Name: Morning Glow Railroad Size: Irregular L-shaped 100′ x 150′ Scale: 1:29 Gauge: Nº 1 (45mm) Era: 1960 to present—all diesel Theme: Southern Pacific—Donner Pass to Tehachapi Age: 3 years Motive power: All battery Length of mainline: 1,101′ Maximum gradient: 3 % Track: Code-250 stainless steel; #10 pneumatic turnouts Minimum radius: 7′ Water features: 500-gallon […]
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1. A five-to-six-year-old Washington hawthorn tree on the author’s former railroad. Don Parker 2. A potted three-to-four-year-old hawthorn growing in the Hoot ’n’ Holler railroad garden. (Note the use of double potting to aid in getting the tree out of the ground for root pruning. Also note the thorns.) Don Parker 3. A dawn redwood […]
Nancy Norris Common name: Sanders Blue dwarf Alberta spruce Latin name: Picea glauca ‘Sanders Blue’ aka P.g. ‘Sanderi’ Plant type: Dwarf conifer USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9 (winter protection in Zones 3-5) Cultural needs: Moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil, sun or part shade Plant size: 4-6′ high by 2-3′ wide in 10 years, if not pruned […]
Name: Fairhope & Northern RR Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 14 x 22 feet Prototype: freelanced, inspired by New York, New Haven & Hartford Locale: New England Era: 1950s Style: walk-in Mainline run: 84 feet Minimum radius: 26″ (visible track), 22″ (hidden track) Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: 3 percent Benchwork: L-girder Height: 40″ to […]
Name: Santa Fe Scale: HO Size: 30 x 48 feet Prototype: freelanced, inspired by Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Locale: Southern California Era: early 1950s Style: walk-in Mainline run: 360 feet Minimum radius: 34″ (main), 26″ (branch) Minimum turnout: no. 6 (main), no. 5 (secondary), no. 4 (branch) Maximum grade: 4 percent Benchwork: open frame […]
Layout designer: Ray Stuber Scale: O Layout size: 6 1/2 x 12 Track type: Lionel tubular Minimum curve: O-31 Originally appeared in the December 2015 issue of Classic Toy Trains magazine Build the Lionel Lines track plan Build the Lionel Lines track plan overview […]
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page This episode of the ongoing backdrop installation series highlights (pun intended) how David added an inexpensive track lighting fixture along the top edge of the hardboard. David wasn’t entirely pleased with the resulting bright lights at eye level, so you’ll get to see […]
Name: Conrail Shared Assets, Detroit North Yard Branch Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 26 x 42 feet Prototype: Conrail Shared Assets Locale: Detroit, Michigan Era: modern (2005) Style: double-deck walkaround Mainline run: 230 feet Minimum radius: 28″ (main), 24″ (industry) Minimum turnout: no. 6 (main), no.5 (industry) Maximum grade: 2 percent Benchwork: L-girder Height: 42″ (lower […]
Name: Southern Pacific Shasta Route Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 24 x 26 feet Prototype: Southern Pacific Locale: Northern California Period: mid-1950s Style: walk-in Mainline run: 230 feet Minimum radius: 36″ Minimum turnout: no. 8 (main), no. 6 (yards) Maximum grade: 11⁄2 percent Benchwork: open grid and L-girder Height: 49″ to 58″ Roadbed: Homasote on T-girder […]
Name: Columbia & Western Scale: N (1:160) Size: 16′-6″ x 20′-0″ Prototype: Canadian Pacific Locale: southern British Columbia Period: 1970 Style: multi-deck walkaround with double-mushroom peninsula Mainline run: 230 feet Minimum radius: 18″ (main), 14″ (branch line) Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: 2.5 percent Benchwork: open grid Height: 30″ to 76″ Roadbed: 3⁄4″ plywood […]
Name: Shady Grove & Sherrill Scale: On30 (1:48 proportion, scale 30″ track gauge) Size: 24 x 34 feet Theme: freelanced Locale: West Virginia Period: July 1947 Style: linear walkaround Mainline run: 200 feet Turnout minimum: no. 6 Maximum grade: 4 percent (main), 7 percent (branch line) Benchwork: open-grid and L girder Height: 52″ to 60″ Roadbed: […]
