How to make a lake on a model railroad

By popular demand! Back on Track host Gerry Leone jumps ahead in time to begin an effort to shape a common layout space into a unique place! In this episode, you’ll see the start of the lake scene takes the curved mainline into consideration. First, Gerry works to build up a plate girder bridge to […]

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How to build a garden railroad

garden tracks

Click here to download a PDF version of this article. Don’t miss the other parts to this series! June 2010: Preliminary construction August 2010: Choosing track October 2010: Laying track and ballasting December 2010: Accessories, structures, and lighting […]

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Black Stag Lumber Co. RR

Name: Black Stag Lumber Co. RR Layout owner: Allen Hare Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 20 x 22 feet Prototype: Mann’s Creek Ry. Locale: West Virginia Era: 1930s Style: walk-in Mainline run: 140 feet Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: 5 percent Originally appeared in the May 2010 issue of Model Railroader. Click […]

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Lost Island Bluffs Ry.

Name: Lost Island Bluffs Ry. Layout designer: Robert P. Foster Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 9 x 11 feet Prototype: freelanced, inspired by the Philadelphia & Long Branch RR and the Island Heights Branch of the Pennsylvania RR Locale: Barnegat Bay shorelinein central New Jersey Era: 1884 to 1934 Style: walkaround Mainline run: 50 feet Minimum […]

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Roanoke & Southern

Name: Roanoke & Southern Layout owner: Jeff Kraker Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 9′-31/2″ x 22′-6″ Theme: freelanced Eastern coal hauler Locale: southwest Virginia Era: 1953-1960 Style: walk-in Mainline run: 78 feet Minimum radius: 22″ Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: 4 percent Originally appeared in the May 2010 issue of Model Railroader. Click on the […]

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CTT Visits a layout factory

Having a professional builder design and construct a toy train or scale model railroad may not be for everyone. But for those who want to take full advantage of 21st-century technology this may be the way to go. CTT Visits a layout factory […]

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East Broad Top and Pennsylvania RR

Name: East Broad Top and Pennsylvania RR Layout owner: Don Shook Scale: HO (1:87.1) and HOn3 (1:87.1, three foot gauge) Size: 24′-3″ x 26′-3″ Prototype: EBT and PRR Locale: central Pennsylvania Era: Summer 1955 Style: walk-in Mainline run: 120 feet (EBT), 96 feet (PRR) Minimum radius: 24″ (EBT), 52″ (PRR) Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum […]

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Great Northern

Name: Great Northern Layout owner: Jim Shaw Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 9 x 11 feet Prototype: freelanced, based on Great Northern and Canadian Pacific Locale: Pacific Northwest Era: Early diesel era Style: around-the-walls Minimum radius: 15″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: none Originally appeared in the April 2010 issue of Model Railroader. Click on […]

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Two quick painting tips

Cody Grivno at his desk

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Model Railroader associate editor Cody Grivno shows how to keep your paint supplies and isopropyl alcohol organized. […]

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Build a 1:22.5-scale combine

Build a 1:22.5-scale combine

Download the PDF of this project here. This PDF is formatted to print on your home printer. Most pieces are formatted to fit on a 8.5″ x 11″ piece of paper. For larger parts of the plan, you will see “break lines.” Line up the break lines to create the larger piece. Despite our best […]

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Bob Porge’s O gauge layout

model train running under bridge

Bob Porges has a rudimentary case of nostalgia backwards. Bob’s layout isn’t a reflection of the toy trains of his childhood – rather, it is a reflection of his life. In virtually every corner of his O gauge layout, you’ll find vignettes of Bob’s childhood, his family, his career, and even his financial portfolio, all […]

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