How to solder and conceal track feeder wires

trackfeederslead

Soldering track feeders isn’t that difficult. Learn this easy method for making reliable wiring connection that are also easy to conceal on a model train layout. Soldering feeders to the rails is a wiring method modelers have used since the hobby began. By soldering feeders directly to the rails instead of using other types of […]

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F40PH cabin view

Cabin view from f40ph locomotive

With a mini-camera positioned inside a modified F40PH cabin, Carlo Spada navigates around his HO scale layout. The sounds are taken from Train Simulator 2018. […]

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HO scale Cajon Pass

HOscaleCajonPass

Name: Cajon Pass Layout owner: Pat Smith Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 33′-2″ x 40′-7″ Prototype: Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Union Pacific; and Southern Pacific Locale: Southern California Era: Early 1950s to early 1960s strong>Style: walkaround Mainline run: 475 feet Minimum Radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: 3 percent Benchwork: open grid Height: […]

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HO scale New York New Haven Hartford RR

HOscaleNewYorkNewHavenHartford

Name: New York, New Haven & Hartford RR Layout owner: Richard Abramson Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 12′-6″ x 19′-6″ Prototype: New Haven electrified zone Locale: southwestern Connecticut Era: 1950s to 1960s Style: around-the-walls Mainline run: 65 feet Minimum radius: 36″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 2 percent Benchwork: open grid Height: 49″ Roadbed: Homasote […]

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HO scale Placerville Branch

HOscalePlacervilleBranch1

Name: The Placerville Branch Layout owner: Tom Ebert Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 11 x 27 feet Prototype: Southern Pacific Locale: Northern California foothills Era: 1930s Style: double-deck continuous-climb walkaround Mainline run: 110 feet Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 2 percent Benchwork: L-girder and open-grid Height: 34″ (lower staging) to 62″ Roadbed: cork […]

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Four compact track plans

QuanaAcmePacific

Present and former members of the Model Railroader staff designed these four model railroads. Each can fit a 150-square-foot space. That space could be a 10 x 15-foot spare room, an 8-foot-wide stall in an 18-foot-long garage, a 5-foot-wide space along a 30-foot basement wall, or anything in between. What resulted was a variety of […]

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HO scale Georgia Northeastern

HOscaleGeorgiaNortheasternRR

Name: Georgia Northeastern RR Layout owner: Thomas Klimoski Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 9′-2″ x 10′-6″ Prototype: Georgia Northeastern RR Locale: Georgia Era: present-day Style: linear walkaround Mainline run: 36 feet Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: none Benchwork: open grid Height: 54″ Roadbed: cork Track: Micro Engineering code 70 Scenery: extruded-foam insulation […]

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HO scale Hudson, Delaware & Lehigh RR

HOscaleHudsonDelawareLehighRR

Name: Hudson, Delaware & Lehigh Layout owner: Gary Schaff Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 13′-6″ x 35′-0″ Prototype: Central RR of New Jersey and Pennsylvania RR Locale: Jersey City, N.J., to Mauch Chunk, Pa. Era: early 1950s Style: walk-in Mainline run: CNJ, 170 feet; PRR, 108 feet Minimum radius: 27″ Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: […]

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HO scale Pennsylvania Elmira Branch

HOscalePRRElmiraBranch1

Name: PRR Elmira Branch Layout owner: Anthony Daniele Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 22 x 45 feet Prototype: Pennsylvania RR, Erie RR, New York Central, and Lehigh Valley Locale: upstate New York Era: 1956 Style: walkaround Mainline run: 249 feet (to Canandaigua); 281 feet (to Sodus Yard) Minimum radius: 36″, 30″ (hidden) Minimum turnout: no. 6 […]

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On30 scale Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes

On30SandyRiverRangeleyLakes

This track plan originally appeared in Great Model Railroads 2020. Click on the link below to download a PDF copy of this track plan. Name: Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Layout owner: Lou Sassi Scale: On30 (1:48, 30″ track gauge) Size: 7 x 16 feet Prototype: Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Locale: north-central Maine Era: […]

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HO scale Denver & Rio Grande Western

HOscaleDenverRioGrandeWestern

Click on the image to download a PDF copy of this track plan. Name: Denver & Rio Grande Western Layout owner: David Powell Scale: HO scale (1:87.1) Size: 13′-0″ x 18′-6″ Prototype: Denver & Rio Grande Western Locale: Colorado Era: late 1950s to early 1960s Style: walk-in Mainline run: 65 feet Minimum radius: 273⁄8″ Minimum […]

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