Q: I live in a large space and have an 80-foot loop of Lionel O-27 track running through it. I’m having trouble getting enough power to the train. I need information on wiring methods and wire types and suggestions on how large a transformer I am going to need to get it working properly. – […]
Section: Modeling
Wildcat Central
Track plan at a glance Name: Wildcat Central Scale: HO (1:87) Originally appeared in the January 2001 issue of Model Railroader. Click here to download a PDF of this track plan […]
Southern Pacific Bakersfield Subdivision
Track plan at a glance Name: Southern Pacific Bakersfield subdivisions Scale: N (1:160) Size: 9 x 30½ feet Prototype: Southern Pacific’s crossing of the Tehachapi Mountains (Santa Fe has trackage rights) Theme: heavy freight and passenger mountain crossing Period: 1950s to present Style: around the walls and peninsula Minimum radius: 21″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 […]
Central Vermont
Track plan at a glance Name: Central Vermont Scale: N Originally appeared in the February 2000 issue of Model Railroader. See a PDF version of this track plan by clicking here. […]
Donner Pass Division
Track plan at a glance Name: Donner Pass Division Scale: N (1:160) Size: 3 x 8 feet Prototype: Southern Pacific Period: 1940-1955 Style: twice around loop Mainline run: 33 feet Minimum radius: 10″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: 2 percent Originally appeared in the September 2000 issue of Model Railroader. Also appeared in 102 […]
Pennsylvania RR Middle Division
Track plan at a glance Name: Pennsylvania RR Middle Division Scale: N (1:160) Size: 2½ x 10 feet Prototype: Pennsylvania RR Era: 1950s Style: double-track oval with staging tracks Mainline run: 45 feet Minimum radius: 12½” Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: zero Originally appeared in the January 2001 issue of Model Railroader. Also appeared […]
The Greenbrier Branch of the Chesapeake & Ohio
Track plan at a glance Name: Greenbrier Branch of the Chesapeake & Ohio Scale: HO and HOn3 (1:87.1) Size: 15 x 24 feet Prototype: C&O, Greenbrier Logging Co. Period: 1930s to 1950s Style: walk-in Mainline run: 80 feet standard gauge, 30 feet narrow gauge Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: 2.5 percent […]
Missouri Pacific RR’s Arkansas Division
Track plan at a glance Name: Missouri Pacific RR’s Arkansas Division Scale: N (1:160) Size: 11′-0″ x 12′-6″ Era: Early 1960s Style: walkaround on two levels with peninsula Mainline run: 180 feet Minimum radius: 18″ (15″ in small helix) Minimum turnout: no. 8 (main), no. 6 (yards and sidings) Maximum grade: 2.5 percent (in small […]
Virginian & Ohio
Track plan at a glance Name: Virginian & Ohio Scale: HO (1:87) Size: 33 x 51 feet Prototype: free-lanced Ohio to Virginia bridge route Period: 1975 Style: linear walkaround Minimum radius: 30″ on main Minimum turnout: no. 6 on main line, mostly no. 8 on new addition Maximum grade: 2.5 percent Originally appeared in the […]
Colorado & Southern and Pitkin Tram
Track plan at a glance Name: Colorado & Southern and Pitkin Tram Scale: ½n3½ and ½n2½ (1:24 proportion narrow gauge on No. 1 and 2½-foot gauge track) Size: 11 x 18 feet Prototype: C&S narrow gauge and Gilpin Tram Period: 1940 Style: modular, walk-in Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: 8.5 percent […]
Arkansas & Missouri
Track plan at a glance Name: Arkansas & Missouri Scale: N (1:160) Size: 9 x 16 feet Era: present Style: along-the-walls shelf Minimum radius: 10″ Minimum turnout: no. 8 Maximum grade: 6 percent Originally appeared in the February 1999 issue of Model Railroader. Also appeared in 102 Realistic Track Plans. See a PDF version of […]
Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe Railway
Track plan at a glance Name: Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe Railway Scale: N (1:160) Size: 20 x 22 feet Prototype: Raton Pass on the First District of the Santa Fe’s New Mexico Division Period: summer 1950 Style: linear walkaround Mainline run: 202 feet (120 feet visible; 92 feet hidden including helix) Minimum radius: 21″ […]
