In this article, which originally appeared in the September 2011 issue of Classic Toy Trains, CTT’s Kent Johnson demonstrates how to adapt a track plan from one type of track to another. His example: the Reader’s Choice Railroad, adapted from Lionel O to Lionel FasTrack. Learn the steps for adapting your plan and find an […]
Name: Denver & Rio Grande, Western 4th Division and Rio Grande Southern Layout designer: Jim Hoffman Scale: HOn3 (1:87.1, narrow gauge) Size: D&RGW 24 x 28 feet, RGS 18 x 26 feet Prototype: D&RGW, RGS Locale: New Mexico/Colorado Era: late 1930s to early 1940s Style: walk-in Mainline run: 160 feet Minimum radius: 20″ Minimum turnout: […]
Name: Forest Park Southern Layout designer: Bill Doll Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 33′-0″ x 48′-4″ Prototype: freelanced, inspired by the Chesapeake & Ohio Locale: Appalachian Mountains Era: 1950 to 1955 Style: walk in Mainline run: 250 feet Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: no. 8 (main), no. 6 (yard) Maximum grade: 1 percent Originally appeared in […]
Name: Lake Nipigon Northern RR Layout designer: Tom McRae Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 9 x 11 feet Prototype: freelanced Locale: Ontario, Canada, north of Lake Superior Era: flexible Style: around-the-walls Mainline run: 16 feet, plus branch Minimum radius: 30″ (main), 24″ (branch) Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 3 percent Originally appeared in the April […]
In the April and June 2013 issues, Don Parker shows you how to scratchbuild a railroad bunkhouse. Download a free copy of these drawings, full size for 1:24 scale. […]
Download the PDF of this project here. This PDF is formatted to print on your home printer. Most pieces are formatted to fit on a 8.5″ x 11″ piece of paper. For larger parts of the plan, you will see “break lines.” Line up the break lines to create the larger piece. Please make sure […]
Name: East Berkshire Branch Layout designer: John Callahan Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 14 x 21 feet Prototype: freelanced, inspired by the Boston & Maine and Rutland RR Locale: rural New England Era: early to mid-1950s Style: walk in Mainline run: 120 feet Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 (main), no. 4 (sidings) Maximum grade: […]
Name: Lehigh Valley RR Bronx Terminal Layout designer: Wayne N. Carlsen Scale: N (1:160) Size: 5 x 9 feet Prototype: Lehigh Valley RR Locale: South Bronx, New York City Era: early 1960s Style: island Mainline run: not applicable Minimum radius: 9-3/4″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Originally appeared in the March 2013 Model Railroader. Click on […]
Name: Sugar Valley & Sweetwater RR Layout designer: Brian Glock Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 13′-6″ x 25′-0″ Theme: Southern bridge line Locale: east Tennessee-west North Carolina mountains Era: 1950s Style: walk-in with swing gates Mainline run: 130 feet Minimum radius: 271⁄2″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 4 percent (main), 8 percent (branch) Originally appeared […]
Layout designer: Michael Tylick Scale: O Layout size: 11 x 16 feet Track type: Lionel FasTrack Minimum curve: O-36 Originally appeared in the March 2013 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Curves & Climbs track plan Curves & Climbs track plan schematic […]
Louisville & Nashville freight 864 from Norton, Va., to Corbin, Ky., meets Southern First 88, a coal turn from Andover to Yuma, Va., on the wye at Appalachia on May 23, 1969. Although wyes are commonplace on prototype railroads, they can be challenging to model. Ron Flanary A “wye” describes an area where three turnouts […]
The February 2013 issue features an article on building an indoor turntable by Nathan Turner. Download an article on building a turntable for outdoor use, originally published in the April 2008 issue. […]
