Retail railroading

20160311

In a scene far removed from today’s unit and intermodal trains, a small boy watches as a shipment is loaded aboard the Union Transportation Co.’s daily train at New Egypt, N.J., in September 1958. The short line used locomotives and cabin cars leased from the Pennsylvania Railroad. Aaron G. Fryer photo […]

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Video: HO scale River Falls & Eastern Ry

HO scale River Falls Eastern Ry

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Larry Hickman’s HO scale River Falls & Eastern Ry. is a freelanced model railroad set in West Virginia from 1959 to 1960. The layout is inspired by the Baltimore & Ohio, Western Maryland, and New York Central. Watch this video tour of trains […]

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Video: HO scale River Falls & Eastern Ry

HO scale River Falls Eastern Ry

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Larry Hickman’s HO scale River Falls & Eastern Ry. is a freelanced model railroad set in West Virginia from 1959 to 1960. The layout is inspired by the Baltimore & Ohio, Western Maryland, and New York Central. Watch this video tour of trains […]

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Video: HO scale Northern Memories model railroad

HO scale Northern Memories model railroad

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Camping trips along the Chicago & North Western as a kid inspired John Mueller to build his HO scale Northern Memories model railroad. The layout is set in northern Wisconsin in the early 1950s. In this video you can watch steam and diesel […]

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Video: HO scale Northern Memories model railroad

HO scale Northern Memories model railroad

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Camping trips along the Chicago & North Western as a kid inspired John Mueller to build his HO scale Northern Memories model railroad. The layout is set in northern Wisconsin in the early 1950s. In this video you can watch steam and diesel […]

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HO scale Northern Memories

HOscaleNorthernMemoriestrackplan

The layout at a glance Name: Northern Memories Layout owner/designer: John Mueller Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 10 x 21 feet plus 13 x 17 feet Theme: freelanced, inspired by Chicago & North Western Ry. Locale: Northern Wisconsin Era: early 1950s Style: walk-in, around the walls Mainline run: 190 feet Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnout: Atlas […]

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HO scale River Falls & Eastern Ry

HOscaleRiverFallsEasternRytrackplan1

The layout at a glance Name: River Falls & Eastern Ry. Layout designer/owner: Larry Hickman Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 28 x 38 feet Prototype: Freelanced Locale: West Virginia Era: 1959 to ‘60 Style: Double-deck Mainline run: 400 feet Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 2.5 percent Benchwork: open grid Height: 42″ (lower […]

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Bonus track plans for a small shelf switching model railroad

LappSidingtrackplan

Model railroad author Robert Pethoud wrote “How to operate a small switching layout” in the March 2016 issue of Model Railroader magazine. In that article Robert shows how to use three 15″ x 48″ modules to create an operationally interesting shelf layout. The story features an HO scale track plan, the Fall Creek Branch. As […]

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HO scale Fall Creek Branch

HOscaleFallCreekBranch

Name: Fall Creek Branch Layout owner: Robert Pethoud Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 15″ x 144″ Prototype: freelanced Locale: Oregon Era: 1950s Style: sectional Mainline run: 12 feet Minimum radius: 26″ Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: none Benchwork: open frame Height: varies Roadbed: N scale cork on 1⁄4″ thick basswood Track: code 83 flextrack Scenery: […]

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HO scale Penn Central Hitop Branch

HOscalePennCentralHitopBranch

Name: Penn Central Hitop Branch Layout owner: Steve Campbell Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 4 x 8 feet Prototype: Penn Central (New York Central) Locale: West Virginia Era: 1968 to 1975 Style: island Mainline run: 18 feet Minimum radius: 22″ (main), 18″ (branch) Minimum turnout: Atlas Snap-Switch Maximum grade: 3.4 percent Benchwork: cookie-cutter Height: 40″ to […]

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HO scale Sherman Hills

HOscaleShermanHills

Name: Sherman Hills Layout owner: Judy Milford Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 5′-10″ x 9′-0″ Theme: small-town America Locale: generic northeastern U.S. Era: 1960s Style: island Mainline run: 32 feet in two separate loops Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: flat Benchwork: L-girder Height: 40″ (lower loop), 48″ (upper) Roadbed: cork Track: Atlas […]

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