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Tag: How To
Track tricks: Superelevate curves in 4 easy steps
A locomotive leaning into a superelevated curve is a dramatic scene on a prototype and model railroad. Follow the simple method above for making superelevated curves on your model train layout using layers of cardstock shims I think the most exciting railroad photos are of a locomotive at speed leaning into a curve. This “lean” […]
What’s in a photograph?: Cotton Belt on the MoPac at Gorham, Ill.
A fast freight rides a two-railroad speedway in May 1971. Jerry A. Pinkepank 1 Cotton Belt freight. A St. Louis Southwestern Railway (SSW, common nickname Cotton Belt) freight rolls north on Missouri Pacific tracks May 8, 1971, at Gorham, Ill., on the 123.7 miles of MoPac trackage rights Cotton Belt used to reach the Illinois […]
What’s in a photograph?: C&O’s ‘Sportsman’ at Staunton, Va.
A single photo from the 1950s of C&O’s ‘Sportsman’ at a small-city station at Staunton, Va., reveals plenty of small, easily overlooked details. 1 – Freight house Staunton (“Stan-ton”) in 1950 had a population of 19,927. All towns of this significance once had a freight house where less-than-carload (LCL) freight was handled. Warehousemen used a […]
How-to Library: C&NW Suburban Service, Part 3
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Plenty of tasks still to tackle if Cody wants to keep his Chicago & North Western HO scale commuter car project moving forward. From adding rust effects to the trucks and diaphragms to painting the car interior, Cody shows you how! […]
HO scale Belfast and Vinehaven RR
Click on the image to download a PDF of the track plan. Name: Belfast & Vinehaven RR and Portland & Mystic Line Layout owner: Arnie Hall Scale: HO and HOn3 (1:87.1) Size: 25 x 40 feet Prototype: Freelanced bridge line Locale: New England coast Era: mid-1940s to early 1950s Style: around-the-walls Mainline run: 110 feet […]
Howard Clark’s HO scale model railroad
Click on the image to download a PDF of the track plan. Name: Howard Clark’s model railroad Layout owner: Howard Clark Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 10′-8″ x 20′-0″ Theme: freelanced urban railroad, inspired by Baltimore & Ohio, New York Central, and Nickel Plate Road Locale: eastern United States Era: 1950s Style: multi-level walk-in Mainline run: […]
What’s in a photograph?: Norfolk & Western at Blue Ridge, Va.
1 Split-point derail device. Considered more effective than a lifting-block derail when there is extra risk of cars rolling out onto the main line from a “house track” or “back track” (terms for station trackage other than a passing siding), or from an industry track, especially when there is a descending grade toward the switch, […]
How-to Library: Turning Spaces into Places, Part 3
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page In Part 3 of this mini-series, Gerry Leone struggles to figure out the best way to build his undulating roadway. Follow along to see how he works out a solution that incorporates stacked foam insulation board, Sculptamold, and plaster cloth. […]
Turning Big Boys in 2 x 5 feet
Flemming Ørneholm’s HO scale Eaglecreek & Northern, which was featured in the February 2012 Model Railroader, is a testament to his ingenious use of space. In less than 7 x 12 feet, Flemming’s HO scale layout captures the sprawling vistas of the west along the Union Pacific. With massive UP 4-8-8-4 Big Boys regularly hauling […]
Materials list for HO scale Tews Cement plant for the Beer Line extension
Get the materials list for this project featured in the Beer Line extension series in the June 2017 Model Railroader Materials list Alpine Division Scale Models http://www.alpinemodels.com/index.html 5805 Rural New Haven Railroad Freight House Avery 8165 8 1⁄2” x 11” shipping labels Atlas Model Railroad Co. 0721 Middlesex Manufacturing Company Evergreen Scale Models styrene 100 […]
How-to Library: C&NW Suburban Service, Part 2
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Cody has the Chicago & North Western HO scale commuter cars disassembled, so it’s over to the spray booth he goes to prep them for re-lettering. Follow along as he shares his proven tips and techniques for working with water-slide decals. […]
