A visit to John Staschak’s O gauge layout

Overview of John Staschak's toy train layout with superimposed cover of September 2021 Classic Toy Trains

John’s layout appears in the September 2021 issue of Classic Toy Trains. It features tremendous trackwork and wonderful scenery (see the plan here), in addition to some spectacular modern trains. Watch and hear freight and passenger consists work their way around it. […]

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The Turlan’s HO scale layout for Walthers

Building with lit up sign on top

Modeling is for hobbyists of all ages, and the Turlan family is an example that proves just that! Xavier and Lindsay Turlan, along with their seven-year-old son Gabriel, all worked together to build a layout for the 2021 National Model Railroad Build-Off. Interested in hearing more from the Turlans? Check out their interview. […]

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Matthew Mendolia’s HO scale layout for Walthers

Industrial scene next to tracks

Matthew Mendolia might have been away at college, but that didn’t stop him from building this impressive layout for the 2021 Walthers National Model Railroad Build-Off from the confines of his dorm room. Matthew uses every piece that he received from his kit from Walthers to prove that you don’t have to spend a lot […]

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DJ Arlia’s N scale layout for Walthers

Train yard

Check out the layout built by open class contestant DJ Arlia for the 2021 Walthers National Model Railroad Build-Off! Designed to look like an old chemical plant based in Pittsburgh, Pa., this module is full of interesting details and thought-out designs. Interested in hearing more from DJ? Check out his interview!  […]

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S gauge fun in a compact space

Dave Baule’s S gauge layout

Enjoy this look at Dave Baule’s S gauge layout. The traditional looking pike occupies a modest footprint and is chock full of Plasticville buildings, vintage American Flyer accessories, and trains from a variety of eras. The display is featured in the special publication “Toy train layouts for small spaces,” available in fall 2021. […]

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Nighttime Operations on Dave Abeles’ Conrail Onondaga Cutoff

Railroading is an industry that operates around the clock, and modeler Dave Abeles proves that model railroads can roll just fine in the dark too! Watch the night moves from a trackside position on Dave’s Conrail-inspired HO scale layout, and then look for additional coverage of the model railroad in the September 2019 and February […]

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Visit a garden-railway display at a nature center

A family watches a large-scale train display

For many years I have been a volunteer at our local nature center (Sandy Creek Nature Center of Athens-Clarke Co., GA). It occurred to me that their circular flower and nature gardens would be a perfect setting for a garden railroad. I approached personnel at the center, and they were enthusiastic, as it would create […]

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