North Timber Co. branch

Track plan at a glanceName: Northern Timber Co.Scale: HO (1:87.1)Size: 10 x 16 feetPrototype: free-lancePeriod: 1935 to 1940Style: around-the-walls and peninsulaMinimum radius: 26″Minimum turnot: no. 4Maximum grade: 1.5 percentOriginally appeared in the September 2004 issue of Model Railroader.Click on the link to download a PDF of this track plan […]

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Roscoe, Snyder & Pacific

Track plan at a glanceName: Roscoe, Snyder & PacificScale: HO (1:87.1)Size: 4 x 13 feetPrototype: RS&PPeriod: 1930sStyle: sectionalMainline run: 33′-3″Minimum radius: 18″Minimum turnout: no. 4Maximum grade: 4 percentOriginally appeared in the August 2005 issue of Model Railroader.Click on the link to download a PDF of this track plan […]

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Sierra, Carson & Truckee

Track plan at a glance Name: Sierra, Carson & Truckee Ry.Scale: HO and HOn3Size: 10 x 16 feet with added 5 x 5-foot alcovePrototype: Sierra RR, Virginia & Truckee RREra: 1929Style: double-deck walkaroundMainline run: 176 feetMinimum radii: 18″ for HO, 15″ for HOn3Minimum turnout: no. 4Maximum grades: 2.2 percent on HO, 3.5 percent on HOn3Originally […]

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Burton on Trent

Track plan at a glanceName: Burton on TrentScale: OO (1:76 proportion on 1:87.1 HO gauge track)Size: 15 x 21 feetPrototype: London, Midland & ScottishEra: 1920s to 1960sStyle: multiple loops with walk-in aisle and duckunder operating pitMainline run: 126 feetMinimum radius: 18″Minimum turnout: no. 6 (main), no. 4 (sidings)Maximum grade: 1 percentOriginally appeared in the April […]

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Cascade County Narrow Gauge

Track plan at a glance Name: Cascade County Narrow GaugeScale: On3 (1:48)Size: 26′-0″ x 31′-3″Prototype: Nevada County Narrow GaugeEra: mid-1920s to early 1930sStyle: walkaroundMainline run: 175 feetMinimum radius: 36″Maximum grade: 3.3 percentOriginally appeared in the January 2006 issue of Model Railroader.Click on the link to download a PDF of this track plan […]

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Crabbitt & Pitchahissee RR

Track plan at a glance Name: Crabbitt & Pitchahissee RRScale: HO and HOn3 (1:87.1)Size: 26’0″ x 26’0″Period: 1920Style: walk-inMainline run: 124 feetMinimum turnout: no. 4Minimum radius: 24″Maximum grade: 7 percentOriginally appeared in the April 2006 issue of Model Railroader.Click on the link to download a PDF of this track plan […]

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HO Western Pacific RR

Track plan at a glanceName: Western Pacific RRScale: HO (1:87.1)Size: 9′-0″ x 10′-6″Prototype: freelanced using Western Pacific lettering and heraldsEra: 1935Style: walk-inMainline run: 63 feetMinimum radius: 18″Minimum turnout: no. 4Maximum grade: 3.5 percentOriginally appeared in the November 2006 issue of Model Railroader. Also appeared in 102 Realistic Track Plans.Click on the link to download a […]

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Onion Valley Mining & Lumber Co.

Track plan at a glance Name: Onion Valley Mining & Lumber Co. Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 14′-0″ x 20′-0″ Theme: mining and lumber short line Era: 1935 Style: linear walkaround Mainline run: 60 feet Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: 4 percent Originally appeared in the June 2006 issue of Model Railroader. […]

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New socket for a prewar Lionel lighted bridge

Q: Ray, I have a Lionel no. 315 bridge with a red light on top. The light doesn’t work due to the light socket, which rests in a sort-of black square holder that’s corroded. I have checked several hobby parts sites but can’t seem to find the part number for a replacement part. Do you […]

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How to clean and oil O gauge and large scale engines

Photo of track cleaning fluid and accessories on white background.

For better or worse, the wheels of O and large scale trains seem to attract more grease and grime than those of HO and N scale pieces. Perhaps it’s the size of the trains, perhaps the shape of the wheels, or perhaps it’s carbon that gets deposited during operation, but either way they get filthy […]

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Ready to serve the nation

Here’s a variation on a familiar World War II theme, the diverse geographical backgrounds of men serving together in the armed forces. It comes to us in the form of some faded sheet music dedicated to the Military Railway Service. The rousing anthem “Railroaders Always” is of interest in its own right, but the cover […]

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