HO scale Pennsylvania RR Pittsburgh Division

HOscalePennsylvaniaRRPittsburghDivision

Name: Pennsylvania RR Pittsburgh Division Layout owner: Dave Johnson Scale: HO (1:187.1) Size: 33′-8″ x 37′-4″ Prototype: Pennsylvania RR Locale: Pittsburgh to Harrisburg, Pa. Period: 1952 Style: walkaround Mainline run: 235 feet Minimum radius: 30″ (main), 28″ (yard lead) Minimum turnout: no. 6 (main), no. 5 (yard) Maximum grade: 1.75 percent Benchwork: L-girder and open […]

Read More…

HO scale Rock Island Clay Center Branch

HOscaleRockIslandClayCenterBranch

Name: Rock Island, Clay Center Branch Layout owner: Ken Jenkins Scale: HO (1:87:1) Size: 27 x 55 feet Prototype: Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific RR Locale: Northeast Kansas Era: fall 1969 Style: around the walls Mainline run: 150 feet Minimum radius: 25″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 (main), no. 5 (yards and spurs) Maximum grade: 1.25 […]

Read More…

On30 Dolly Varden RR

  Name: Dolly Varden Layout owner: Dave Revelia Scale: On30 (1:48 proportion, 30″ track gauge) Size: 3 x 28 feet Prototype: Dolly Varden RR Locale: British Columbia, Canada Era: 1920s Style: shelf Mainline run: 28 feet Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: 5 percent Benchwork: aluminum Height: 40″ Roadbed: cork Track: flextrack […]

Read More…

VIDEO: A look at Brass Expo 2016

Several styles and sizes of locomotives.

Brass Expo 2016 was held on October 1 and 2 at the Westin Hotel in Wheeling, IL (The Chicago North Shore). The show featured manufacturers, historical displays, and some of the finest brass railroad models in the world. James Wright of the JLWII2000 YouTube channel attended the show and provides this VIP look. […]

Read More…

HO scale Blue Ridge & Allegany Ry.

HOscaleBlueRidgeAlleganytrackplan

Name: Blue Ridge & Allegany Ry. Layout owner: Ron Hale Scale: HO (1:87.1) Layout size: 22′-6″ x 38′-6″ Prototype: freelanced, inspired by the Southern Ry. and Western Maryland Ry. Locale: Appalachian Mountains from Blue Ridge, N.C., to Allegany, Md. Era: 1952 Mainline run: 173 feet Minimum radius: 32″ (main), 28″ (branch) Minimum turnout: no. 6 […]

Read More…

HO scale Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe

HOscaleGulfColoradoWesterntrackplan

Name: Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Layout owner: David Kampsnider Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 26 x 30 feet Prototype: Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Ry. Locale: Oklahoma Era: 1951 Style: walk-in Mainline run: 100 feet Minimum radius: 34″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 (main), no. 5 (spurs) Maximum grade: 1 percent (main),2.2 percent (helix) Benchwork: 1 […]

Read More…

N scale Interstate RR – Dorchester and Roaring Fork branches

NscaleInterstateRR1

Name: Interstate RR – Dorchester and Roaring Fork branches Layout designer: Christian Javier Scale: N (1:160) Prototype: Interstate RR Locale: Wise County, Va. Era: 1967 Style: multilevel walk-in Mainline run: 125 feet Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 2 percent (main) This track plan originally appeared in the November 2016 Model Railroader. […]

Read More…

Winston-Salem Southbound Series: Preparation for Operation

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Now that work on the trackwork, scenery, structures, details, motive power and rolling stock is nearly complete on our Winston-Salem Southbound HO scale project layout, it’s time to try running it like a real railroad. But before a single axle turns, MRVP’s David […]

Read More…

Ask MRVP: Episode 17

David Popp wearing a Hawaiian shirt standing next to an O gauge layout.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Here on MR Video Plus, September is back-to-your-railroad month! Ask MRVP is also back in session, with host David Popp addressing topics related to trackwork/turnouts, weathering stains, coupler repair, DCC, scenery, and more. Hal Miller and Steve Otte from Model Railroader magazine also […]

Read More…

How-to Library: Cast your own rock molds, Part 2

Gerry Leone staining plaster rocks.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page   MRVP Contributing Editor Gerry Leone completes this How-To Library mini-series by demonstrating the steps for casting lightweight plaster rocks using the molds created in Part 1. He then shares his expert techniques for staining rocks to give them a natural-looking appearance. […]

Read More…