Bayport Division of the Soo Line

Track plan at a glance Name: Bayport Division of the Soo Line Scale: HO (1:87) Size: 21 x 30 feet Prototype: free-lance division of the Soo Line Period: 1970s Style: around-the-walls walk-in with peninsulas Mainline run: 126 feet Minimum radius: 18″ (most mainline curves are 30″) Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: 3 percent Originally […]

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Boston MTA

Track plan at a glance Name: Boston MTA Scale: HO (1:87) Size: 7 x 12 feet Era: 1959 Style: walk in Minimum radius: 6″ Minimum turnout: no. 2 Maximum grade: 5 percent Originally appeared in the October 1999 issue of Model Railroader. See a PDF version of this track plan by clicking here. […]

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Harlowton extension

Track plan at a glance Name: Harlowton extension Scale: N (1:160) Size: 1 x 8 feet Prototype: North Montana branch of the Milwaukee Road’s Rocky Mountain Division Era: late 1950s Minimum turnout: no. 4 in yard; no. 6 on main Originally appeared in the October 1999 issue of Model Railroader. See a PDF version of […]

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Leamington Yard- L&HR

Track plan at a glance Name: Leamington Yard- L&HR Scale: HO Size: 4 x 16 feet Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Originally appeared in the October 1999 issue of Model Railroader. See a PDF version of this track plan by clicking her. […]

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Tall Pine RR

Track plan at a glance Name: Tall Pine RR Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 14 x 24 feet Prototype: freelanced Era: 1940s Style: walkaround Mainline run: 125 feet Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 3 percent Originally appeared in the January 2008 issue of Model Railroader. See a PDF version of this track […]

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Rod Stewart and model railroads

Glamour shot of Rod Stewart from 2007.

WAUKESHA, WI — Hall of fame rock-n-roller, Rod Stewart, unwinds after a concert by kitbashing and scratchbuilding. These terms may sound like code words that explain the mysterious antics of a world-famous celebrity, but instead they describe techniques for one of the world’s most popular hobbies: model railroading. The acclaimed songwriter of hits like “Forever […]

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Southern Pacific Bakersfield Subdivision

Track plan at a glance Name: Southern Pacific Bakersfield subdivisions Scale: N (1:160) Size: 9 x 30½ feet Prototype: Southern Pacific’s crossing of the Tehachapi Mountains (Santa Fe has trackage rights) Theme: heavy freight and passenger mountain crossing Period: 1950s to present Style: around the walls and peninsula Minimum radius: 21″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 […]

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Central Vermont

Track plan at a glance Name: Central Vermont Scale: N Originally appeared in the February 2000 issue of Model Railroader. See a PDF version of this track plan by clicking here. […]

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Donner Pass Division

Track plan at a glance Name: Donner Pass Division Scale: N (1:160) Size: 3 x 8 feet Prototype: Southern Pacific Period: 1940-1955 Style: twice around loop Mainline run: 33 feet Minimum radius: 10″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: 2 percent Originally appeared in the September 2000 issue of Model Railroader. Also appeared in 102 […]

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Pennsylvania RR Middle Division

Track plan at a glance Name: Pennsylvania RR Middle Division Scale: N (1:160) Size: 2½ x 10 feet Prototype: Pennsylvania RR Era: 1950s Style: double-track oval with staging tracks Mainline run: 45 feet Minimum radius: 12½” Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: zero Originally appeared in the January 2001 issue of Model Railroader. Also appeared […]

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The Greenbrier Branch of the Chesapeake & Ohio

Track plan at a glance Name: Greenbrier Branch of the Chesapeake & Ohio Scale: HO and HOn3 (1:87.1) Size: 15 x 24 feet Prototype: C&O, Greenbrier Logging Co. Period: 1930s to 1950s Style: walk-in Mainline run: 80 feet standard gauge, 30 feet narrow gauge Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: 2.5 percent […]

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