Born on July 2, 1913, John Allen was a model railroading pioneer renowned for his skill at scratchbuilding and scenery work, as well as his thoughts on model railroad operation. His original 3’-7” x 6’8” Gorre & Daphetid HO scale layout debuted in the January 1948 issue of Model Railroader. He built a larger version […]
Scale: HO Scale
A Day With The Des Moines “Tramp”
Follow Iowa Interstate Train NTSW-29, affectionately known as the Des Moines “Tramp”, as it delivers a carload to Beisser Lumber on the IAIS Grimes Line. Read about this modern-era model railroad and get a track plan in Model Railroad Planning 2014. Video shot by James McNab […]
Video: Broadway Limited Imports Paragon2 HO scale Pennsylvania RR T1
Broadway Limited Imports released a newly tooled version of an “as-built” Pennsylvania RR T1 in HO scale. The steam locomotive model also features a Paragon2 Digital Command Control (DCC) sound decoder. See and hear this locomotive in action hauling a passenger train along the Model Railroader staff’s club layout, the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy. […]
A Day With The Des Moines “Tramp”
Follow Iowa Interstate Train NTSW-29, affectionately known as the Des Moines “Tramp”, as it delivers a carload to Beisser Lumber on the IAIS Grimes Line. Read about this modern-era model railroad and get a track plan in Model Railroad Planning 2014. Video shot by James McNab […]
Video: Broadway Limited Imports Paragon2 HO scale Pennsylvania RR T1
Broadway Limited Imports released a newly tooled version of an “as-built” Pennsylvania RR T1 in HO scale. The steam locomotive model also features a Paragon2 Digital Command Control (DCC) sound decoder. See and hear this locomotive in action hauling a passenger train along the Model Railroader staff’s club layout, the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy. […]
Video Step by Step: Build a water tank part 1
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Associate editor Steven Otte needed several wood water tanks for his layout, so he decided to scratchbuild them using stripwood and common materials. In part one of this two-part video, Steve shows you how he built the tank and the roof. […]
Video Step by Step: Build a water tank part 1
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Associate editor Steven Otte needed several wood water tanks for his layout, so he decided to scratchbuild them using stripwood and common materials. In part one of this two-part video, Steve shows you how he built the tank and the roof. […]
Cody’s Workshop: Episode 5 – Installing ditch lights
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Cody is back in the MR Workshop this month to install ditch light castings on a Rail America diesel engine. He also shares how his freighthouse scratchbuilding job is coming along, and you’ll get to see the finished Turtle Creek MR&T heritage locomotive. […]
Cody’s Workshop: Episode 5 – Installing ditch lights
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Cody is back in the MR Workshop this month to install ditch light castings on a Rail America diesel engine. He also shares how his freighthouse scratchbuilding job is coming along, and you’ll get to see the finished Turtle Creek MR&T heritage locomotive. […]
The HO scale Kettle Valley RR
Name: Kettle Valley RR Layout designer: Jim Bonnett Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 11 x 22 feet Prototype: Canadian Pacific Locale: Canadian Rockies Era: late 1940s to early ’50s Style: walk-in Mainline run: 85 feet Minimum radius: 28” Minimum turnout: no. 6 (main); no. 4 (yards and industries) Maximum grade: 3 percent Originally appeared in the […]
The HO scale City of North Weston
Name: The City of North Weston Layout designer: Larry Nast Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 8′ x 18′-2″ Prototype: Chicago & North Western Locale: upper Midwest Era: 1955 Style: island Mainline run: 80 feet Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 (main), no. 4 (yard) Maximum grade: 2 percent Originally appeared in the August 2013 Model […]
The HO scale Virginian Thin Branch
Name: The Thin Branch Layout designer: David Popp Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 30″ x 72″ Prototype: Virginian Ry. Locale: West Virginia Era: spring 1955 Style: portable Mainline run: 7 feet Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: Atlas 22″ radius Snap-Switch Maximum grade: 3 percent (switchback) Originally appeared in the August 2013 Model Railroader. Click on the […]
