The Wolf Creek Central RR in HO scale

A model railroad trackplan

Facts & features Name: Wolf Creek Central RRScale: HO (1:87.1)Size: 8′-1″ x 13′-1″ Prototype: freelancedLocale: southeast North CarolinaEra: 1990sStyle: peninsulaMainline run: 81 feetMinimum radius: 24″Minimum turnout: no. 4Maximum grade: 2.7%Benchwork: L-girderHeight: 48″Roadbed: HomasoteTrack: code 70, 83, and 100 flextrackScenery: Woodland Scenics ground foamBackdrop: Painted tempered hardboardControl: Digitrax DB150 DCC   Download a PDF of this […]

Read More…

An HO Olympic logging layout in less than 64 square feet

At twilight, a black steam engine refills its tender from the water tank in front of a green and white depot

By Greg Privette Vacationing near the Olympic mountains of Washington state birthed a vision for my new HO scale layout. Logging was the industry and Shelton, Wash., was home to the last logging railroad in the United States. Old-growth timbers harvested near Camp 5 were delivered by the Simpson Railroad to Shelton starting around the […]

Read More…

HO scale Royal Gorge Route

HO scale Royal Gorge Route

The layout at a glance Name: Royal Gorge Route Layout owner: Florida Scale Rails club Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 8 x 12 feet Prototype: Denver & Rio Grande Western (standard and HOn3 narrow gauge); Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; and Union Pacific Locale: Colorado Era: 1930s to ’60s Mainline run: 75 feet Minimum radius: 22″ […]

Read More…

HOn3 Rio Grande Southern Lizard Head Division

HOn3RioGrandeSouthernLizardHeadDivision

Name: Rio Grande Southern, Lizard Head Division Layout owner: Gregg Condon Scale: HOn3 (1:87.1 proportion, 3-foot gauge) Size: 17 x 40 feet Prototype: Rio Grande Southern RR Locale: Southwestern Colorado Era: September 1947 Style: walk-in Mainline Run: 125 feet Minimum Radius: 20” Minimum Turnout: no. 4 Maximum Grade: 3 percent Benchwork: open grid Height: 42″ to 56″ […]

Read More…

S scale Ahnapee & Western Ry.

SscaleAhnapeeWesternRR

Name: Ahnapee & Western RR Layout owner: Larry Blank Scale: S (1:64) Size: 22 x 24 feet Prototype: freelanced Locale: glacial hills of Wisconsin along the shore of Lake Michigan Era: 1937 Style: around the walls with peninsula Mainline run: 200 feet Minimum radius: 48″ Turnout minimum: no. 6 Maximum grade: 3 percent Benchwork: open […]

Read More…

On30 Otter Creek & Ripton

On30OtterCreekandRipton

Name: Otter Creek & Ripton Layout owner: David McLeod Scale: On30 (1:48, 30″ gauge) Size: 12 x 15 feet Theme: freelanced New England narrow gauge short line Locale: central Vermont Era: 1912 Style: around-the-walls with peninsula Mainline run: 61 feet Minimum radius: 24″ (main), 18″ (branch) Minimum turnout: Peco medium radius Maximum grade: 4.5 percent […]

Read More…

N scale Union Pacific Spine Line

NscaleUnionPacificSpineLinetrackplan

Click the image to download a copy of the track plan. Name: UP’s Spine Line Layout owner: Bob Sprague Scale: N (1:160) Size: 10′-0″ x 17′-6″ Prototype: Union Pacific Locale: Eastern Iowa Era: modern Style: walkaround Mainline run: 59 feet Minimum radius: 15″ (main), 12″ (industrial and wyes) Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: none […]

Read More…

HO scale Denver & Rio Grande Western

HOscaleDenverRioGrandeWestern

Name: Denver & Rio Grande Western Layout owner: Ed Miller Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 25′-6″ x 41′-6″ Prototype: D&RGW Locale: Colorado and Utah Era: steam-to-diesel transition Style: around the walls with peninsulas Mainline run: 461 feet Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 2 percent Benchwork: open grid Height: 36″ to 49′-6″ Roadbed: […]

Read More…

HO scale Santa Fe, Colorado & Western RR

HOscaleSantaFeColoradoWesternRR

Name: Santa Fe, Colorado & Western RR Layout owner: Scale Rails club Scale: N (1:87.1) and HOn3 (HO scale, 3 foot track gauge) Size: 27 x 42 feet Prototype: Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe and Denver & Rio Grande Western Locale: California and Colorado Era: 1955-1965 Style: multi-level, walk-in Mainline run: 731 feet Minimum radius: […]

Read More…