Ron Hoess’ Eastbound Chestnut Hill & Stifftown Branch PRR

Scene of model train layout

This HO scale layout (13′ x 18′) is a point-to-point switching layout that depicts the Stifftown Branch and the first portion of the Chestnut Hill Branch of the PRR. The setting is North Philadelphia circa 1958. Since this is a prototype layout, all of the structures are scratchbuilt to better match the prototype. Key signature […]

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3D Track Plans: The HO scale Copper Basin Railway

HO scale Copper Basin Railway 3d track plan

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In this exclusive MRVP video, subscribers are treated to a unique 3-D rendering inspired by recent episodes of MRVP’s Taking Care of Business and Drew’s Trackside Adventures. After reading about the railroad in Model Railroading: The Ultimate Guide 2019, you’ll enjoy Ben Lake’s virtual […]

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28 Free Mid-Size Track Plans

When you have more than a bedroom for your railroad, you have some choices to make regarding what to fill the space with. Download this free 15-page PDF for 28 inspiring N, Nn3, HO, HOn 2 ½, Sn3, and On 2 ½ layout plans. […]

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HO scale Agawa Yard

HOscaleAgawaYard

Facts & Features: Name: Agawa Yard Layout owner: Chris Dening Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 4 x 12 feet Prototype: Canadian Pacific Locale: Vancouver, B.C. Era: 1969 Style: Portable sectional layout Mainline run: 30 feet Minimum radius: 20″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Benchwork: L-girder Height: 48″ Roadbed: cork Track: Peco codes 75 and 100 Scenery: Foam […]

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HO scale Red Mountain RR

HOscaleRedMountainRR

Click on the image to download a PDF of the track plan. Name: Red Mountain RR Layout owner: John V. Lazar Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 14 x 18 feet Prototypes: Pennsylvania RR and Ligonier Valley RR Locale: western Pennsylvania Era: 1945 to 1955 Style: multi-deck walk-in Mainline run: 103 feet Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnout: […]

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HO scale Canadian Pacific Ry. Montreal Terminals Division

HOscaleCanadianPacificMontrealTerminalsDivision

Name: CPR Montreal Terminals Division Layout owner: Ian Stronach Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 11′-6″ x 22′-0″ Prototype: Canadian Pacific Ry., Montreal Terminals Division Locale: Montreal Era: September 1968 Style: around the walls Mainline run: 72 feet Minimum radius: 30″ (main), 16″ (spur) Minimum turnout: no. 6 (main), no. 5 (yards) Maximum grade: 21⁄2 percent Benchwork: […]

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On30 Gold Creek Timber Co.

On30GoldCreekTimberCo

Name: Gold Creek Timber Co. Layout owners: Loren Neufeld, Jim Lemmond Scale: On30 (1:48 proportion, 30″ narrow gauge) Size: 8′-0″ x 14′-41⁄2″ Prototype: freelanced Locale: Western redwood forest Style: portable display layout Mainline run: 38 feet Minimum radius: 19″ Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: 1 percent Benchwork: plywood tabletop Height: 64″ Roadbed: none (track […]

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HO scale New Woodstock

HOscaleNewWoodstockNY

Name: New Woodstock Layout owner: Phil Lord Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 8 x 14 feet Prototype: Lehigh Valley RR Locale: Madison County, N.Y. Era: 1945 Style: shelf Mainline run: 40 feet Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: flat Benchwork: open grid Height: 481⁄2″ Roadbed: none Track: Atlas code 100 Scenery: extruded-foam insulation […]

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HO scale West Wisconsin RR

HOscaleWestWisconsinRR1

Name: West Wisconsin RR Layout owner: Mark Digerness Scale: 1:87.1 (HO) Size: 27 x 27 feet Prototype: Chicago & North Western Locale: northwest Wisconsin Era: early 1990s Style: walk-in Mainline run: 300 feet Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: 2.5 percent (helix) Benchwork: open grid Height: 36″ (lower deck), 59″ (upper deck) […]

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BONUS ARTICLE: N scale through the Northwoods

NscaleMissabeJunction20131

Steve Miazga’s updated N scale Missabe Junction is featured in the September 2018 Model Railroader. Check out This first article about Steve’s layout from the November 2013 Model Railroader. Steve Miazga grew up less than two blocks from the Soo Line main in Rhinelander, Wis. As a kid, he saw the Soo’s first Geeps and […]

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N scale Missabe Junction Ry. (2018)

NscaleMissabeJunction

Name: Missabe Junction Ry. (2018) Layout owner: Steve Miazga Scale: N (160:1) Size: 18 x 22 feet Prototypes: Soo Line; Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range; Wisconsin Central/Fox River Valley; Canadian National; and Missabe Junction Ry. Locale: north-central Wisconsin Era: 1960 to 1990 Style: island walk-in Mainline run: 150 feet Minimum radius: 15″ Minimum turnout: no. […]

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