregon Middle Division fills a 15 x 17-foot space with the soaring scenery of the Pacific Northwest. Featured in the June 2017 Model Railroader, the layout features tall bridges and both steam and diesel trains. […]

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Video: N scale Union Pacific Oregon Middle Division

model train pulled by a steam engine crossing a bridge

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Gary Randall’s N scale Oregon Middle Division fills a 15 x 17-foot space with the soaring scenery of the Pacific Northwest. Featured in the June 2017 Model Railroader, the layout features tall bridges and both steam and diesel trains. […]

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N scale Union Pacific Oregon Middle Division

NscaleUnionPacificOregonMiddleDivision

Name: Oregon Middle Division Layout owner: Gary Randall Scale: N (1:160) Size: 15 x 17 feet Prototype: freelance, based on Union Pacific Locale: Pacific Northwest Era: none specified Style: walk-in Mainline run: 150 feet Minimum radius: 16″ Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: 3 percent Benchwork: L-girder with spline subroadbed Layout Height: 39″ to 42″ […]

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Ask MRVP: Episode 24

David Popp standing at a table in the Model Railroader workshop introducing a video.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Looks like show host David Popp (and the crew too) has a case of spring fever! What a perfect reason for this episode of Ask MRVP to venture into “wild” Wisconsin! This month, David tackles Q&As from the MR workshop, the aisles of […]

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Ask MRVP: Episode 24

David Popp standing at a table in the Model Railroader workshop introducing a video.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Looks like show host David Popp (and the crew too) has a case of spring fever! What a perfect reason for this episode of Ask MRVP to venture into “wild” Wisconsin! This month, David tackles Q&As from the MR workshop, the aisles of […]

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Another N scale micro layout

N scale micro-layout project

Here is a time-lapse video of the construction of my latest N scale micro-layout project. The layout is a bit less than 24″ in diameter and features a track radius that averages around 9″. The track is ballasted and weathered Kato Unitrack, and the overall layout construction is foam insulation board on top of a […]

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