What’s in a photograph?: Norfolk & Western at Blue Ridge, Va.

View from the cab of a Norfolk & Western 2-6-6-4 steam locomotive on an eastbound freight in 1953 at Blue Ridge, West Virginia. The photograph is black and white with 12 numbered callouts.

1 Split-point derail device. Considered more effective than a lifting-block derail when there is extra risk of cars rolling out onto the main line from a “house track” or “back track” (terms for station trackage other than a passing siding), or from an industry track, especially when there is a descending grade toward the switch, […]

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How-to Library: Turning Spaces into Places, Part 3

Gerry Leone in front of his multi-level layout.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page   In Part 3 of this mini-series, Gerry Leone struggles to figure out the best way to build his undulating roadway. Follow along to see how he works out a solution that incorporates stacked foam insulation board, Sculptamold, and plaster cloth. […]

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Turning Big Boys in 2 x 5 feet

HOscaleeaglecreeknorthernbigboy1

Flemming Ørneholm’s HO scale Eaglecreek & Northern, which was featured in the February 2012 Model Railroader, is a testament to his ingenious use of space. In less than 7 x 12 feet, Flemming’s HO scale layout captures the sprawling vistas of the west along the Union Pacific. With massive UP 4-8-8-4 Big Boys regularly hauling […]

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Materials list for HO scale Tews Cement plant for the Beer Line extension

TewsCementmaterialslistJune2017

Get the materials list for this project featured in the Beer Line extension series in the June 2017 Model Railroader Materials list Alpine Division Scale Models http://www.alpinemodels.com/index.html 5805 Rural New Haven Railroad Freight House Avery 8165 8 1⁄2” x 11” shipping labels Atlas Model Railroad Co. 0721 Middlesex Manufacturing Company Evergreen Scale Models styrene 100 […]

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How-to Library: C&NW Suburban Service, Part 2

Cody working on the Chicago & North Western HO scale commuter cars.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page   Cody has the Chicago & North Western HO scale commuter cars disassembled, so it’s over to the spray booth he goes to prep them for re-lettering. Follow along as he shares his proven tips and techniques for working with water-slide decals. […]

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Plants and gardening ideas for O scale railways

overview of O scale garden railway

Nancy Lagomarsino and Jacques Verdier are long-time O scale (1:48) collectors. After volunteering at the San Leandro Historical Railway Society’s (www.slhrs.org) G&O Railroad (containing both G and O scales), they were understandably inspired and motivated to dust off their collection to run in the great outdoors. Choosing O scale gives garden railroaders the advantage of […]

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How to model realistic utility poles and wires

Learn how to model utility poles and wires

Realistic utility poles with wires bring this model railroad town scene to life. Get detailed prototype information on utility poles in this previously published article by author Jeff Wilson. You’ll learn how to make your model railroad scenery more realistic by adding utility poles and wires. […]

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How-to Library: Turning Spaces into Places, Part 2

Gerry Leone in front of his multi-level layout.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page   Work on Gerry Leone’s HO scale Bona Vista Rwy. layout scene continues. In this episode, Gerry takes on roadway planning. To make it easily to visualize exactly where the highway and rustic roads will go, he shows how to make a simple […]

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HO scale 59th and Rust

HOscale59thandrust

Click on the image to download a PDF of the track plan. Name: 59th and Rust Layout owner: Raymond O’Neill Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 18 x 96 inches Theme: freelanced urban switching Locale: northeast New Jersey and New York Era: 1965 to 1975 Style: Shelf Mainline run: 14 feet Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnout: no. […]

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HO scale Baltimore and Ohio Southwest, Ohio Division

HOscaleBaltimoreOhioSouthwest1

Click on the image to download a PDF of the track plan. Name: Baltimore & Ohio Southwest Layout owner: Carl Griffin Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 14 x 29 feet Prototype: Baltimore & Ohio, Chesapeake & Ohio, New York Central Locale: Southeastern Ohio Era: 1964 Style: multi-deck walkaround Mainline run: 243 feet Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnout: no. […]

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How-to Library: Designing a layout, Part 8

David preparing to design a layout.

Time for the big track plan reveal…well, almost! David first shares some additional historic photos that help complete our overall view of Crystal Lake, Illinois, the community that inspired his design. Finally, aided by Ben Lake’s 3-D renderings, David walks and talks you through the entire plan for the C&NW HO scale layout. […]

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Canadian Canyons Series: Lessons Learned

David Popp and Drew Halverson next to benchwork

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In this final episode of our Canadian Canyons N scale (1:160) layout construction series, David Popp and Drew Halverson highlight the efforts, successes, and shortcomings over the last year of planning and assembling the model railroad introduced in the January 2019 issue of […]

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