The layout at a glance Name: Chesapeake & Allegheny RR Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 13 x 36 feet Prototype: freelanced Locale: mid-Atlantic Era: 1950-60s Style: around the walls Mainline run: 201 feet Maximum grade: 3 percent Minimum curve radius: 36″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Benchwork: open grid and L-girder Height: 55″-70″ Roadbed: Homasote Track: handlaid […]
John Cunius is truly the “Chairman of the Board” when it comes to his O gauge layout. The display, in a corner of his train room, puts the “fun” in “functional.” It has shelves underneath that hold his collection of locomotives, cars, and other equipment. See this and many other space-saving designs in Classic Toy […]
John Cunius is truly the “Chairman of the Board” when it comes to his O gauge layout. The display, in a corner of his train room, puts the “fun” in “functional.” It has shelves underneath that hold his collection of locomotives, cars, and other equipment. See this and many other space-saving designs in Classic Toy […]
Today’s sketch was drawn long before Sketching with Steve was a gleam in anyone’s eye. It was 2008, and I’d been with Model Railroader less than a year. Finally, the resources to build my HO scale version of the Cincinnati, Lebanon & Northern Ry. in 1906 were within my reach! I drew this track plan […]
Facts & features Name: MR&T State Line Scale: N (160:1) Size: 4 x 12 feet Prototype: Freelanced; Milwaukee, Racine & Troy Era: 1980s Style: island Mainline run: 28 feet Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 1 percent Benchwork: plywood subroadbed on L-girder Height: 49″ Roadbed: cork Track: Micro Engineering code 55 Scenery: […]
Facts & features Name: Rhode Haven Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 13 x 13, 12 x 14, and 14 x 16 feet Prototype: freelanced, inspired by New York, New Haven & Hartford Locale: New England Era: 1930s”40s Style: walk-in Mainline run: 230 feet Minimum radius: 32″ Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: 2.5 percent Benchwork: L-girder […]
On a railroad, a switch usually refers to the moving parts of a turnout that routes a train between two possible routes. This time, though, we’re talking about an electrical switch: specifically, a double-pole double-throw switch (DPDT). It’s easy to understand a single-pole single-throw switch: it only has two states, open or closed, off or […]
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. […]
Lionel’s Phantom train is on the rails! We’ve all seen Lionel, MTH, and American Flyer model train sets running under the Christmas tree, but what about for Halloween? CTT editor Hal Miller builds a small layout he calls the Chaos, Tragedy & Terror RR. It captures the spirit of the season with accessories from Woodland […]
Lionel’s Phantom train is on the rails! We’ve all seen Lionel, MTH, and American Flyer model train sets running under the Christmas tree, but what about for Halloween? CTT editor Hal Miller builds a small layout he calls the Chaos, Tragedy & Terror RR. It captures the spirit of the season with accessories from Woodland […]
Facts & features Name: Santa Fe Lines Scale: HO (1:87.1) and HOn3 (36″ narrow gauge) Size: 20 x 22 feet Prototype: Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe and the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Locale: Northern Arizona/Southwestern Colorado Era: 1994 Style: walk-in Mainline run: 150 feet (Santa Fe) plus 110 feet (D&S) Minimum radius: 24″ (ATSF), […]
A turnout is where one track becomes two. The single track, where the movable point rails let a train choose between routes, is called the point end of the turnout. The two-track end, where the closure rails cross at the frog, is the frog end. And which end is which can make or break a […]
