The Canada, Spokane & Pacific layout in HO scale

A model railroad track plan

Facts and features   Name: Canada, Spokane & PacificScale: HO (1:87.1)Size: 32 x 43 feetPrototypes: Burlington Northern, Canadian PacificLocale: Pacific NorthwestEra: June 1981Style: walk-inMainline run: 260 feetMinimum radius: 36″Minimum turnout: No. 6Maximum grade: 2%Benchwork: L-girderHeight: 39″ to 46″Roadbed: HomasoteTrack: Atlas code 83 flextrackScenery: plaster gauze over cardboard web covered with Structolite Backdrop: LARC Products photo […]

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Spaces to Places V | A new path to the underpass, part 4

Our host Gerry Leone heads for the hills in this episode of Spaces to Places! More specifically, he works a bit on the topography of the underpass area and how the highway routes through it all. Wisely, Gerry elects to make a template of his initial design, and then uses it to guide his efforts shaping up […]

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The Norfolk & Western Pocahontas Division layout in N scale

A model railroad layout trackplan

Facts and features   Name: Norfolk & Western Pocahontas DivisionScale: N (1:160)Size: 36 x 36 feetPrototype: Norfolk & WesternLocale: southern West VirginiaStyle: walk-inMainline run: 290 feetMinimum radius: 18″Minimum turnout: No. 6Maximum grade: 2 percentBenchwork: tabletopHeight: 52″ to 58.5″Roadbed: corkTrack: code 80 flextrackScenery: extruded-foam insulation board and SculptamoldBackdrop: hand-painted on drywall Control: NCE Digital Command Control […]

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The Great Northern Kalispell Division layout in N scale

A model railroad trackplan

Facts and features   Name: Great Northern Kalispell DivisionScale: N (1:160)Size: 29′-7″ x 36′-3″Prototype: Great NorthernLocale: MontanaEra: late 1950sStyle: walk-inMainline run: 238 feetMinimum radius: 18″ (main), 16″ (branch)Minimum turnout: No. 5Maximum grade: 2%Benchwork: box frame, shelf, and L-girderHeight: 421⁄4″ to 501⁄2″Roadbed: extruded-foam insulation board or 1⁄4″ plywoodTrack: Atlas code 55 and 80, Peco code 55Scenery: […]

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Spaces to Places V | A new path to the underpass, part 3

In this episode of Spaces to Places, we find host Gerry Leone in the thick of two projects! The main objective of his efforts was to build out the highway underpass and scenery along a layout peninsula. But Gerry also scrambles to complete trackwork reconfiguration that will improved the operation of his HO scale Bona […]

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Mike Farrow’s N scale Norfolk & Western

Title screen from video showing train on bridge passing over train below.

Mike Farrow’s N scale Norfolk & Western Pocahontas Division layout is set in southern West Virginia during the 1970s and early 1980s. The 36 x 36-foot walk-in model railroad features a 290-foot mainline run, 18” minimum radius curves, and No. 6 turnouts. Among the items used to re-create the authentic Appalachian scenery were ground foam, […]

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Doug Dederick’s N scale Great Northern

Title screen from video showing N scale model railroad.

Doug Dederick’s N scale Great Northern Kalispell Division is set in Montana in the late 1950s. The 29 x 36-foot walk-in layout, featured in the April 2024 issue of Model Railroader, is set between Whitefish, Mont., and Shelby, Mont. The model railroad features several of GN’s name passenger and freight trains, including the Empire Builder, […]

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Doug Dederick’s N scale Great Northern

Title screen from video showing N scale model railroad.

Doug Dederick’s N scale Great Northern Kalispell Division is set in Montana in the late 1950s. The 29 x 36-foot walk-in layout, featured in the April 2024 issue of Model Railroader, is set between Whitefish, Mont., and Shelby, Mont. The model railroad features several of GN’s name passenger and freight trains, including the Empire Builder, […]

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Mike Farrow’s N scale Norfolk & Western

Title screen from video showing train on bridge passing over train below.

Mike Farrow’s N scale Norfolk & Western Pocahontas Division layout is set in southern West Virginia during the 1970s and early 1980s. The 36 x 36-foot walk-in model railroad features a 290-foot mainline run, 18” minimum radius curves, and No. 6 turnouts. Among the items used to re-create the authentic Appalachian scenery were ground foam, […]

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The Milwaukee, Racine & Troy RR in HO scale (2024)

A model railroad trackplan with labeled locations and structures

Facts and features Name: Milwaukee, Racine & Troy RR Layout owner: Model Railroader staff Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 28 x 54 feet Prototype: freelanced bridge line Locale: Southeastern Wisconsin Era: current day Style: walk-in Mainline run: approx. 200 feet Minimum radius: 36″ (main) Minimum turnout: no. 6 (main), no. 4 spurs Maximum grade: 3 percent […]

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