Monson RR

Monson RR

Name: Monson RR Layout designer: Steven Otte Scale: HOn2 (1:87.1, 2-foot gauge) Size: 4 x 8 feet Prototype: Monson RR Locale: Maine Era: 1916-1919 Style: tabletop Mainline run: 19 feet Minimum radius: 15″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 stub Maximum grade: none Click on the link to download the PDF of this track plan. […]

Read More…

Reid Gap Ry.

Reid Gap Ry

Name: Reid Gap Ry. Layout designer: David Popp Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 4 x 8 feet Prototype: Virginian Ry. Locale: West Virginia Era: 1956 Mainline run: 14 feet Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: Atlas 18″ radius snap switch Maximum grade: 3 percent Originally appeared in the February 2011 issue of Model Railroader. Click on the […]

Read More…

Wexford RR

Wexford RR

Name: Wexford RR Layout designer: Jim Hediger Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 4 x 8 feet Prototype: Freelanced modern short line Locale: northern Midwest Era: present day Minimum radius: 18″ (main), 15″ (branch) Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: 41⁄2 percent Originally appeared in the February 2011 issue of Model Railroader. Click here to download a […]

Read More…

Build a 1:22.5-scale warehouse with loading dock

Build a 1:22.5-scale warehouse with loading dock

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. Despite our best […]

Read More…

Checking car weight

Cody Grivno at his desk

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Model Railroader associate editor Cody Grivno shows how to make sure that a car is weighted properly to roll efficiently on your layout. […]

Read More…

Bay Junction (Milwaukee, Racine & Troy)

MRR-C0111_A-01

Name: Bay Junction (Milwaukee, Racine & Troy) Layout designers: The MR staff Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 6′-8″ x 26′-0″ Theme: freelanced junction town Locale: southern Wisconsin Era: 1990s Style: walkaround Mainline run: 42 feet Minimum radius: 30″ (except as noted) Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 3 percent Originally appeared in the January 2011 issue […]

Read More…

Goldfield & Hangtown RR

MRR-A0111_A plan

Name: Goldfield & Hangtown RR Layout designer: Allan Wallace Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 20 x 25 feet Theme: mining and logging Locale: Sierra Nevada Era: 1890-1915 Style: walk-in Mainline run: 250 feet Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: 11⁄2 percent Originally appeared in the January 2011 issue of Model Railroader. Click on […]

Read More…

Metropolitan Union Passenger Terminal

MRR-G0111_A plan-01

Name: Metropolitan Union Passenger Terminal Layout designer: Stan Sweatt Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 10 x 20 feet Theme: Passenger terminal Locale: freelanced Era: late steam Style: walk-in Mainline run: 120 feet Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: no. 8 (main), no. 6 (yard), no. 5 (spurs) Maximum grade: 3 percent Originally appeared in the January 2011 […]

Read More…

A modeler’s guide to USRA locomotives

MRR-B0111_01

USRA locomotives were born under unique circumstances. A confluence of circumstances led to the nationalization of many of America’s railroads under President Woodrow Wilson in 1917. The outbreak of World War I, which necessitated a ramp-up of American industrial production capacity, and the financial circumstances of the early 1910s led to a liquidity crisis for […]

Read More…

Cedar Valley Short Lines

Cedar Valley Short Lines

Name: Cedar Valley Short Lines Layout designer: John Saxon Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 10 x 22 feet (additional two-track loop suspended from ceiling of adjoining garage) Theme: freelanced, based on Tony Koester’s Allegheny Midland Locale: West Virginia Era: 1960 Style: multilevel walkaround Mainline run: 168 feet Minimum radius: 27″ (visible), 24″ (hidden) Minimum turnout: no. […]

Read More…

Chesapeake & Ohio Ry. Mountain Subdivision

Name: C&O Mountain Subdivision Layout designer: Bernard Kempinski Scale: N (1:160) Size: 30 x 30 feet Prototype: Chesapeake & Ohio with interchange connections to the Norfolk & Western and Southern Ry. Locale: Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah Valley, Virginia Era: 1950 Style: linear walkaround Mainline run: 175 feet Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 […]

Read More…