A client asked me to develop a track plan for him that focused on two of his non-train collecting interests: The movie It’s A Wonderful Life, and the Boston Red Sox Major League Baseball club. An odd pairing you think? Not really. What are most toy train layouts but a salute to nostalgia and personal […]
Name: Claremont Docks RR Layout owner: Howard R. Lloyd Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 12 x 17 feet Prototype: freelanced, inspired by Lehigh Valley Locale: Jersey City, N.J. Era: September 1944 Style: walkaround Mainline run: 39 feet Minimum turnout: no. 4 Minimum radius: 18″ Maximum grade: 3 percent Benchwork: open grid and L-girder Height: 53″ to […]
Name: Grand Street & Three Rivers RR Layout owner: Rod Stewart Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 23′-0″ x 124′-4″ Prototype: New York Central and Pennsylvania RR Locale: Pennsylvania Era: mid-1940s Style: walk-in Mainline run: 900 feet Minimum radius: 40″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 3.5 percent Benchwork: box grid Height: 391⁄2″ Roadbed: Homasote Track: code […]
Name: Oregon Middle Division Layout owner: Gary Randall Scale: N (1:160) Size: 15 x 17 feet Prototype: freelance, based on Union Pacific Locale: Pacific Northwest Era: none specified Style: walk-in Mainline run: 150 feet Minimum radius: 16″ Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: 3 percent Benchwork: L-girder with spline subroadbed Layout Height: 39″ to 42″ […]
Name: Union Pacific Daneburg Subdivision Layout owner: Pelle Soeborg Scale: HO Size: 11 x 22 feet Prototype: Union Pacific Locale: Freelanced, based on eastern Nebraska and western Iowa Era: present-day Layout style: around the walls Mainline: 60 feet (excluding staging) Minimum radius: 33″ Track: flextrack: code 83 (main), 70 (sidings), and 55 (spurs) Turnouts: no. 6 […]
Name: Canadian National Ashcroft Subdivision Layout owner: Scott Lamoureux Scale: N (1:160) Size: 7 x 10 feet Prototype: Canadian National Locale: British Columbia Era: modern Style: around the walls Mainline run: 28 feet Minimum radius: 15″ Minimum turnout: none Maximum grade: none Benchwork: open grid Height: 46″ Roadbed: Woodland Scenics foam Track: code 55 Scenery: […]
Name: Milwaukee, Racine & Troy (MR&T) Layout designer: Andy Sperandeo Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 28’-3” x 54’-9” Theme: freelanced Locale: southeastern Wisconsin Style: walkaround Mainline run: about 200 feet Minimum radius: 36” (main line) Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 3 percent Click on the link to download the PDF of this track plan. […]
Name: Milwaukee, Racine & Troy RR Layout owner: Model Railroader staff Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 28 x 54 feet Prototype: freelanced bridge line Locale: Southeastern Wisconsin Era: 1980s and 1990s Style: walk-in Mainline run: approx. 200 feet Minimum radius: 36″ (main) Minimum turnout: no. 6 (main), no. 4 spurs Maximum grade: 3 percent eastbound, 1.5 […]
Name: Baltimore & Ohio Ridgley Division Layout owner: Dale Ridgeway Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 18 x 20 feet Prototype: inspired by the B&O, Pennsylvania RR, Norfolk & Western Locale: central West Virginia Era: 1964 to 1967 Style: multilevel, walk in Mainline run: 175 feet Minimum radius: 24″ (main), 18″ (balloon track at D. Lee Coal […]
Name: Ogdensburg & Norwood Ry., Northern Division Layout owner: Jim Heidt Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 24 x 30 plus 7 x 20 feet Prototype: Ogdensburg & Norwood Locale: upstate New York Era: July 1948 Style: walkaround Mainline run: 404 feet Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 3.3 percent Benchwork: L-girder Height: 36″ (lower deck), […]
Name: Santa Fe Eastern Layout owner: Les Illes Scale: HO Size: 25 x 35 feet Prototype: Santa Fe (BNSF Ry.) and Southern Pacific (Union Pacific) Locale: Cajon Pass in California Era: 1940s to present Style: walk-in Mainline run: 600 feet in three lines Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: no. 8 (main), no. 6 (yards) Maximum grade: 2 […]
Name: Willoughby, Ohio Layout owner: Perry Pollino Scale: N (1:160) Size: 11′-0″ x 15′-3″ Prototype: Norfolk & Western and Conrail Locale: northern Ohio Era: 1980s Style: walk-in Mainline run: 85 feet Minimum radius: 15″ (main), 12″ (wye), 9″ (balloon track) Minimum turnout: Peco small radius Maximum grade: 2.25 percent This track plan originally appeared in […]
