Facts & features Name: Pacific Southern RailwayScale: HO (1:87.1)Size: 46 x 96 feet Prototype: FreelancedLocale: GenericEra: FlexibleStyle: WalkaroundMainline run: 1,000 feetMinimum radius: 48″ (main), 36″ (branch)Minimum turnout: no. 4, some hand-laidMaximum grade: 1.3% (main), 3.1% (branch) Benchwork: L-girderHeight: 36″ to 60″Roadbed: Cork on 1⁄2″ plywoodTrack: Visible track: handlaid code 100 (main), code 83 (yards), code […]
Scale: HO Scale
How to choose a power pack for your model railroad
Though multiple manufacturers offer power packs meant for model railroads, three main companies currently offer the packs as separate-purchase items: Model Rectifier Corp., Kato USA, and Bachmann Trains. If you choose to use direct-current control instead of Digital Command Control (DCC) on your layout, buying a DC power pack (or power supply) that fits your […]
News & Products for the week of October 2nd 2023
News & Products for the week of October 2nd 2023 Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of October 2nd […]
Spaces to Places IV | Light up this whole town, part 6
Westcott is now officially more of a place than it is a space! It’s time for host Gerry Leone to shine a light on and around this town on his HO scale model railroad. Follow along to learn how he added interior illumination to the structures, period-correct streetlights, and fine details that give select scenes […]
Spaces to Places IV | Light up this whole town, part 6
Westcott is now officially more of a place than it is a space! It’s time for host Gerry Leone to shine a light on and around this town on his HO scale model railroad. Follow along to learn how he added interior illumination to the structures, period-correct streetlights, and fine details that give select scenes […]
The Hills Line with James McNab | Adventures in tracklaying, Episode 15
In this episode, Host James McNab embarks on a journey to elevate model railroading skills by exploring cutting-edge methods. Specifically featuring the use of Central Valley tie strips to build hand laid trackwork. With the objective of encouraging modelers to employ fresh techniques, James demonstrates the process on his portable HO scale Hills Line module, […]
Built by Others: Grant Graeber’s MT&W layout
Built by Others is an article series showcasing layouts constructed by modelers using plans and projects from the pages of Model Railroader and its associated products. The Black River Junction originally appeared in the pages of Model Railroader in 2007. Grant Graeber converted the layout to the space he had available and made adjustments according to his interests […]
News & Products for the week of September 25th 2023
News & Products for the week of September 25th 2023 Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of September 25th […]
Athearn HO EMD SD39
We’ll head down to Larson Stone on our Milwaukee, Racine & Troy staff layout to check out a model from the latest run of HO scale Electro-Motive Division SD39 diesel locomotives produced by Athearn Trains. Join Model Railroader senior editor Cody Grivno as he points out the features on the six-axle road locomotive, demonstrates some of […]
Athearn HO EMD SD39
We’ll head down to Larson Stone on our Milwaukee, Racine & Troy staff layout to check out a model from the latest run of HO scale Electro-Motive Division SD39 diesel locomotives produced by Athearn Trains. Join Model Railroader senior editor Cody Grivno as he points out the features on the six-axle road locomotive, demonstrates some of […]
The Back Creek Paper layout in HO scale
Facts & features Name: Back Creek PaperScale: HO (1:87.1)Size: 10 x 14 feetPrototype: Westvaco Pulp & Paper millLocale: Covington, Va.Era: 1974Style: around-the-wallsMainline run: 28 feetMinimum radius: 30″Minimum turnout: No. 6Maximum grade: none Download a PDF of this trackplan! Buy the October 2023 issue of Model Railroader! […]
The HO scale Central New York & New England layout
Facts & features Name: Central New York & New EnglandScale: HO (1:87.1)Size: 11 x 19 feet plus 7 x 9-foot helix/staging areaPrototype: freelancedLocale: Maybrook, N.Y., areaEra: mid-1950sStyle: multi-deck walk-inMainline run: 120 feet visible plus 81 feet in helixMinimum radius: 36″Minimum turnout: No. 6 (main), No. 5 (industries)Maximum grade: 1.87% in helixBenchwork: open grid (lower […]