Black River Junction

Track plan at a glance Name: Black River Junction Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 4 x 8 feet with an 18″ x 72″ staging extension Prototype: New York Central and Baltimore & Ohio RRs Locale: Ohio Era: 1950s Style: freestanding Mainline run: 24 feet Minimum radius: 19-1/4″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: none Originally appeared […]

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Argentine Industrial District Ry.

Track plan at a glance Name: Argentine Industrial District Ry. Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 28′-8″ x 54′-0″ Prototype: Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe yards and industrial areas Era: 1960 Style: around the walls Mainline run: 110 feet on running track (no true main line) Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: none Originally […]

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Conrail Sterling Secondary

Track plan at a glance Name: Sterling Secondary Scale: N (1:160) Size: 10 x 12 feet Prototype: CSX and Norfolk Southern Period: 1999 Style: around-the-walls Mainline run: 24 feet Minimum radius: 17″ main line, 15″ industrial track Minimum turnout: no. 6, turnouts set at no. 5 angle in Livernois Yard Maximum grade: 0 Originally appeared […]

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Denver & Rio Grande Western and Colorado & Southern

Track plan at a glance Name: Denver & Rio Grande Western and Colorado & Southern Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 14′-0″ x 23′-6″ Prototypes: D&RGW and C&S Era: 1935 Style: walkaround Mainline run: 75 feet Minimum radii: 28″ (standard gauge), 18″ (narrow gauge) Minimum turnouts: 1 percent (main line), 3 percent (narrow gauge), 7 percent (mining […]

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Eastern Missouri Ry.

Track plan at a glance Name: Eastern Missouri Ry. Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 16 x 36 feet Prototype: freelanced terminal line Era: 1950s through 1970s Style: walkaround Mainline run: 160 feet Minimum radius: 26″ Minimum turnout: main line, no. 6; yards, no. 4 Maximum grade: 2 percent Originally appeared in the March 2007 issue of […]

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Glass Rock & Eastern RR

Track plan at a glance Name: Glass Rock & Eastern Scale: HO (1:87) Size: 10′-0″ x 11′-6″ Prototype: Ohio Southern RR Era: 1988 Mainline run: north-south lines, 53 feet; west line, 28 feet Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: 3 percent Originally appeared in the April 2007 issue of Model Railroader. Also […]

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National Docks Ry.

Track plan at a glance Name: National Docks Ry. Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 12′-6″ x 17′-0″ Era: World War II Mainline run: 39 feet Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: none Originally appeared in the February 2007 issue of Model Railroader. See a PDF version of this track plan by clicking here. […]

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Oregon Short Line

Track plan at a glance Name: Oregon Short Line Scale: O (1:48) Size: 38′-6″ x 51′-0″ Prototype: Union Pacific RR Era: June 1950 Style: around the walls Mainline run: 190 feet Minimum radius: 76″ Minimum turnout: main line, no. 8; yards, no. 6 Maximum grade: none Originally appeared in the April 2007 issue of Model […]

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Silverton Central RR

Track plan at a glance Name: Silverton Central Scale: Sn3 (1:64) Size: 6 x 24 feet Era: 1928-1935 Style: sectional Mainline run: 60 feet Minimum radius: 31″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: level Originally appeared in the April 2007 issue of Model Railroader. See a PDF version of this track plan by clicking here. […]

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The right smoke fluid for toy trains

Even a small steamer can crank out a nice flow of smoke, so buy the right fluid and don’t try to create a home brew smoke fluid. Q: I recently bought a Williams steamer, and it came with several warnings stating to use only Williams smoke fluid and no other. Well, none of my engines […]

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A large-scale layout for San Diego’s Children’s Hospital

San Diego Children's hospital layout

A whimsical train makes its way past alarming mountains of orange, red and purple, on its way to more pleasant and soothing scenery. Bob Treat The character and colors of the scratchbuilt structures are in keeping with the overall concept. Bob Treat The engine crosses the waterfall on a rickety trestle. The rainbow marks the […]

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