HO scale Nickel Plate Road, St. Louis Division

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Name: Nickel Plate Road, St. Louis Division Layout designer: Tony Koester Scale: HO (1:87) Size: 24′-6″ x 60′-6″ Theme: high-speed flatlands railroading Locale: west-central Indiana, east-central Illinois Era: fall 1954 Style: multi-deck Mainline run: 500 feet Minimum radius: 42″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 (yard), no. 8 (main) Maximum grade: 1.5 percent Originally appeared in the […]

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On30 Jemez & Rio Grande (“The Chili Line”)

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Name: Jemez & Rio Grande (“The Chili Line”) Layout designer: Jim Gore Scale: On30 (1:48 proportion on 30″ narrow gauge track) Size: 12 x 16 feet Prototype: Denver & Rio Grande Western Santa Fe Division Locale: northern New Mexico Era: October 1951 Style: island style layout with continuous run Mainline run: 64 feet Minimum turnout: […]

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Do you know where your boxcar is?

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In the December 2014 Model Railroader, Seth Neumann and Chris Drone wrote an article about using radio-frequency identification (RFID) and a computer to track rolling stock and new possibilities for operation. Prototype railroads have been using scanning technology since the late 1960s. Automatic Car Identification (ACI) used an optical reader and a color-coded plate to […]

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Video: On30 Jemez and Rio Grande Chili Line

On30 Jemez and Rio Grande Chili Line

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Jim Gore’s On30 Jemez & Rio Grande models a narrow gauge Denver & Rio Grande Western branch line in 1951. Check out the detailed scenery as a train runs through scenes along this 12 x 16-foot model railroad. […]

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Video: O scale Southern Pacific Tehachapi Division model railroad

O scale Southern Pacific Tehachapi Division model railroad

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Jerry Davis’ O scale model railroad depicts the famed Tehachapi Loop during the early 1950s. Watch steam and diesel locomotives haul freight and passenger trains along the line. […]

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HO scale Bona Vista RR

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Name: Bona Vista RR Layout designer: Gerry Leone Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 14′-6″ x 30′-0″ Prototype: freelance Locale: northern Wisconsin and Minnesota Period: 1953 Style: walkaround Mainline run: 200 feet Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: 1 percent Originally appeared in Great Model Railroads 2015.   Click on the link to download […]

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N scale Burnt Hills & Big Flats RR

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Name: Burnt Hills & Big Flats RR Layout designer: Steve Prevette Scale: N (1:160) Size: 20 x 30 feet Prototype: inspired by NYO&W Locale: northern Pennsylvania and central New York Period: June 5, 1970 Style: Around the walls with peninsulas Mainline run: 203 feet Minimum radius: 12″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: 3 percent […]

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OO scale Downborough Junction

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Name: Downborough Junction Layout designer: Ian Smith Scale: OO (1:76.2 proportion, but on HO gauge track) Size: 8′-8″ x 12′-4″ Prototype: Midland & South West Junction Ry. (British Rys.) Locale: Wiltshire, England Period: 1959 Style: around the walls Mainline run: 31 feet Minimum radius: 23″ Minimum turnout: Peco large radius for main lines, others Peco […]

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HO scale Lehigh Valley RR, Wyoming Division

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Name: Lehigh Valley RR, Wyoming Division Layout designer: Chuck Davis Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 17 x 19 feet Prototype: Lehigh Valley RR Locale: Northeast Pennsylvania Era: 1950s Style: walkaround Mainline run: 140 feet Minimum radius: 30″ main line, 24″ yard (less on some connecting roads) Minimum turnout: no. 6 main line, no. 5 yard Maximum […]

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