Following his recent grand tour, Gerry puts his HO scale Bona Vista under greater scrutiny. In this episode, our host closely examines how his construction efforts align with his established Givens and Druthers. After failing to pass every part of his self-graded test, Gerry invites fellow layout builders David Popp and Seth Puffer to check […]
Facts & features Name: Chris Raines’ O gauge layout Dimensions: 12 x 27 feet Track and switch: Lionel FasTrack (diameters range from 60 to 72 inches) Motive power: Lionel (prewar, postwar, modern), MTH Rolling stock: Lionel, MTH, Williams Accessories: Lionel, MTH Controls: Lionel type-ZW, MTH no. Z-4000 (2) transformers with Lionel Legacy and MTH Digital […]
The Fairplex Garden Railroad in Pomona, California is located in the middle of the Los Angeles County fairgrounds. The 100′ x 300′ railway has occupied the same space since 1935 and has been a part of the annual fair every year except for the war years of 1942-1947. However, the fair’s train display is […]
When I’m planning a structure kitbash, I often start with a sketch. Scribbling down rough ideas, erasing what doesn’t work, and replacing them with things that help me visualize my plan and avoid false starts. With this technique I can figure out what parts I need and more clearly imagine what the structure will look […]
Tunnel under a town prototype: Yes, there is at least one U.S. example of railroads going underneath small towns. And here it is: Boston & Maine’s single track line through Bellows Falls, Vermont. Kalmbach Media’s David P. Morgan Library has three photos in the Boston & Maine tunnels folder that show off this specimen in […]
Gerry walks a fine line…the recently completed main line of his HO scale Bona Vista layout, that is! Our host, with assistance from his wife, has driven the Golden Spike into the trackwork of his double-deck model railroad. That’s a great time to take a walking tour of the construction progress. Following the tour, Gerry […]
Repurposing a layout scene for the N scale State Line Route layout is the focus of this episode. First, Cody Grivno borrows a few structures from an old T-Trak module to help build up an all-new scene for the layout. Next, he shows how to prepare the new site to fit the assembled structured in […]
Lionel’s no. 397 coal loader In 1948, Lionel introduced a new coal loader that needed just one track and a dump car to run. Senior Editor Roger Carp explains the history of this coal loader, what was included in the box with your purchase, and how it changed over the years. He explains what makes […]
Common name: Trailing spikemoss, golden clubmoss Latin name: Selaginella kraussiana ‘Aurea’ Plant type: Groundcover Plant size: Moist, acidic soil; part or full shade USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-9 Cultural needs: Mounding as high as 6″, spreading to 24″ Spikemoss, with its seaweed-like jointed stems, has an other-world appearance, as do the liverworts, when you get […]
What’s our Back on Track series host Gerry Leone up to these days? More work on the upper deck of his new HO scale Bona Vista layout, of course! Following the previous episode, Gerry finalized more of the track plan, added plywood subroadbed to the upper level, and even laid some track into place. But […]
The railway at a glance Name of railroad: Virginia & DACS Railroad Size of railroad: Approximately 14′ x 36′ Scale: 1:22.5 and 1:20.3 Gauge: Nº 1 (45mm) Theme: Pre-diesel, western countryside Era: 1930s-40s Motive power: LGB and Bachmann steam-outline engines Length of mainline: Outer loop, 90′; inner figure-eight with spur, 120′ Maximum gradient: 3.5% Minimum […]
Introducing the Minnesota Northern GP38 fleet The mid-1990s brought a flurry of change to the railroad scene in Crookston, Minn., my hometown located in the northwest corner of the state. In September 1995, Burlington Northern merged with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe. A year later, Burlington Northern Santa Fe sold off the branch lines […]
