Youngstown Model Railroad Association’s HO scale layout

Title screen from layout visit video showing scene from HO scale layout.

In the January 2025 issue of Model Railroader magazine, Contributing Editor Lou Sassi paid a visit to the Youngstown Model Railroad Association, located in its namesake community in Ohio. The club, which has been around for 68 years, has layouts in O and HO scales. Lou’s article focuses on the latter, a 24 x 47-foot […]

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A last look at the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy in HO scale

Facts and features Name: Milwaukee, Racine & TroyScale: HO (1:87.1)Size: 28′-3″ x 54′-9″Prototype: freelanced bridge lineLocale: southeastern WisconsinEra: 1980s and 1990sStyle: walk-inMainline run: approximately 200 feetMinimum radius: 36″Minimum turnout: No. 6 (main), No. 4 (spurs)Maximum grade: 3% eastbound, 1.5% westbound (5.5% on ramp)Benchwork: 1 x 4 open gridHeight: 493∕4” to 671∕2“Roadbed: cork on 3∕4” plywoodTrack: […]

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Sir Rod Stewart’s Grand Street & Three Rivers RR in HO scale

A track plan for Sir Rod Stewart's Grand Street & Three Rivers layout

Facts and features Name: Grand Street & Three Rivers RRScale: HO (1:87.1)Size: Layout: 27′-6″ x 62′-0″, Room: 31′-6″ x 66′-0″Prototype: New York Central and Pennsylvania RRLocale: Chicago/New York CityEra: mid-1940sStyle: walk-inMainline run: 900 feetMinimum radius: 30″Minimum turnout: No. 8Maximum grade: 3.5%Benchwork: box gridHeight: 39″ (main line), 51″ (El), 52″ (viaduct loop), and 56″ (upper cement […]

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Insuring model trains

Though we consider model railroading a hobby, it’s also an investment. Consider the prices of model trains today. Depending on the scale, level of detail, and features, a ready-to-run freight car retails for anywhere from $20 to $150. Today’s injection-molded plastic steam and diesel locomotives are priced from $150 to $900. The numbers start to […]

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Canadian Canyons Series | An N scale Project Layout Overview

David Popp hosts this extensive recap of the entire Canadian Canyons N scale layout construction effort. In this nearly 45 minute video presentation, David digs deep into the 1:1 scale inspiration for this undertaking (Watch Drew’s Trackside Adventures, episodes 29, 30, and 31). He also examines the challenges of shaping a layout plan that dared […]

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The HO scale Pennsylvania RR Apple Gap layout

A model railroad tracplan with a man standing at the layout at its bottom left corner

Facts and features Name: Pennsylvania RR Scale: HO (1:87)Size: 6′-8″ x 12′-6″Prototype: freelanced, inspired by PRRLocale: northeastern PennsylvaniaEra: changeable between 1870-1915, 1916-1942, and 1943-1959Style: island Mainline run: 31 feetMinimum radius: 36.5″Minimum turnout: No. 6Maximum grade: none (flat)Benchwork: tabletopHeight: 511⁄2“Roadbed: corkTrack: Micro Engineering flexible code 83Scenery: foam board and Kingspan underlayment on 3 ⁄4” medium density […]

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The S scale Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville layout

A model railroad trackplan

Facts and features Name: Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville (Monon) Scale: S (1:64)Size: 38 x 62 feetPrototype: MononLocale: west central IndianaEra: late 1940sStyle: walk-in Mainline run: 180 feetMinimum radius: 48″ (main), 36″ (sidings and spurs)Minimum turnout: No. 6Maximum grade: 1% (main), 2.5% (to staging)Benchwork: L girderHeight: 46″ to 49″Roadbed: HomasoteTrack: code 100 (main), codes 83 and […]

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How-to Library | Detailing and weathering a diesel locomotive, part 2

Efforts to make a new, HO scale (1:87.1) Alco RS1 diesel locomotives appear more worn continue. Here, David Popp demonstrates easy and effective airbrush weathering techniques for adding dirt, rust, grime, and faded-paint effects. […]

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The HO scale Hudson, Delaware & Ohio and Trenton Northern Transportation & Light Co. layout

A large model railroad track plan for the Hudson, Delaware & Ohio railroad layout

Facts and features Name: Hudson, Delaware & Ohio and Trenton Northern Transportation & Light Co.Scale: HO (1:87.1)Size: 40 x 40 feet (phase I), 60 x 80 feet (phase II, under construction)Theme: freelance, inspired by Eastern Class I railroadsLocale: northern New Jersey and PennsylvaniaEra: steam-to-diesel transition (circa 1955)Style: multi-level walkaroundMainline run: HD&O (40 x 40-foot section), […]

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The HO scale South Durham Railway layout

A model railroad track plan for the south durham railroad, with two figures seen from above standing in an around-the-walls layout

Facts and features Name: South Durham Ry.Scale: HO (1:87.1)Size: 9’-6″ x 11’-0″Prototype: freelancedLocale: North CarolinaEra: 1970sStyle: around the wallsMainline run: 22 feetMinimum radius: 22″Minimum turnout: No. 4Maximum grade: none (flat)Benchwork: shelf Height: 57″Roadbed: cork on HomasoteTrack: code 83 extrackScenery: tabletopBackdrop: photo backdrop from Backdrop JunctionControl: Lenz DCC   Click the link to download a PDF […]

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How-to Library | Detailing and weathering a diesel locomotive, Part 1

David recently installed new DCC decoders into his HO scale (1:87.1) Alco RS1 diesel locomotives. Now it’s time make what’s shiny and new appear more weathered, worn, and authentically detailed for the modeled era of operation. Follow along as David gets you started through the steps required to install realistic, fine details, before he begins […]

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Make your layout tell a story

a steam engine pulls a short train around a curve past two workers conversing

If you want to fascinate visitors and draw their eyes into your layout, make your layout tell a story. Many modelers put a lot of effort into making their locomotives, track arrangements, and operating schemes as realistic as possible. But not all of us put the same amount of thought into the little plastic people […]

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