Build a yard office in 1:29 scale

Build a yard office in 1:29 scale

Download the PDF of this project here. This PDF is formatted to print on your home printer. Most pieces are formatted to fit on a 8.5″ x 11″ piece of paper. For larger parts of the plan, you will see “break lines.” Line up the break lines to create the larger piece. Please make sure […]

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Sustainability for lasting enjoyment

train near rocks on garden railway

When we start out, we intend to make our dream come true. Our piqued imagination and the enthusiasm of fellow modelers are necessary to sustain us through the long construction process. Long-term and second-go-round railroad gardeners have used strong building materials for their walks, retaining walls, railroad and structures. They researched the plants to find […]

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Union Pacific freight station drawings

UnionPacificfreightstation

Check out these plans for the Union Pacific Glendale freight depot from Model Railroader magazine. Union Pacific built this modern-looking freight station midway along the 1.25-mile Glendale Branch that once was part of the former Glendale & Montrose Ry. The post-World War II structure was built of brick with large windows for natural light, and […]

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Calumet & South Chicago RR

CalumetSouthChicago

Name: Calumet & South Chicago RR Layout designer: Michael Sharp Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 12′-0″ x 14′-6″ Prototype: freelanced Locale: Calumet Region of northwest Indiana Era: mid- to late-1960s Style: double-deck shelf Mainline run: n/a Minimum radius: 21″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: n/a Originally appeared in the October 2013 Model Railroader. Click on […]

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HO scale Pennsylvania RR

PennsylvaniaRRupperplan

Name: Pennsylvania RR Layout designer: Bill Hughes Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 23′-6″ x 24′-9″ Locale: New Jersey Era: transition era Style: Walk-in Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 2 percent Originally appeared in the October 2013 Model Railroader. Click on the link to download the PDF of this track plan. […]

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Checking HO couplers

Hand checking gauge of HO coupler

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Model Railroader associate editor Cody Grivno shows how to check and fix HO scale couplers. […]

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How to add coupler box screws to an Athearn freight car

Adding a coupler screw

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Press-fit coupler boxes can cause couplers to droop or even fall off. In this Expert Tip video, Model Railroader associate editor Cody Grivno shows you how to secure the coupler boxes on Athearn Trains freight car models with screws. For this project Cody […]

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Demonstration of Sergent HO scale operating couplers

Hand uncoupling two pieces of rolling stock with tool

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Check out this demo of Sergent HO scale operating couplers. Expert model railroader Pelle Søeborg uses operating couplers made by Sergent Engineering. To uncouple cars, an operator holds a magnetic wand over the coupler. Pelle demonstrates the Sergent couplers installed on a freight […]

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HO scale Lehigh & Keystone Valley

MRRA0913_Lehigh_A

Name: Lehigh & Keystone Valley Layout designer: Lehigh & Keystone Valley model railroading club Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 45 x 60 feet Theme: Eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey Locale: Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley Era: 1950-1970 Style: linear walkaround Mainline run: 960 feet Minimum radius: 28″ Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: 1.5 percent in helix […]

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N scale Norfolk Southern Harrisburg Line

MRRG0913_Norfolk

Name: Norfolk Southern Harrisburg Line Layout designer: Bob Sprague Scale: N (1:160) Size: 12′-10″ x 13′-4″ Prototype: Norfolk Southern Locale: Hershey, Pa. Era: present Style: multilevel walk in Mainline run: 35 feet Minimum radius: 15″ (except where noted) Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 2 percent Originally appeared in the September 2013 Model Railroader. Click […]

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