With a mainline run of more than 1,000 feet, this freelanced HO scale (1:87.1) club layout is quite impressive! But the fact that the established Pacific Southern Railway Club 501(c)(3) nonprofit raises funds for a local emergency services definitely makes this model railroad a stand-out/stand-up amongst some of the finest in the hobby! To learn […]
Layout Size: Medium Layouts
Pacific Southern Railway in HO scale
With a mainline run of more than 1,000 feet, this freelanced HO scale (1:87.1) club layout is quite impressive! But the fact that the established Pacific Southern Railway Club 501(c)(3) nonprofit raises funds for a local emergency services definitely makes this model railroad a stand-out/stand-up amongst some of the finest in the hobby! To learn […]
Looking for layouts open to the public
Classic Toy Trains is updating our list of S, O, and Standard gauge of layouts open to the public. Do you know of a layout that’s not on our list in the link above? Please contact us at editor@classictoytrains.com and let us know. Requirements: Must be S, O, or Standard gauge Must be open the […]
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, […]
How to calculate the speed of toy trains
Have you ever been curious about how to calculate the speed of toy trains? Running trains over a layout, how can we know whether it’s moving at a realistic speed? Answering this question requires a bit of math. Speed, or velocity, is simply distance divided by time. In the United States, we are used to […]
5 tips for better scenes on your toy train layout
5 tips for better scenes on your toy train layout Whenever someone asks me what makes a toy train layout special, I reply that detail is the key. Size and scope don’t matter as much as what a modeler does in the space available. Developing memorable scenes – “vignettes,” as they’re called – can […]
The Hills Line with James McNab | A Firm Foam Foundation, Episode 14
The Hills Line host James McNab knows a good thing when he sees it! That’s why he’s eager to form the foundation for this portable HO scale layout using little more than foam insulation board commonly sold at home improvement stores. After crediting the pioneers of this technique, James shares how to work with this […]
Modeling the Sierra RR in Japan
By Toyoji Sekine / Photos by Kaori Komatsu In the 1950s, when I was a small child, an O gauge train ran around the pond in my yard. It was a Japanese-style train made of tinplate, as nothing more realistic was available after the war. But I fell in love with American railroads, particularly the […]
Jack Burgess’ Yosemite Valley Railroad in HO scale
Jack Burgess’ Yosemite Valley Railroad in HO scale | Jack Burgess, a dedicated model railroad enthusiast, has masterfully recreated the Yosemite Valley Railroad, an iconic prototype railroad that operated in central California until 1947. Over the course of 31 years, Jack poured his heart into crafting an intricate and historically significant model railroad, capturing the […]
Jack Burgess’ Yosemite Valley Railroad in HO scale
Jack Burgess’ Yosemite Valley Railroad in HO scale | Jack Burgess, a dedicated model railroad enthusiast, has masterfully recreated the Yosemite Valley Railroad, an iconic prototype railroad that operated in central California until 1947. Over the course of 31 years, Jack poured his heart into crafting an intricate and historically significant model railroad, capturing the […]
An autumn O gauge layout
O gauge modeler Walt Urban created a medium-size three-rail empire with an autumn theme. Colorful trees on the mountains suggest fall has arrived along the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S., with postwar and modern Lionel trains to enjoy in beautiful settings. See it in the September-October 2023 issue. […]
An autumn O gauge layout
O gauge modeler Walt Urban created a medium-size three-rail empire with an autumn theme. Colorful trees on the mountains suggest fall has arrived along the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S., with postwar and modern Lionel trains to enjoy in beautiful settings. See it in the September-October 2023 issue. […]