HO scale Blue Ridge & Allegany Ry.

HOscaleBlueRidgeAlleganytrackplan

Name: Blue Ridge & Allegany Ry. Layout owner: Ron Hale Scale: HO (1:87.1) Layout size: 22′-6″ x 38′-6″ Prototype: freelanced, inspired by the Southern Ry. and Western Maryland Ry. Locale: Appalachian Mountains from Blue Ridge, N.C., to Allegany, Md. Era: 1952 Mainline run: 173 feet Minimum radius: 32″ (main), 28″ (branch) Minimum turnout: no. 6 […]

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HO scale Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe

HOscaleGulfColoradoWesterntrackplan

Name: Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Layout owner: David Kampsnider Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 26 x 30 feet Prototype: Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Ry. Locale: Oklahoma Era: 1951 Style: walk-in Mainline run: 100 feet Minimum radius: 34″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 (main), no. 5 (spurs) Maximum grade: 1 percent (main),2.2 percent (helix) Benchwork: 1 […]

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N scale Interstate RR – Dorchester and Roaring Fork branches

NscaleInterstateRR1

Name: Interstate RR – Dorchester and Roaring Fork branches Layout designer: Christian Javier Scale: N (1:160) Prototype: Interstate RR Locale: Wise County, Va. Era: 1967 Style: multilevel walk-in Mainline run: 125 feet Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 2 percent (main) This track plan originally appeared in the November 2016 Model Railroader. […]

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Winston-Salem Southbound Series: Preparation for Operation

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Now that work on the trackwork, scenery, structures, details, motive power and rolling stock is nearly complete on our Winston-Salem Southbound HO scale project layout, it’s time to try running it like a real railroad. But before a single axle turns, MRVP’s David […]

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How-to Library: Cast your own rock molds, Part 2

Gerry Leone staining plaster rocks.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page   MRVP Contributing Editor Gerry Leone completes this How-To Library mini-series by demonstrating the steps for casting lightweight plaster rocks using the molds created in Part 1. He then shares his expert techniques for staining rocks to give them a natural-looking appearance. […]

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An all-new-under-the-hood locomotive

MRRNS1116_01

Jim’s N scale Atlas GP30 is all new under the hood thanks to a newer DCC-ready mechanism. A bonus was the new drivers. The nickel-silver plating had worn off the treads on the old locomotive, and they were difficult to keep clean. A few weeks back I pulled an Atlas N scale GP30 locomotive off […]

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How-to Library: Cast your own rock molds, Part 1

Gerry Leone in his workshop

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page   In this two-part video series, MRVP Contributing Editor Gerry Leone walks you through the steps for making your own inexpensive rock molds. The resulting rubber molds can then be used to cast realistic rock faces and outcroppings for use on any layout. […]

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Build a raised railroad outdoors

raised_railroads1

1. In Jacques Verdier and Nancy Lagomarsino’s 1950s-era Verdi Railroad, SP’s Daylight snakes around three peninsulas in the front for lots of viewing and access pleasure. They have fitted 250′ of 0-gauge Lionel track in their relatively small yard. A friend visited in his wheelchair and vetted pathway widths and roadbed height. Every 6′, Ficus […]

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Add a cattle chute to your railway

Add a cattle chute to your railway

In the October 2106 issue, Jack Verducci describes how he added a cattle chute to his railway. Here, you can download full-size drawings of a cattle chute for your own line. Note: Because of the size, you will need to print this document out in sections. In Adobe Acrobat, select “Print,” and select “Poster mode” […]

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HO scale Los Angeles Junction Everett Avenue

HOscaleLAJunctionEverettAvenue

Name: Los Angeles Junction Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 5′-0″, x 9′-6″ Prototype: Los Angeles Junction Ry. Era: present day Style: shelf Mainline run: not applicable Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: none The track plan originally appeared in the May 2015 issue of Model Railroader. Click on the link to download a […]

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HO scale Chicago & North Western Ry.

HOscaleChicagoNorthWesternRy

Name: Chicago & North Western Ry. Layout owner: Don Drum Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 27 x 43 feet Prototype: C&NW Lakeshore Division, Ashland District (Eland, Wis., to Ashland, Wis.) Locale: northern Wisconsin Era: summer 1956 to 1960 Style: walk-in Benchwork: L-girder and open grid Height: 49″ to 55″ Roadbed: 1⁄2″ plywood, 1⁄2″ Homasote, and 1⁄4″ […]

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HO scale New York Central, Mattoon and East St. Louis, Ill.

HOscaleNewYorkCentralMattoonandEastStLouisIll

Name: New York Central Layout owner: Mike Havens Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 18 x 25 feet Prototype: NYC Locale: Illinois and Indiana Era: 1950 to mid-1960s Style: walk-in double-deck Mainline run: 360 feet Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 1.25 percent Benchwork: L-girder Height: 45″ Roadbed: Homasote on 3⁄4″ plywood, some cork […]

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