Canadian Canyons Series: Part 27 – Shaping tunnels

Kent Johnson and Drew Halverson next to layout scenery

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Our Canadian Canyons N scale layout project would certainly be flawed without adding tunnels (and slide sheds) to the Fraser and Thompson River segments. No worries! Drew and Kent show how to plot out and install one of the many foam-built tunnels they […]

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Make-A-Wish Railway Project

Make-A-Wish Railway Project

Make-A-Wish Northeastern California and Northern Nevada is one of 62 chapters nationwide. Since the foundation began in 1980, more than 250,000 wishes have been granted to children ages 2½ to 18 with life threatening medical conditions. This particular chapter began in 1983 and has granted more than 4,700 wishes. Make-A-Wish organized volunteers from 4 organizations […]

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Canadian Canyons Series: Part 26 – Shaping a mountain

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Drew and Kent keep the scenery effort moving forward. In this episode of our Canadian Canyons N scale layout project, the two share how they attached “ribs” to the spine they just installed. Once this rough cut of the scenery substructure is in […]

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Train-superiority checklist for model railroad operation

OnoperationJanuary2018

In his On Operation column for the January 2018 issue of Model Railroader, Jerry Dziedzic describes dealing with train superiority and time-table-and-train-order (TT&TO) operation for model railroads. Jerry mentioned a train-superiority checklist developed by Mark Amfahr that greatly simplified TT&TO decision making for train crews during operating sessions on his railroad. Click on the link […]

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HO scale Tar Branch

HOscaleWinstonSalemSouthboundTarBranch

Name: The Tar Branch Size: 2′-9″ x 8′-2″ Prototype: Winston-Salem Southbound Ry. Location: Winston-Salem, N.C. Era: mid-to-late 1950s Style: shelf Minimum radius: 20″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: none Benchwork: L-girder Height: 46″ Roadbed: milled Homasote on ½” plywood Track: handlaid code 83 Scenery: Sculptamold on extruded-foam insulation board and plywood Backdrop: building photographs […]

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HO scale Texas & Pacific Ry.

HOscaleTexasPacific

Name: Texas & Pacific Layout designers: R.D. Moses and Jack Luck Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 18′-8″ x 40′-0″ Prototype: Texas & Pacific Locale: rural west Texas Era: 1950 to 1960 Style: linear walkaround Mainline run: 193 feet Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 3 percent Benchwork: open grid Height: 45″ to 54″ […]

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N scale Otter Tail Valley RR

NscaleOtterTailValley

Name: Otter Tail Valley RR Layout designer: Nathan Brett Scale: N (1:160) Size: 10 x 10 feet Prototype: Otter Tail Valley RR Locale: west-central Minnesota Era: 2008 to 2012 Style: around the walls Mainline run: 33 feet Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: none This track plan originally appeared in the January […]

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Canadian Canyons Series: Part 24 – Painting track

Hand painting track

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page MR’s Cody Grivno lends a hand to our Canadian Canyons N scale layout construction effort. Detailing trackwork is Cody’s forte, so in this video he’ll demonstrate the steps for painting and weathering a main line laid on concrete ties. Plus, he also shows […]

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HO scale Chicago & North Western and Vienna & Carthage RRs

HOscaleViennaCarthage

Name: Chicago & North Western and Vienna & Carthage RRs Layout designer: Iain Rice Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 9′-0″ x 15′-0″ Prototype: C&NW plus freelanced short line Locale: South Dakota-Minnesota border Era: late 1940s to early 1950s Style: single deck Mainline run: C&NW 39 feet, V&C 42 feet end-to-end, 37 feet continuous Minimum radius: 30″ […]

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Track Plan: HO scale CSX Ridgecrest

HOscaleCSXRidgecrest

Name: CSX Ridgecrest Layout owner: Paul Newtson Scale: HO (1:87) Size: 2′-0″ x 6′-0″ Prototype: CSX Locale: no specific area Era: varies Style: module Mainline run: 6 feet Minimum radius: 18″ on sidings Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: none Benchwork: tabletop Height: 40″ Roadbed: cork Track: codes 83 and 100 Scenery: ground foam Backdrop: […]

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HO scale Grand Trunk & Indiana

HOscaleGrandTrunkIndiana

Name: Grand Trunk & Indiana Layout owner: Russ Rettig Scale: HO (1:87) Size: 2 x 16 feet Prototype: New Jersey, Indiana & Illinois RR Locale: north-central Indiana Era: late 1970s Style: single deck Mainline run: 16 feet Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: none Train length: 8 to 10 cars Benchwork: 1⁄8″ […]

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