The Salt Lake Route, Part 1: The inspiration for a small layout

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The rugged mountain desert scenery of the Meadow Valley Wash provides a picturesque backdrop for trains on the N scale Union Pacific Salt Lake Route. The 4 x 9-foot model railroad, built by retired managing editor Dick Christianson, features Kato Unitrack with superelevated curves. Model Railroader associate editor Cody Grivno and graphic designer Drew Halverson […]

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Canadian Canyons Series: Part 8 – Staging yard turnouts

David Popp next to layout

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page David dives into laying track in the staging yard on our N scale project railroad, but before he even opens that brand-new box of flextrack, there’s a lot of other work to do, including painting the roadbed, drilling holes for the switch motors, […]

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Canadian Canyons Series: Part 7 – Installing cork roadbed

David Popp next to layout

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page The plywood panels are now in place, and the track centerlines are all marked! In this episode of the Canadian Canyons series, it’s time for David to begin the track laying effort by first installing cork roadbed. Follow along, as he demonstrates tips […]

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Another N scale micro layout

N scale micro-layout project

Here is a time-lapse video of the construction of my latest N scale micro-layout project. The layout is a bit less than 24″ in diameter and features a track radius that averages around 9″. The track is ballasted and weathered Kato Unitrack, and the overall layout construction is foam insulation board on top of a […]

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Model railroads for small spaces

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Don’t think you have room for a model railroad? Check out these layouts that range in style from a narrow shelf to a tabletop to a walk-in design and more. This 20-page article collection from Model Railroader features: two N scale layouts two HO scale layouts an On2½ narrow gauge model railroad You’ll get track plans and […]

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HO scale Central Vermont RR

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Name: Central Vermont Layout owner: Dave Mitchell Scale: HO (1:87.1) Layout size: 4 x 8 feet Prototype: freelanced, inspired by Central Vermont Locale: northern Vermont Era: early 1950s Mainline run: 18 feet Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: 3.6 percent Benchwork: L-girder Height: 45″ Roadbed: cork on Homasote Track: code 83 sectional […]

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