Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Kip Grant’s HO scale layout is set in eastern New York in the early 1960s. In this video you’ll see trains running through superdetailed scenes. You can read more about Kip’s Delaware & Hudson HO layout in Great Model Railroads 2011. […]
Era: 1946 - 1970
Klondike Mines Ry. and Vancouver, Westminster & Yukon
Name: Klondike Mines Ry. and Vancouver, Westminster & Yukon Scale: HOn3 (1:87.1, three-foot gauge) Size: 14 x 25 feet Theme: gold mining Era: 1949 Style: multi-deck walkaround Mainline run: 200 feet (including helix) Minimum radius: 24″ narrow gauge, 30″ standard gauge Minimum turnout: no. 8 Maximum grade: 3 percent (1.5 percent in helix) Originally appeared […]
The Central RR of New Jersey, Newark Branch
Name: Central RR of New Jersey, Newark Branch Layout designer: Jonathan Jones Scale: N (1:160) Size: 6′-1¾” x 18′-9″ Prototype: Central RR of New Jersey Locale: Northern New Jersey Era: 1950s Style: shelf Mainline run: 15½ feet Minimum radius: 14″ (main), 12″ (industrial tracks) Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: none Click on the link […]
The Secrets of “Smoke” and The Secrets of Lionel’s Smoke Pellets
The sight of a toy train locomotive puffing across a layout, its rhythmic white exhaust reaching out to the sky, is as captivating today as it was when the first smoking O gauge locomotive debuted more than 50 years ago. But what you see isn’t smoke. There is no combustion occurring. Without combustion, you can’t […]
6 hot postwar Lionel collectibles
F3s, Hudsons, and Girls’ trains – those are the postwar jackpots that everybody knows about. Here, though, are six underexposed Lionel items that are quickly moving up the charts. Models courtesy Joe Algozzini What’s hot today among postwar Lionel trains and accessories? I attend several train shows each year, check out eBay listings almost every […]
Glenwood & Sierra RR.
Name: Glenwood & Sierra RR. Layout designer: Sy Diamond Scale: N (1:160) Size: 7′-6″ x 13′-0″ feet Theme: freelanced Locale: various locations across North America Era: 1950s (steam to diesel transition) Style: around the walls with aisle Mainline run: 75 feet Minimum radius: 17″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: 2.5 percent Click on the […]
Milwaukee Road, Morton Branch
Name: Milwaukee Road, Morton Branch Layout designer: Eric Williams Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 9 x 11 feet Prototype: Milwaukee Road Locale: Morton, Wash. Era: 1945 to 1950 Style: Around-the-walls Mainline run: 34 feet Minimum radius: 32″ (visible), 24″ (staging) Minimum turnout: Peco medium radius Maximum grade: 4 percent Click on the link to download the […]
Milwaukee Road, Morton Branch
Name: Shadowton Ridge NorthernLayout designer: Matt HewittScale: HO (1:87.1)Size: 30 x 45 feetTheme: freelanced subsidiary of the Norfolk & Western Ry.Locale: West VirginiaEra: 1956Style: multilevel walkaroundMainline run: 325 feetMinimum radius: 32″Minimum turnout: no. 6Maximum grade: 1.6 percent (in helix) Click on the link to download the PDF of this track plan. […]
Tips to rejuvenate postwar freight cars
In the September 2010 issue, I showed how I rejuvenated a postwar Lionel No. 2458 boxcar. It’s one of several cars I bought from my local hobby shop’s bargain shelf. Here are photos of a few more cars I worked on, along with comments on what I did to improve their appearance. Sunoco tank car […]
Mascoutah, Ill.
Name: Mascoutah, Ill. Layout designer: Ron Wilhelm Size: 5 x 13 feet Prototype: Louisville & Nashville Locale: Southern Illinois Period: Late 1960s Style: sectional with center access opening Mainline run: 35 feet Minimum turnout: no. 6 Minimum radius: 18″ Maximum grade: none (level) Click on the link to download the PDF of this track plan. […]
N&W Abingdon Branch
Name: N&W Abingdon Branch Layout designer: Danial Fisher Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 9 x 11 feet Prototype: Norfolk & Western Ry. Era: 1950s Locale: Virginia Style: double-deck Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: 3 percent Click on the links to download the PDF of this track plan. Version A Version B […]
Pennsylvania RR
Name: Pennsylvania RR Layout designer: Larry Reynolds Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 27 x 43 feet Prototype: Pennsylvania RR Locale: From Huntingdon, Pa.,to Tunnelhill, Pa. Era: Early 1950s Style: Linear walkaround Mainline run: 320 feet Minimum radius: 38″ (main) Minimum turnout: no. 8 (main), no. 6 (yards) Maximum grade: 1.5 percent Originally appeared in the August […]