Track Planning Archives - Page 6 of 47

The Albuquerque Division Third District layout in HO scale

By | February 9, 2024

Facts & features Name: Albuquerque Division Third DistrictScale: HO (1:87.1)Size: 50 x 50 feetPrototype: Santa FeLocale: ArizonaEra: 1953Style: double deckMainline run: 600 feetMinimum radius: 48″Minimum turnout: No. 6Maximum grade: 1%Benchwork: tabletop on wall bracketsHeight: 40″ to 56″Roadbed: plywood spline and 3⁄4″ plywood plus HomasoteTrack: code 83 flextrack (main), code 55 and 70 (elsewhere)Scenery: HydrocalBackdrop: tempered […]

From starter train set to layout

By Steven Otte, Senior Associate Editor | January 29, 2024

A printout of a simple HO scale 4x8 track plan, highlighted in three colors

Many model railroaders get their start during the holiday season, with a train set either wrapped in colorful paper or already set up and circling under the tree on Christmas morning. But after a while, even a starry-eyed kid can get bored watching that train go around and around in an endless loop. It would […]

Learning to use a track template

By | January 23, 2024

A translucent green track-planning stencil is surrounded by notes and diagrams

Sketching with Steve Introduction to track templates Learning to use a track template was among the first tasks I gave myself as a model railroader. You may have seen one of them hanging next to the register in your local hobby shop. Perhaps, in these days of point-and-click track-planning software, you thought it was a […]

Design a toy train layout

By Roger Carp | January 21, 2024

Design a toy train layout — O, S, or Standard/Wide gauge — it requires above all making one fundamental decision. Each operator must decide what sort of look he or she wants the layout to have. To be specific, each modeler has to figure out the extent to which the layout, regardless of size or […]

The Pacific Railway & Navigation Co. layout

By | January 17, 2024

Facts & features Name: Pacific Railway & Navigation Co.Scale: Proto:48 (O fine scale)Size: 4 x 38 feet (Palouse), 40 x 60 feet (entire layout) Prototype: Great Northern; Northern Pacific; PR&N; and Spokane, Portland & Seattle (elsewhere on layout)Era: mid-1950sLocale: Pacific NorthwestStyle: walk-in multi-deckMainline run: approx. 1,200 feetMinimum radius: 84″Minimum turnout: No. 7 (spurs), No. 8 […]

The O scale Pennsylvania RR, Central Region layout

By | January 16, 2024

Facts & features Name: Pennsylvania RR, Central RegionScale: O (1:48)Size: 43 x 60 feetPrototype: Pennsylvania RRLocale: central PennsylvaniaEra: 1952Style: around-the-wallsMainline run: 355 feetMinimum radius: 60″ (main), 50″ (branch)Minimum turnout: No. 8 (main), No. 5 (secondary)Maximum grade: 2.2% (main), 3.5% (branch)Benchwork: open gridHeight: 47″ to 76″Roadbed: Homasote Track: code 148 and 125 flextrackScenery: plaster cloth and […]

Why are there no kits for modeling a glass plant?

By Steven Otte, Senior Associate Editor | January 15, 2024

Q: I’m slowly building the industries on my HO layout and can’t seem to find one in particular: a glass plant. I see all types of industries one can buy in HO scale, but no one seems to make a glass plant. Why not? I once worked for one of the largest glass container manufacturers […]

Wayne Garver’s 8 x 13 vintage style track plan

By Roger Carp | January 14, 2024

O gauge enthusiast Wayne Garver has developed an 8 x 13-foot layout, where his different trains and accessories impress viewers. His plan may work well for you. Wayne Garver Download a PDF of his track plan here. Note: This track plan does not include a component list. However, the author has comments about how he […]

Have layout, will travel – portable model train layouts

By | January 14, 2024

A man sits next to a nearly finished train layout outside.

Like several other model railroaders, I lost my “right” to more layout right-of-way within our house several decades ago. Nevertheless, building a layout is perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of the hobby for me. Despite having two operating model railroads in the house, I still wanted to build more. At train shows I noticed many […]

Trains.com Video BONUS | Behind Spaces and Places

By Gerry Leone | January 5, 2024

Master Model Railroader Gerry Leone has been one of Trains.com’s most recognized and most prolific contributors for many years running. From the pages of various Model Railroader magazines, special-issues, and books, to the numerous video series he’s hosted for Model Railroader Video Plus, Trains.com, Trains.com Video, and Model Railroader DVDs, you’ll find he’s all about […]

Trains.com Video BONUS | Behind Spaces and Places

By Gerry Leone | January 5, 2024

The HO scale Missouri Pacific Joppa Subdivision layout

By | December 8, 2023

A model railroad trackplan displaying three different layers

Facts & features Name: Missouri Pacific Joppa SubdivisionScale: HO (1:87.1)Size: 27′-3″ x 31′-6″Prototype: Missouri PacificLocale: southern IllinoisMainline run: 131 feet (visible), 222 feet (including helix and branch to start of Freeman mine)Minimum radius: 30″Minimum turnout: No. 6Maximum grade: 2.5% Download this trackplan! Buy the January 2023 issue of Model Railroader! […]

Tag: Track Planning

The Albuquerque Division Third District layout in HO scale

From starter train set to layout

Learning to use a track template

Design a toy train layout

The Pacific Railway & Navigation Co. layout

The O scale Pennsylvania RR, Central Region layout

Why are there no kits for modeling a glass plant?

Wayne Garver’s 8 x 13 vintage style track plan

Have layout, will travel – portable model train layouts

Trains.com Video BONUS | Behind Spaces and Places

Trains.com Video BONUS | Behind Spaces and Places

The HO scale Missouri Pacific Joppa Subdivision layout

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