N scale Southbay Western

NscaleSouthbayWestern

Name: Southbay Western Layout owner: Steve Kibort Scale: N (1:160) Size: 8 x 8 feet Prototype: Freelanced, inspired by Denver & Rio Grande Western Locale: Colorado Rockies Era: Late 1950s Style: double-deck Mainline run:  300 feet (including helix and double reversing loop) Minimum radius: 11″ Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: 2 percent Benchwork: modular […]

Read More…

Ask MR bonus: Waybills and operating forms

Tonywaybill

Download waybills and engine and caboose assignment cards for your model railroad operating sessions. Learn about routing non-revenue equipment in the new Ask MR column in the December 2015 Model Railroader. You can also download these waybills and operating forms, including contributing editor Tony Koester’s caboose assignment card and engine assignment card as well as […]

Read More…

Visit the Morning Glow Railroad

Visit the Morning Glow Railroad

Name: Morning Glow Railroad Size: Irregular L-shaped 100′ x 150′ Scale: 1:29 Gauge: Nº 1 (45mm) Era: 1960 to present—all diesel Theme: Southern Pacific—Donner Pass to Tehachapi Age: 3 years Motive power: All battery Length of mainline:  1,101′ Maximum gradient: 3 % Track: Code-250 stainless steel; #10 pneumatic turnouts Minimum radius: 7′ Water features: 500-gallon […]

Read More…

A modified bonsai technique for miniaturizing trees

bonsai_pruning1

1. A five-to-six-year-old Washington hawthorn tree on the author’s former railroad. Don Parker 2. A potted three-to-four-year-old hawthorn growing in the Hoot ’n’ Holler railroad garden. (Note the use of double potting to aid in getting the tree out of the ground for root pruning. Also note the thorns.) Don Parker 3. A dawn redwood […]

Read More…

Sanders Blue dwarf Alberta spruce

sanders_blue_spruce

Nancy Norris Common name: Sanders Blue dwarf Alberta spruce Latin name: Picea glauca ‘Sanders Blue’ aka P.g. ‘Sanderi’ Plant type: Dwarf conifer USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9 (winter protection in Zones 3-5) Cultural needs: Moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil, sun or part shade Plant size: 4-6′ high by 2-3′ wide in 10 years, if not pruned […]

Read More…

HO scale Fairhope & Northern

HOscaleFairhopeNorthern

Name: Fairhope & Northern RR Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 14 x 22 feet Prototype: freelanced, inspired by New York, New Haven & Hartford Locale: New England Era: 1950s Style: walk-in Mainline run: 84 feet Minimum radius: 26″ (visible track), 22″ (hidden track) Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: 3 percent Benchwork: L-girder Height: 40″ to […]

Read More…

Rick Stern’s HO scale Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe

HOscaleRickSternsSantaFe

Name: Santa Fe Scale: HO Size: 30 x 48 feet Prototype: freelanced, inspired by Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Locale: Southern California Era: early 1950s Style: walk-in Mainline run: 360 feet Minimum radius: 34″ (main), 26″ (branch) Minimum turnout: no. 6 (main), no. 5 (secondary), no. 4 (branch) Maximum grade: 4 percent Benchwork: open frame […]

Read More…

Build the Lionel Lines track plan

lionel_lines_thumb

Layout designer: Ray Stuber Scale: O Layout size: 6 1/2 x 12 Track type: Lionel tubular Minimum curve: O-31 Originally appeared in the December 2015 issue of Classic Toy Trains magazine Build the Lionel Lines track plan Build the Lionel Lines track plan overview […]

Read More…

HO scale Detroit North Yard Branch

HOscaleConrailSharedAssetsDetroitNorthYardBranch1

Name: Conrail Shared Assets, Detroit North Yard Branch Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 26 x 42 feet Prototype: Conrail Shared Assets Locale: Detroit, Michigan Era: modern (2005) Style: double-deck walkaround Mainline run: 230 feet Minimum radius: 28″ (main), 24″ (industry) Minimum turnout: no. 6 (main), no.5 (industry) Maximum grade: 2 percent Benchwork: L-girder Height: 42″ (lower […]

Read More…

HO scale Southern Pacific Shasta Route

HOscaleSouthernPacificShastaRoute

Name: Southern Pacific Shasta Route Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 24 x 26 feet Prototype: Southern Pacific Locale: Northern California Period: mid-1950s Style: walk-in Mainline run: 230 feet Minimum radius: 36″ Minimum turnout: no. 8 (main), no. 6 (yards) Maximum grade: 11⁄2 percent Benchwork: open grid and L-girder Height: 49″ to 58″ Roadbed: Homasote on T-girder […]

Read More…