Name: Spartanburg Subdivision Layout designer: Steven Otte Scale: N (1:160) Size: 3′-0″ x 5′-6″ Prototype: Southern Ry. Locale: upstate South Carolina Era: early 1940s Style: island Minimum radius: 9-3/4″ Mainline run: 11 feet Minimum turnout: no. 5 Originally appeared in the October 2011 issue of Model Railroader. Click on the link to download the PDF […]
Name: New Jersey, Indiana & Illinois RR Layout designer: Dan Lawecki Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 21 x 24 feet Prototype: NJI&I (Wabash subsidiary from 1926 to 1966; Norfolk & Western branch line thereafter) Locale: South Bend, Ind. Era: 1920 or 1975 Style: walk-in Mainline run: 88 feet Minimum radius: 24 inches Minimum turnout: no. 6 […]
Name: The Chili Line Layout designer: Steve Amitrano Scale: Sn3 (1:64, 3-foot gauge) Size: 9′-6″ x 11′-6″ Prototype: Denver & Rio Grande Western Locale: Chama and Santa Fe, N.M. Era: mid-1930s to 1950s Style: doughnut Mainline run: 43 feet Minimum radius: 34″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Originally appeared in the Great Model Railroads 2008. Click […]
These two cars at Steamtown National Historical Site look similar but had different uses. Hank Ickes Q In the yard at Steamtown National Historical Site in Scranton, Pa., are two cars that I couldn’t identify. Do you know what purpose these cars had? — Hank Ickes, Arlington, Va. A One is an auxiliary tender or […]
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 […]
Name: Rio Grande Southern Layout designer: Dan Sylvester Scale: HOn3 (1:87.1, narrow gauge) Size: 4 x 8 feet Prototype: Rio Grande Southern RR Locale: western Colorado Era: 1930s Style: island Mainline run: 32 feet Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: 18″ radius Maximum grade: 4 percent (main line), 8 percent (mine spur) Click on the link […]
AnyRail Track Planning Software (screen shot) In designing my current layout, I wanted to move away from hand drawing track plans with all the attendant problems involved with making changes, edits, etc. I looked at several track-planning software products but found them too complicated for my needs and level of skill. Much like my attitude […]
Many of our model railroads have freight stations, but we don’t always make the most of their operational possibilities. Especially for cities from medium to larger size, freight stations can be among the busiest industries on our layouts. Freight stations provide rail service to businesses that don’t have their own rail sidings. You can think […]
Name: Reading Co. Layout designer: Sy Diamond Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 13′-6″ x 22′-0″ Prototype: Reading Co. Locale: eastern Pennsylvania Era: 1930s to early ’40s Style: walk-in with two liftout sections Mainline run: 80 feet Minimum radius: 36″ (main) Minimum turnout: no. 6 (main), no. 4 (yards and industries) Maximum grade: 2 percent Click on […]
Name: Connecticut Co. Layout designer: Les Lewis Scale: O (1:48) Size: 23′-6″ x 39′-6″ Prototype: Connecticut Co. Locale: freelanced, inspired by New Haven, Conn. Era: 1930s to ’40s Style: modular Mainline run: 110 feet Minimum radius: 12″ Minimum turnout: 12″ radius Maximum grade: none Click on the link to download the PDF of this track […]
Name: San Juan Silverton RR Scale: HOn3 (1:87.1, 3-foot narrow gauge) Size: 12 x 14 feet Prototype: freelanced, inspired by Rio Grande Southern Locale: southwest Colorado Era: fall 1939 Style: walk-in Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 4 percent Originally appeared in the June 2010 issue of Model Railroader. Click on the […]
Name: Suarez Southeastern RR Layout owner: Mike Suarez Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 12 x 15 feet Theme: freelanced Locale: eastern United States Era: 1920s to ’30s Style: around the walls Mainline run: 50 feet Minimum radius: 22″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: none Originally appeared in the June 2010 issue of Model Railroader. Click […]
