A portable steel mill layout in N scale

A portable steel mill layout in N scale

By Mitch Horner | October 5, 2023

| Last updated on February 18, 2026


A playful interpretation of an early 20th century steel mill

Facts & features

Name: Steel mill with a twist
Scale: N (1:160)
Size: 3′-0″ x 6′-8″
Prototype: Freelanced
Locale: Upper Midwest
Era: Mid-20th century
Style: Island
Mainline run: 17 feet
Minimum radius: 11.25″
Minimum turnout: None
Maximum grade: None
Benchwork: Hollow-core door
Height: Varies by venue
Roadbed: None
Track: Kato Unitrack and Bachmann E-Z Track
Scenery: Extruded-foam insulation board
Backdrop: None
Control: Direct-current cab control with Bachmann Auto-Reversing Systems

portable steel mill layout: A model railroad trackplan modeled after a steel mill in the upper midwest

 

Download a PDF of this trackplan!

Buy the November 2023 issue of Model Railroader!

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