Bonus track plans for a small shelf switching model railroad

LappSidingtrackplan

Model railroad author Robert Pethoud wrote “How to operate a small switching layout” in the March 2016 issue of Model Railroader magazine. In that article Robert shows how to use three 15″ x 48″ modules to create an operationally interesting shelf layout. The story features an HO scale track plan, the Fall Creek Branch. As […]

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HO scale Fall Creek Branch

HOscaleFallCreekBranch

Name: Fall Creek Branch Layout owner: Robert Pethoud Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 15″ x 144″ Prototype: freelanced Locale: Oregon Era: 1950s Style: sectional Mainline run: 12 feet Minimum radius: 26″ Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: none Benchwork: open frame Height: varies Roadbed: N scale cork on 1⁄4″ thick basswood Track: code 83 flextrack Scenery: […]

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HO scale Penn Central Hitop Branch

HOscalePennCentralHitopBranch

Name: Penn Central Hitop Branch Layout owner: Steve Campbell Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 4 x 8 feet Prototype: Penn Central (New York Central) Locale: West Virginia Era: 1968 to 1975 Style: island Mainline run: 18 feet Minimum radius: 22″ (main), 18″ (branch) Minimum turnout: Atlas Snap-Switch Maximum grade: 3.4 percent Benchwork: cookie-cutter Height: 40″ to […]

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HO scale Red Branch & Union RR

HOscaleRedBranchUnion

Name: Red Branch & Union RR Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 4 x 8 feet Theme: Midwestern granger road Locale: Illinois Era: 1975 Style: island Mainline run: 20 feet Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: Atlas 18″ radius Snap-Switch Maximum grade: none (flat) This track plan was originally published in the March 2016 Model Railroader. Click on the link […]

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HO scale Sherman Hills

HOscaleShermanHills

Name: Sherman Hills Layout owner: Judy Milford Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 5′-10″ x 9′-0″ Theme: small-town America Locale: generic northeastern U.S. Era: 1960s Style: island Mainline run: 32 feet in two separate loops Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: flat Benchwork: L-girder Height: 40″ (lower loop), 48″ (upper) Roadbed: cork Track: Atlas […]

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HO scale Virginia & Southern RR

HOscaleVirginiaSouthern

Name: Virginia & Southern RR Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 4 x 8 feet Theme: Main line coal hauling Locale: Appalachian mountains Era: 1950s Style: island Mainline run: 19 feet (double-tracked) Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: 3 percent This track plan was originally published in the March 2016 Model Railroader. Click on the link […]

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N scale Coalton & Silver Range RR

NscaleCoaltonSilverRangeRR

Name: Coalton & Silver Range RR Scale: N (1:160) Size: 4 x 8 feet Theme: Rocky Mountain mining Locale: Colorado Era: 1920s Style: island Mainline run: 37 feet Minimum radius: 15″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: 3 percent This track plan was originally published in the March 2016 Model Railroader. Click on the link to download […]

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O scale Water Street Industrial District

OscaleWaterStreetIndustrialDistrict

Name: Water Street Industrial District Scale: O (1:48) Size: 4 x 8 feet Theme: Urban switching Locale: Generic city Era: 1940s-1950s Style: modular Mainline run: none Minimum radius: 22″ Minimum turnout: Atlas 20th Century Rail two-rail wye Maximum grade: none (flat) This track plan was originally published in the March 2016 Model Railroader. Click on the link […]

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Video: N scale Southbay Western

N scale Southbay Western

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page The N scale Southbay Western is a freelanced model railroad inspired by the Denver & Rio Grande Western in the 1950s. The layout models the mountainous scenery in just 8 x 8 feet. Check out some of the highlights along the main line. […]

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Video: N scale Southbay Western

N scale Southbay Western

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page The N scale Southbay Western is a freelanced model railroad inspired by the Denver & Rio Grande Western in the 1950s. The layout models the mountainous scenery in just 8 x 8 feet. Check out some of the highlights along the main line. […]

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HO scale Eagle Mountain RR

HOscaleEagleMountainRR

Name: Eagle Mountain RR Layout owner: Model Railroader staff Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 3′-101⁄2″ x 6′-01⁄2″ Prototype: Eagle Mountain RR Locale: Riverside County, Calif. Era: late 1960s to early 1970s Style: island, portable Mainline run: 14 feet Minimum radius: 19″ Minimum turnout: Peco no. 5 Maximum grade: none Height: 45″ Track: Peco code 83 flextrack, […]

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