Meet the Modeler: John Hudak

Photo of Joh Hudak’s layout with car parked very close to it

What was your first train set (or locomotive)?  My first train set was the Lionel 1434W Burlington GP diesel with three passenger cars from 1955 or 1956. Being a passenger set, it had limited play value for me. I also had a no. 52 fire car. My trains are primarily from this era (i.e. prewar, […]

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Santa Fe Inspiration gallery volume 2

A Santa Fe steam locomotive and caboose are posed at Gary Hoover's HO Scale representation of "Summit", the top of the grade for the Santa Fe in California's Cajon Pass.

In this photo gallery, we encourage you to enjoy two fantastic Santa Fe layouts that are inspired. We hope they inspire you on your journey to creating a new model railroad layout, even one based on the Santa Fe! The first railroad is Gary Hoover’s interpretation of the Santa Fe Railway on Aug. 29, 1951. […]

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Santa Fe Inspiration gallery volume 1

A sweeping photo of a silver-colored HO Scale Sante Fe streamlined passenger train pulled through a desert Southwest scene.

  The Santa Fe Railway and predecessors parsing the American Southwest have inspired countless artists and dreamers. Model railroaders using scale equipment and precision tools to re-create these railroad scenes are only the latest in that line. In this photo gallery, we encourage you to enjoy two fantastic Santa Fe layouts that are inspired. We […]

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HO scale Midwest Lines

HO scale Midwest Lines

The layout at a glance Name: Midwest Lines Layout owner: Rolf Plachter Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 33 x 52 feet Prototype: freelanced, inspired by Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Rock Island; and Union Pacific Locale: Denver to Milwaukee Era: mid-1960s Style: around-the-walls Mainline run: 400 feet Minimum radius: 36″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: 2 […]

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HO scale East Bluff Terminal RR

HOscaleEastBluffTerminalsRR

The layout at a glance Name: East Bluff Terminal RR Layout owner: Joe Visintine Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 14′-6″ x 42′-6″ plus 1′-5″ x 32′-0″ staging yard Prototype: freelance Locale: along the Mississippi River bluffs south of East St. Louis, Ill. Era: 1971 Style: along the walls Mainline run: 110 feet Minimum radius: 34″ Minimum […]

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N scale Four Corners & Five Lakes Ry. track plan

NscaleFourCornersFiveLakesRy

Click on the image or link below to download a PDF of this track plan. The layout at a glance Name: The Four Corners & Five Lakes Ry. (a business unit of FCFL Transportation) Scale: N (1:160) Size: 20 x 30 feet Theme: freelanced Locale: Four Corners region of U.S. Era: modern Style: around the […]

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HO scale New York New Haven Hartford RR

HOscaleNewYorkNewHavenHartford

Name: New York, New Haven & Hartford RR Layout owner: Richard Abramson Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 12′-6″ x 19′-6″ Prototype: New Haven electrified zone Locale: southwestern Connecticut Era: 1950s to 1960s Style: around-the-walls Mainline run: 65 feet Minimum radius: 36″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 2 percent Benchwork: open grid Height: 49″ Roadbed: Homasote […]

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O scale Pennsylvania & New York Central

OscalePennsylvaniaNewYorkCentral

Click on the image to download a PDF copy of this track plan. Name: Pennsylvania & New York Central Layout owner: Lee Gasparik Scale: O (1:48) Size: 43 x 70 feet Prototype: Pennsylvania RR and New York Central Locale: Northeastern U.S. Period: 1950s Style: linear walkaround Mainline run: 734 feet Minimum radius: 76″ (main), 60″ (yard) Minimum […]

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HO scale CSX Philadelphia Subdivision

HOscaleCSXPhiladelphiaSubdivision1

Click on the image to download a PDF copy of this track plan. Name: CSX Philadelphia Subdivision Layout owner: Bruce Friedman Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 42 x 56 feet Prototype: CSX Locale: Philadelphia to Baltimore Era: modern day Style: multi-deck walkaround Mainline run: 1,000 feet Minimum radius: 36″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 2.25 […]

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HO scale Atlantic & Southern RR

HOscaleAtlanticSouthernthumb

Click on the image to download a PDF of the track plan. Name: Atlantic & Southern RR Layout owner: Howard Gallagher Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 11 x 13 feet Prototype: freelanced Locale: western Pennsylvania Era: September 1957 Style: walk-in, around-the-walls Mainline run: 30 feet Minimum radius: 25″ Minimum turnout: no. 5 (main line and transfer […]

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HO scale Belfast and Vinehaven RR

HOscaleBelfastVinehavenRRthumb

Click on the image to download a PDF of the track plan. Name: Belfast & ­Vinehaven RR and Portland & Mystic Line Layout owner: Arnie Hall Scale: HO and HOn3 (1:87.1) Size: 25 x 40 feet Prototype: Freelanced bridge line Locale: New England coast Era: mid-1940s to early 1950s Style: around-the-walls Mainline run: 110 feet […]

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HO scale Baltimore and Ohio Southwest, Ohio Division

HOscaleBaltimoreOhioSouthwest1

Click on the image to download a PDF of the track plan. Name: Baltimore & Ohio Southwest Layout owner: Carl Griffin Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 14 x 29 feet Prototype: Baltimore & Ohio, Chesapeake & Ohio, New York Central Locale: Southeastern Ohio Era: 1964 Style: multi-deck walkaround Mainline run: 243 feet Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnout: no. […]

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