Recycling old Lionel track

pieces of Lionel tubular track with blue engine in the middle

Let’s say you’ve got a ton of old Lionel track in your basement, or maybe someone is willing to give you a bunch for nothing. You want to build a layout, so you figure you can use this track to do it economically. However, when you get a closer look at the O or O-27 […]

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Rio Grande Southern

Rio Grande Southern

Name: Rio Grande SouthernLayout designer: Steve HarrisScale: HOn3 (1:87.1 proportion, three-foot gauge)Size: 9 x 25 feetPrototype: Rio Grande SouthernLocale: southwestern ColoradoEra: around 1939Style: double deck with helix, semi-mushroom peninsulaMainline run: 158 feet (excluding helix)Minimum radius: 18″Minimum turnout: no. 4 Originally appeared in the November 2004 issue of Model Railroader. Click on the link to download […]

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Building Bay Junction: Part 16

Two men appear next to a layout area to work on a model railroad.

    Editor Neil Besougloff declares one end of the Model Railroader staff’s Bay Junction project model train layout complete. On the other end of the layout, Neil and managing editor David Popp continue to rejuvenate scenery with additional ground cover. David has also installed and painted rock castings for the riverbed. […]

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Building Bay Junction: Part 16

Two men appear next to a layout area to work on a model railroad.

    Editor Neil Besougloff declares one end of the Model Railroader staff’s Bay Junction project model train layout complete. On the other end of the layout, Neil and managing editor David Popp continue to rejuvenate scenery with additional ground cover. David has also installed and painted rock castings for the riverbed. […]

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Big, fast, and basic

CTT-J0207_ASYMBOLS

Layout designer: E. A. Engebretson and Kent Johnson Scale: O Layout size: 8 x 16 feet Track type: Atlas O Minimum curve: O-54 Originally appeared in the February 2007 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Click on the links below to view PDF’s for this track plan. Track Plan Schematics Parts List […]

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Chesterfield Trunk & Terminal

CTT-J1107_ASYMBOLPLAN

Layout designer: Robert Sherman Scale: O Layout size: 12 x 12 feet Track type: Lionel O Minimum curve: O-31 Originally appeared in the November 2007 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Click on the links below to view PDF’s for Chesterfield Trunk & Terminal. Track Plan Schematics Parts List […]

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Dusty dogbone design

CTT-J0707_ASYMBOLS

Layout designer: Neil Besougloff Scale: O Layout size: 5 x 15 feet Track type: MTH RealTrax Minimum curve: O-31 Originally appeared in the July 2007 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Click the links below to view PDF’s for Dust Dogbone Design. Track Plan Schematics Parts List […]

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Three-stage plan that grows

CTT1205_ATRACKPLAN

Layout designer: E. A. Engebretson and Kent Johnson Scale: O Layout size: 9 x 12 feet Track type: MTH RealTrax Minimum curve: O-31 Originally appeared in the December 2005 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Click on the link to download a PDF of this track plan. Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Schematic phase 1 […]

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Big- and small-time operation

CT2-R0311_SYMBOLS

Layout designer: Thomas Meleck Scale: O Layout size: 12 x 16 feet Track type: Atlas O Minimum curve: O-54 Originally appeared in the September 2002 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Big and small time operation track plan Big and small time operation schematics […]

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Bridge out!

CTT-I0705_APLAN1

Layout designer: Neil Besougloff Scale: O Layout size: 12 x 12 feet Track type: Lionel Tubular Minimum curve: O-42 Originally appeared in the July 2005 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Track Plans Schematics Parts List […]

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