HO scale Mississippi, Alabama & Gulf RR

Mississippi Alabama Gulf - The Magnolia Route

Name: Mississippi, Alabama & Gulf RR Layout designer: Cliff Powers Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 14 x 32 feet Locale: southern Mississippi and New Orleans Period: summer of 1955 Style: multi-deck walkaround Mainline run: 290 feet Minimum radius: 27″ (main line) Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 1.78 percent (helix only) Originally appeared in the Great […]

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Nitinat River RR

Nitinat River RR

Name: Nitinat River RRLayout designer: The Branch Lines & Backwoods ClubScale: HO (1:87.1)Size: approx. 16 x 26 feet (5 x 8m)Prototype: Canadian National and freelancedLocale: Vancouver Island, B.C., CanadaEra: late 1940sStyle: sectional donutMainline run: 95 feetMinimum radius: 19″Minimum turnout: no. 5 (main), no. 4 (branch)Maximum grade: 3 percent Originally appeared in the Great Model Railroads […]

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Pennsylvania RR New York Division

Pennsylvania RR New York Division

Name: Pennsylvania RR New York Division Layout designer: Andy Rubbo Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 26 x 37 feet Prototype: PRR electrified main line between Philadelphia and New York City Locale: New Jersey Period: summer 1967 Style: double-deck around-the-walls Mainline run: 300 feet Minimum radius: 40″ (exposed track), 28″ in staging Minimum turnout: no. 8 Maximum […]

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Rio Verde RR

Rio Verde RR

Name: Rio Verde RR Layout designer: Ted Brandon Scale: On21⁄2 (1:48 narrow gauge on HO gauge track) Size: 15 x 24 feet Prototype: freelanced Locale: Rocky Mountains Era: 1890 to 1930 Style: walk-in Mainline run: 150 feet Minimum radius: 16″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: 3 percent Originally appeared in the Great Model Railroads […]

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Yosemite Valley RR

Yosemite Valley RR Middle level

Name: Yosemite Valley RR Layout designer: Jack Burgess Scale: HO (1.87.1) Size: 20 x 20 feet Prototype: shortline railroad to Yosemite National Park Locale: San Joaquin Valley and Merced River Canyon in California Era: August 1939 Style: multi-level Mainline run: 112 feet Minimum radius: 22″ with spiral easements Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: 2.3 […]

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Chicago Belt Lines

Chicago Belt Lines

Name: Chicago Belt Lines Layout designer: Clifton Linton and Steven Cox Scale: N scale Size: 8′-6″ x 23′-6″ Prototypes: Baltimore & Ohio Chicago Terminal, Belt Railway Co. of Chicago Locale: Chicago Era: 1970s Style: around the walls Mainline run: 44 feet (B&OCT), 21 feet (BRC) Minimum radius: 11″ Minimum turnout: Peco short Turnout control: Manual […]

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N scale South West Pacific

South West Pacific RR

Name: South West Pacific Layout designer: Clifton Linton Scale: N (1:160) Size: 16′-2″ x 43′-7″ Prototype: Southern Pacific, Western Pacific Locale: California Era: 1953 Style: around-the-walls Mainline run: 158 feet Minimum radius: 18 inches Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 2.5 percent Originally appeared in the November 2012 issue of Model Railroader. Click on the […]

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Sealing powdered pastels

Example of weathering with pastels

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Powdered pastels are very useful for model railroad weathering projects. However, it’s also important to keep the pastels in place. In this expert tip you’ll learn how to properly use clear parts sealer when weathering models with powdered pastels. […]

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Clamps for structure model building

Cody Grivno at his desk

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page There are many useful clamps that will help make your next structure building project a lot easier. Model Railroader associate editor Cody Grivno gives you an overview of the different types of clamps that are available and shows you how to use them […]

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Model Railroader basic training: How to cut rails

Hands cutting a piece of model railroad track

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page When building your model railroad, you may have times when you need to cut track to fit in a certain space. Model Railroader associate editor Cody Grivno will show you how to easily cut track in this basic training video. […]

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Workin’ the Wabash in 7 x 16 feet

CTT-T1112_101

Layout designer: Ray Stuber Scale: O Layout size: 7 x 16 feet Track type: Lionel O Minimum curve: O-31 Originally appeared in the November 2012 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Workin’ the Wabash in 7 x 16 feet track plan Workin’ the Wabash in 7 x 16 feet schematics Workin’ the Wabash in 7 x […]

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