Don’t miss the latest Model Railroader project layout, the Eagle Mountain RR, in the January 2016 issue. The HO scale layout is inspired by mining operations in Southern California during the 1960s and 1970s. Follow along as associate editor Eric White shows you highlights of this 4 x 6-foot model railroad.
The Model Railroader staff’s Eagle Mountain RR
By Angela Cotey | November 19, 2013
| Last updated on November 23, 2020
Take a tour of the Model Railroader staff's 4 x 6-foot HO scale project model train layout
How did you paint the buildings with the white triangular looking weathering? Was it a template of sorts?
I realize HO scale is the most popular scale of model rail roaders, due to size limitations I must use
n scale for my 5′ x 9′ table top model railroad. I enjoy all of these wonderful videos demonstrating the various techniques of weathering, kit building, layout construction, and scenic creation but most of them
here on model rail roader are demonstrated using only HO scale. I try using the same techniques that are wonderfully demonstrated here on model rail roader video plus in HO scale on my n scale model rail road with little success due to the much smaller, harder to work with size.
It would be nice to see more how to videos from model rail roader showing these same expert model rail road layout tips & techniques performed using n scale.
There’s rumors around Southern California that this railroads being rebuilt and will start to have ore extracted again, might be a fun updating scheme
I was very interested in this layout. I will be restricted to a 4X6 HO layout for my scene. Eagle Mountain shows it can be done. Nice work. Thanks much!
That was amazing video on the layout great for new beginners great ideas on the train layout for small Spaces and portable to thank you
This line was reactivated a ew years later to haul garbage to fill in the mine pit. Don’t know how long that lasted.
Nice! You did a great job of capturing, in a very small space, the look and feel of a mining operation in the low desert of California. I could watch this for a long time.
Looks great, I saw this in the construction stage when visited in early June, friendly staff and great customer service! (and layouts of course)
Nice work. Been to Eagle Mountain. Have purple samples of Ferrite to prove it. Got to stand at the edge and look in also. It is still there as the trash deal didn't work out for Kaiser Reclamation. You all have done a nice job of selective compression. You did a lot of research also, I commend you. Southern Pacific Historical Society's quarterly did a piece on Eagle Mountain years ago. Their evidence suggests way more then 2 trains a day at peak production. Also that trains varied from 75 to 105 units. Good job! Looking forward to the rest.
Have you ever considered building a ho scale Helix? I am considering building one for my layout but haven't found any detailed plans for this project. I do think it would make a interesting video project.
The concept is great and perfect to modify John Allen's original Gorre & Daphetid table top layout that he later incorporated into his final GD that included floor to ceiling mountains in Giant Canyon.
Good tour of the layout Eric. Enjoyed meeting you at the Kalmbach booth during Trainfest. Look forward to reading more about it in the coming issues of MR.
Allan
Good call on the 4×6 footprint. It will be much more portable than a 4×8.
Awesome! Can't wait to read about it and watch the videos. Would a GE 70 tonner and smaller ore cars look out of place on this layout?
Conceivably, you could add a small section to the shop side off the main and have 4449 in the dirt as if it just plowed through the fence like the scene from Tough Guys (removable, of coarse).
Very nicely done! The buildings and landscape look fantastic! Nice to see you guys give the Southwestern region some love. Let's see it connect to the SP mainline in a future project! 🙂
Memories. My dad and I visited her many times in the 70's.
Great looking layout, especially for someone with limited space , my hat is off to the crew at Model Railroader.
Very nice intro Eric, of Model Railroaders newest project railroad. What would be the dimensions of this layout, if built in "N" scale?
I am amazed by the details on this layout! Especially the ore conveyor. I hope to see more specifics in the coming issues!
Great project railroad! If anyone is interested in visiting a small
Kaiser Steel Museum it's located at: 9324 San Bernardino Road, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
Nice job in a small space. But I was curious as to the selection of a U30B for the locomotive, as the Eagle Mountain used a small fleet of U30C's exclusively. Was this due to the radius of curves on the layout?
I have photos of the Eagle Mountain in action on my Flickr page @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/55273381@N06/albums/72157628892489673
and the interchange with Southern Pacific @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/55273381@N06/albums/72157642861557625/page7
I am impressed with the small details that is going into this project. I am eager to try some of these techniques e.g. bridges, buildings, etc. Thanks MR staff for a small but detailed project!
I believe Kaiser used U33C's. Also you missed one little detail on the loco, every engine had a medical stretcher in case the train came upon someone lost and ill in the desert. The Eagle Mountain found a second life. The mine was eventually filled in with LA's garbage, tight bottom gons loaded with black trash bags. Think what you could have done with Nice, Nifty, Neat Scale.
Here in the uk, there does not seem to be a lot of t-track about, at the moment I, and a group of friends, are into G scale. But I am going to build a small straight module, along with a corner module, one to see how it compares to you guys, and two, perhaps it will take of here, if I take it along to a exhibition or two.