Topic: Model Railroad Branch Line Track Plan Design Imagine faded RS-2's pulling short trains through the river valleys of Vermont or...

My "second" layout is a simple, two turnout affair, in the corner of my office. It's based on the Los Angeles Junction. Structures are...

Prairie-themed layouts lend themselves well to modelers with lots of space but limited modeling time. (Caldwell, ID, 1941, Lee Russell....

Creating Visual Symmetry Shown above is a 1940's topo map of Frederick, MD. Note the general sense of order, the ninety degree grids,...

Lift Out Bridge Design Standards Although they have their drawbacks, lift out bridges allow for such far superior model railroad designs...

This guy really caught me off guard. One second it was quiet, an instant later he was on me. I know he was going over 100 mph, by how...

Who wouldn't love to model this grain elevator in Farmersville, IL? The next town has one just as cool, as does the next. However, as...

Just because a track plan illustration is pleasing to look at from an artistic standpoint doesn't mean that it's a viable design. Read...

Washington D.C.'s Georgetown waterfront, shown above, makes for a compelling modeling theme if there ever was one. Library of Congress...

Model railroaders are an optimistic bunch, particularly when it comes to layout design! To be more specific, overly optimistic when it...

Planning a layout for several….or many years down the road? Design, preparing, and anticipation can be a big part of the fun. In my...