When I cut a hole in the living room wall in order to expand my N scale railroad into the hallway beyond, I thought that was as large a model railroad as I would ever own. I was just happy that my wife agreed to my bizarre suggestion (see “Harlowton, Montana, in N scale,” Model […]
Section: Model Train Layouts
Photo gallery: Gary Hoover’s Norfolk & Western in the 1950s
Gary Hoover models the Norfolk & Western Ry. in the late 1950s through Virginia and West Virginia. Many of the scenes on his 24 x 49 foot model railroad are inspired by the famed railroad photographer, O. Winston Link. Gary’s model train layout is also the cover story of the April 2020 Model Railroader. Enjoy […]
A busy urban model railroad
Prototype operations weren’t the focus of many model railroaders when I started work on my HO scale layout in 1988. But I had a clear vision of an operations-oriented layout that would depict the Canadian Pacific Ry.’s Montreal Terminals Division in Canada’s second largest city in the late 1960s. That was when I spent […]
A model railroad that turns the clock back to 1895
Why would anyone model the Stockton & Copperopolis, an obscure short line with a name that sounds made up? Or model this little-known prototype in the 1890s? Most importantly, would it be practical to build it as a large, prototypically faithful model railroad capable of realistic operation and equip it with authentic locomotives and rolling […]
Linn Westcott remembers John Allen and his Gorre & Daphetid
Click on the image to download the article. In the February 2020 Model Railroader, Charlie Getz describes how a damaged locomotive from John Allen’s famed Gorre & Daphetid layout was recently restored to running condition. For an overview of model railroad pioneer John Allen and his spectacular model railroads, registered members can download a copy […]
A freelanced Central Railroad of New Jersey and Pennsylvania Railroad line between Jersey City, N.J., and Mauch Chunk Pa.
DOWNLOAD THE ARTICLE Gary Schaff’s HO scale Hudson, Delaware & Lehigh is a freelanced Central Railroad of New Jersey and Pennsylvania Railroad line operating between Jersey City, N.J., and Mauch Chunk Pa., in the early 1950s. Gary wrote about how he added his own personal touches to this professionally built model train layout in Great […]
New Haven under wire in HO scale
Featured in Great Model Railroads 2020, Ron Abramson’s HO scale New York, New Haven & Hartford layout finally reaches completion. The layout models the New Haven’s electrified zone through southwestern Connecticut in the 1950s and 1960s. Click on the link to read Ron’s original story about his exceptional model train layout from the August 2004 […]
Turning Big Boys in 2 x 5 feet
Flemming Ørneholm’s HO scale Eaglecreek & Northern, which was featured in the February 2012 Model Railroader, is a testament to his ingenious use of space. In less than 7 x 12 feet, Flemming’s HO scale layout captures the sprawling vistas of the west along the Union Pacific. With massive UP 4-8-8-4 Big Boys regularly hauling […]
The Timber River RR
Click on the link or image to download this article. In the January 2019 issue we re-visit John Tews’ influential Timber River Ry. Check out MR’s first visit to the HO scale ore hauler from the January 1985 issue of Model Railroader. […]
Utah Belt photo gallery
We didn’t have room to publish all the photos from Eric Brooman’s spectacular HO scale Utah Belt, featured in the December 2018 Model Railroader. Check out these bonus trackside images. […]
John Allen’s Gorre & Daphetid Online Extras
The Port yard had its own control panel and box for car cards and waybills. Click on the links to get the online extras. John Allen’s HO scale Gorre & Daphetid remains one of the hobby’s most influential model railroads. Check out this collection of online extras about this model railroading pioneer and his layout. […]
BONUS ARTICLE: N scale through the Northwoods
Steve Miazga’s updated N scale Missabe Junction is featured in the September 2018 Model Railroader. Check out This first article about Steve’s layout from the November 2013 Model Railroader. Steve Miazga grew up less than two blocks from the Soo Line main in Rhinelander, Wis. As a kid, he saw the Soo’s first Geeps and […]