Lou Sassi’s HO scale Moving Coal on the C&O layout

An illustration of Lou Sassi’s HO scale Moving Coal on the C&O layout.

  Facts & features Name: C&O Monroe Division Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 21 x 23 feet Prototype: C&O, Chessie System Locale: Appalachia Era: late 1960s-early ’70s Style: walk-in Mainline run: 150 feet Minimum radius: 30″ (main), 24″ (other tracks) Minimum turnout: no. 6 (main), no. 4 (other tracks) Maximum grade: 2.5 percent Benchwork: L-girder Height: […]

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A visit to Len Smith’s O gauge Reading layout

Len Smith's layout and the cover of the November 2021 Classic Toy Trains

Take a ride on Len Smith’s O gauge Reading RR featured in the November 2021 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Modern locomotives and rolling stock plus great scenery make this layout a terrific tribute to his favorite fallen flag. Have a look at the track plan here. […]

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Santa Fe Inspiration gallery volume 2

A Santa Fe steam locomotive and caboose are posed at Gary Hoover's HO Scale representation of "Summit", the top of the grade for the Santa Fe in California's Cajon Pass.

In this photo gallery, we encourage you to enjoy two fantastic Santa Fe layouts that are inspired. We hope they inspire you on your journey to creating a new model railroad layout, even one based on the Santa Fe! The first railroad is Gary Hoover’s interpretation of the Santa Fe Railway on Aug. 29, 1951. […]

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HO scale Toledo, Walhonding Valley & Ohio

HO scale Toledo, Walhonding Valley & Ohio

The layout at a glance Name: Toledo, Walhonding Valley & Ohio Layout owner: Associated Model Railroad Engineers of Coshocton Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 40 x 143 feet (layout), 50 x 150 feet (room) Theme: freelanced Locale: southeastern Ohio Era: not specific Style: walk in Mainline run: approximately 967 feet Minimum radius: 42″ (main line) Minimum […]

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HO scale Boston & Maine RR

HOscaleBostonMaineRR

Name: Boston & Maine Layout owner: Thomas Oxnard Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 18 x 28 feet Prototype: freelanced, inspired by the Boston & Maine Locale: Boston, Seacoast region of New Hampshire into the mountains Era: 1953 Style: walk-in Mainline run: 194 feet Minimum radius: 20″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 3 percent Benchwork: L-girder […]

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HO scale Norfolk & Western of the 1950s

HOscaleNorfolkWestern

Name: The Norfolk & Western of the 1950s Layout owner: Gary Hoover Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 24 x 49 feet Prototype: Norfolk & Western Ry. Locale: Virginia and West Virginia Era: 1954 to 1957 Style: multi-level walk-in Mainline run: 120 feet Minimum radius: 30″ (N&W), 27″ (Virginian Ry.) Minimum turnout: no.8 (main), no. 6 (yards) […]

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HO scale Virginia & Truckee RR

HOscaleVirginiaTruckee

Name: Virginia & Truckee RR Layout owner: Donn Tolley Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 21′-7″ x 21′-10″ Prototype: Virginia & Truckee RR Locale: northwestern Nevada Era: 1888 Style: walk-in Mainline run: 1541⁄2 feet Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: no. 3 stub-ended Maximum grade: 2 percent (V&T), 6 percent (Lake Tahoe RR) Benchwork: L-girder Height: 42″ to […]

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HO scale Stockton & Copperopolis

HOscaleStocktonCopperopolis

  The layout at a glance Name: Stockton & Copperopolis RR Layout designer: Don Ball Scale: HO (1:87) Size: 37′-0″ x 40′-3″ Prototype: Stockton & Copperopolis RR Locale: California Era: 1895 Style: linear walkaround Mainline run: 240 feet Branchline run: 100 feet Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 2 percent Train length: […]

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HO scale St. Louis Junction RR Co.

HOscaleStLouisJunctionRRCo

The layout at a glance Name: St. Louis Junction Layout designer: John Schindler Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 30 x 60 feet Prototype: BNSF Ry., CSX, Norfolk Southern, Terminal RR Association of St. Louis, and Union Pacific Locale: St. Louis area Era: 2010 Style: multi-deck walk-in Mainline run: 275 feet Minimum radius: 32″ Minimum turnout: no. […]

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