Facts and features Name: Baltimore & Ohio Ridgely Division Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: extension: 8 x 8 feet, entire layout: 20 x 28 feet Prototype: Baltimore & Ohio, Western Maryland Locale: central West Virginia Era: 1967 Style: around the walls Mainline run: NA Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnout: No. 6 Maximum grade: none on main […]
Facts and features Name: Union Pacific Geneva Subdivision Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 17 x 25 feet Prototype: Union Pacific (ex-Chicago & North Western) Locale: West Chicago Yard to Clinton, Iowa Era: late summer 2000-2005 Style: multi-deck walk-in Mainline run: approximately 210 feet (not including helix or staging) Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnout: No. 6 Maximum […]
Host Gerry Leone returns to the upper deck of his HO scale Bona Vista layout to tackle a “flat” problem. Watch as Gerry expands a tiny drainage creek into a wider, deeper river to add much-needed vertical relief. You’ll see him cut through sub-roadbed, repurpose deck girder bridges from a previous layout, and secure a new river […]
Tour the HO scale Union Pacific Geneva Subdivision, Eric Lalonde’s impressive 17 x 25-foot multi-deck modern layout depicting the former Chicago & North Western line between West Chicago and Clinton, Iowa. The triple-deck design features a 210-foot mainline connected by a custom 5 x 5-foot helix. The wall-mounted benchwork supports Atlas code 83 and 100 […]
Wm. K. Walthers Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of model railroad products based in Milwaukee, Wis., recently announced that it’s sponsoring the Pacific Southern Ry., an HO scale model railroad club in Rocky Hill, N.J. “We’re pleased to support the Pacific Southern Railway and help elevate awareness of model railroading,” said Stacey Walthers Naffah, president […]
I first encountered the Lone Star Treble-O-lectric system when one of my old school friends had a box full of play-worn equipment, which we would just set up on the carpet and get them to go! At that time, the last remnants of the Lone Star system were sold in stores such as Woolworths, among […]
Dave Baule’s S gauge layout Dimensions: 11 x 25 feet Track and switches: American S Gauge (diameters range from 38 to 76 inches) Motive power: American Models, Gilbert American Flyer, S-Helper Service Rolling stock: American Models, American S Gauge, Downs, Gilbert American Flyer, Lionel American Flyer, S-Helper Service Controls: Gilbert American Flyer Nos. 16B and […]
Facts and features Name: Sun Parlour Lines Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 12 x 41 feet Prototype: Chesapeake & Ohio and New York Central Locale: southern Ontario Era: September 1955 Style: around the walls Mainline run: 150 feet Minimum radius: 28″ (main line), 22″ (hidden loop) Minimum turnout: No. 6 (main line) Maximum grade: 2.5% Benchwork: […]
Host Gerry Leone continues to innovate on his HO scale Bona Vista layout, tackling a major scenic problem—concealing the hole in the upper-deck backdrop where trains emerge from a helix. See how Gerry modifies a Walthers Brick Freight House kit to create the perfect illusion. Plus, you’ll see how he adds realistic mortar lines to […]
Wisconsin & Michigan Model Railroad Club Display | Catch up with Host Gerry Leone, as he chats with Dave Rickaby, President of the Wisconsin & Michigan Model Railroad Club, at Trainfest 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin! Dave shares details about their Midwest-based, Iron Range-themed HO scale modular layout. Founded in 1986, the club’s modules are built to […]
Milwaukee and model railroading share deep, historic ties. Model Railroader Magazine, Wm. K. Walthers, Inc., and the National Model Railroad Association all had their humble beginnings in the beer city. This rich heritage has fostered a healthy and diverse group of model railroad clubs throughout Southeast Wisconsin that are still active today. Finding these clubs […]
By the time you’ve laid and wired your track and installed your train and turnout control system, it’s easy to let construction of your new layout take a back seat to running trains. After all, the entire purpose of building the layout is to be able to have a place to enjoy operating your model […]
