Union Pacific Switching District

Track plan at a glance Name: Union Pacific Industrial District Scale: N (1:160) Box size: 28″ wide x 30 5/16″ deep x 18 3/32″ high (16 1/8″ deep with yard folded) Theme: free-lance urban industrial area Period: 1960s Style: oval with backstage fiddle yard Mainline run: 64″ Minimum radius: 7 5/64″ Maximum grade: none Originally […]

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Utah Belt 2003

Track plan at a glance Name: Utah Belt Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 22′-8″ x 39′-6″ Prototype: free-lanced Period: the present Style: linear walkaround Mainline run: 173 feet Minimum radius: 39″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 1.5 percent Originally appeared in the December 2003 issue of Model Railroader. Click here to download a PDF of […]

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Wabash RR Decatur Division Tenth District

Track plan at a glance Name: Wabash RR Decatur Division Tenth District Scale: HO (1:87) Size: 12 x 13 feet Prototype: Wabash RR Tenth District Period: October 1964 Style: around the walls Mainline run: 60 feet Minimum radii: 24″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 2 percent Originally appeared in the December 2000 issue of […]

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West Side Lumber Co.

Track plan at a glance Name: West Side Lumber Co. Scale: Sn3 (1:64) Size: 10 x 10 feet Period: 1958-1959 Style: around the walls Mainline run: 29 feet Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: 2 percent Originally appeared in the February 2000 issue of Model Railroader. Also appeared in 102 Realistic Track […]

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Western Pacific Third Subdivision

Track plan at a glance Name: Western Pacific Scale: HO (1:87) Size: 20 x 20 feet Prototype: Third Subdivision between Oroville and Portola, Calif. Period: spring 1938 Style: around-the-walls with peninsula Mainline run: 130 feet Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 on main line, no. 4 in yards Maximum grade: 0 Originally appeared in […]

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Yosemite Valley RR

Track plan at a glance Name: Yosemite Valley RR Scale: HO (1:87) Size: 20 x 20 feet Prototype: Yosemite Valley RR Period: August 1939 Style: multideck along the walls with peninsula Mainline run: 112 feet Minimum radius: 22″ with spiral easements Minimum turnout: no. 5, all controlled with slow-action switch motors Maximum grade: 2.3 percent […]

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The Kaweah Box & Barrel Co. and its Sequoia Valley Railroad

black model steam locomotive on garden railway

The railroad at a glance Name: Kaweah Box & Barrel Company RR and Sequoia Valley Railroad Scale: 15mm=1′ (1:20.3) Gauge: Nº 1 (45mm) Size: 50′ x 90′ (around the perimeter and into the front yard) Theme: Narrow-gauge short line and industrial Period: 1917 Railroad height: Ground level to two feet Track: Llagas Creek code-250 flex […]

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How do I find a source for thin metal strip for layout wiring?

Wires and wiring materials

Q: I am building a layout and want to do what I’ve seen in postwar dealer displays. Specifically, I’ve seen under the layout board a thin metal strip running the entire length of the layout. To this you would solder the ground contact for every accessory, thus greatly reducing the amount of wiring required. I […]

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Boston & Maine New Hampshire Division

Track plan at a glanceName: Boston & Maine’s New Hampshire DivisionScale: HO (1:87)Size: 16 x 29 feet (in two rooms)Prototype: B & M (also Barre & Chelsea, Canadian Pacific, and St. Johnsbury & Lamoille County)Period: November 1952Style: walkaround point-to-pointMinimum radii: 24″Minimum turnouts: handlaid with no. 6 minimum frog; many are curvedMaximum grade: main line is […]

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