Boston & Maine Division of LKJ&W

Track plan at a glance Name: LKJ&W, B&M Division Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 17′-6″ x 29′-6″ Prototype: Boston & Maine Era: 1956 Style: walk-in Mainline run: 160 feet Minimum radius: 26″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 3 percent Originally appeared in the April 2008 issue of Model Railroader. See a PDF version of this […]

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Meramec Valley RR

Track plan at a glance Name: Meramec Valley RR Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 2′-4″ x 7′-10: Prototype: freelanced Era: October 1955 Mainline run: 16 feet Minimum radius: 12″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 2 percent Originally appeared in the April 2008 issue of Model Railroader. Also appeared in 102 Realistic Track Plans. See a […]

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New York Central

Track plan at a glance Name: New York Central Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 29′-0″ x 33′-4″ Prototype: New York Central RR Era: late 1960s Style: double-deck Mainline run: 300 feet Minimum radius: 32″ Minimum turnout: no. 6, main; no. 5, sidings Maximum grade: 2 percent Originally appeared in the March 2008 issue of Model Railroader. […]

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The Schuylkill Iron Works

Track plan at a glance Name: Schuylkill Iron Works Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 4 x 21 feet Theme: Freelanced heavy industry Era: Late 1920s Style: island Mainline run: 50 feet Minimum radius: 15″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: none Originally appeared in the March 2008 issue of Model Railroader. Also appeared in 102 Realistic […]

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Bachmann K-27 locomotive modifications

Don’t miss these cosmetic fixes for the K-27! Dave Goodson To do this modification, you must lock #1 and #4 axles! Photo 1 shows the magnets in place (set them where you want them), and the screws pre-threaded into the lower firebox holes provided. Dave Goodson Photo 2 shows a Sierra reed attached to the […]

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Customize your Bachmann K-27 with these modifications

Dave Goodson Note: These modifications are optional. They do not change the runability or performance of the locomotive. Modification #1: Front couplerThe couplers that come installed with some of these locomotives are short-shank units. The front coupler, if the jaw is open, has about a 1″ throw, side-to-side. With the jaw closed, it is about […]

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PDF: Build a 1:20.3 scale doctor’s buggy

Build a 1:20.3 scale doctor's buggy

Download the PDF of this project here. Click on the icon to download this PDF project. Note: 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 […]

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Chicago, Milwaukee & North Western RR

Track plan at a glance Name: Chicago, Milwaukee & North Western Scale: N (1:160) Size: 14′-9″ x 16′-6″ Prototype: Chicago & North Western and Milwaukee Road Era: 1950s to ’60s Style: walk-in Mainline run: 125 feet Minimum radius: 18″, 15″ in tunnels Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 2 percent Originally appeared in the February […]

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Smoky Valley RR

Track plan at a glance Name: Smoky Valley RR Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 9 x 11 Prototype: ET&WNC, L&N, Southern, and others Era: 1950s to present Mainline run: 40 feet Minimum radius: 20″ Minimum turnouts: no. 6 Maximum grade: 2.2 percent Originally appeared in the February 2008 issue of Model Railroader. Also appeared in 102 […]

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Chicago Great Western

Track plan at a glance Name: Chicago Great Western Scale: N (1:160 proportion) Size: 11 x 24 feet Prototype: CGW’s Chicago-Oelwein, Iowa, main line Period: 1965-68 Style: walkaround Mainline run: 110 feet Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnout: Peco no. 6 Maximum grade: 0 percent Originally appeared in the 2003 issue of Great Model Railroads. See […]

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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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