Category Description: Details about large HO-scale individual or club layouts.
50 Years of Excellence: Dick Elwell's Hoosac Valley
Railroad Model Craftsman 2012-01 pg. 42 Scale: HO Author: Tom Bartley
How Dick got started in model railroading. A run-through his layout. How he built the scenery for his layout. Includes a track plan of this 34' x 64' layout. A sidebar is includes on Dick's friendship with Bob Van Gelder of South River Modelworks. More photos are available on the web.
A Day at East LaSalle
Model Railroader 2003-03 pg. 58 Scale: HO Author: Dan Christiansen, Dave Karkoski
This brief article describes, mostly through photos, how operations happen at East LaSalle on the North American Prototype Modelers' club layout. A small trackplan of this 59 by 74 foot layout is included, with a detailed track plan of the East LaSalle area.
Build for The Long Haul
Model Railroader 2006-07 pg. 72 Scale: HO Author: Lou Sassi
The 19 by 33 foot Moose River Valley RR by Peter Eaton features a lot of switching, with three yards and many industries. The layout lasted 30 years, and was torn down in 2001, so that Peter could focus on building has large scale garden layout.
Burr Stewart's BN Along Puget Sound
Railroad Model Craftsman 2008-01 pg. 54 Scale: HO Author: Paul Scoles
The layout measures 30 feet by 33 feet and is set in 1973. It is an around-the-wall layout with a large L-shape peninsula. It also has sections that are double-decked..
East Meets West - Modeling the Rio Grande Southern and East Broad Top
Railroad Model Craftsman 2009-01 pg. 52 Scale: HOn3 Author: Linn Moedinger
This three-level 23' by 47' and 20' by 17' layout features two of the owner's favorite narrow gauge lines set in 1957. Includes a trackplan and many photos of this beautiful layout.
Ed Schampel's Weird & Wonderful Railroad
Railroad Model Craftsman 1972-10 pg. 40 Scale: HO Author: Edwin Schampel
The freelanced layout measures 45 by 18-1/2 feet and takes up most of the basement. It features four loops that are connected. The layout allows for long trains to be run.
Erie's Mahoning Division in HO Scale
Model Railroader 1978-11 pg. 100 Scale: HO Author: Mike Schafer
This is a visit to Joe Slanser's 28' x 29' basement layout. The main layout is in a 9' x 29' area, with a large double-track loop running through the rest of the space.
Franklin & South Manchester Revisited... A Conversation with George
Model Railroading 2001-09 pg. 44 Scale: HO Author: Art Fahie
The author asks George Selios a number of questions about his layout. Includes many half-page photos.
Franklin!
Model Railroader 1999-12 pg. 74 Scale: HO Author: George Sebastian-Coleman
George Selios has made it to the town of Franklin on his layout. Includes lots of great photos and a full trackplan of the layout to-date. George has switched to DCC and sound.
From Bathurst to Bayview
Railroad Model Craftsman 2003-04 pg. 67 Scale: HO Author: Trevor Marshall
Three friends build this large layout in an office space to represent the Bayview Junction near Lake Ontario, Canada, including its wye. The article describes how they built it and includes many close-up and several overhead photos.
Hard Coal and the Wyoming Division
Railroad Model Craftsman 2007-12 pg. 56 Scale: HO Author: John Edwards
This article focuses on a portion of Harold Werthwein's layout that features moving coal. The layout fills most of the 35 x 85-foot basement. Included with the article are lots of photos and a diagram of the part of the layout discussed in the text.
Harry Clark's Indian Creek Valley Ry.
Model Railroader 1985-12 pg. 76 Scale: HO Author: Malcolm Furlow
This large layout literally fills the 22-foot by 50-foot basement with a massive, continuous scene. About a quarter of the layout is consumed by a turntable, engine house, and large yard. The scenery is absolutely stunning. The article includes a two-page fold-out. The layout features B&O steam-era.
Heavy Industry in HO-scale
Model Railroader 2003-11 pg. 60 Scale: HO Author: Jim Hediger
The magazine revisits Dean Freytag's South Ridge Lines to see how it has progressed over 25 years. His layout is famous for the heavy steel industry he has modeled. Includes many close-up photos of some of his industries.
Here's What I'm Working On
The Keystone Modeler 60 July 2008 pg. 39 Scale: (none) Author: George Kovach
This layout spans 40 by 18 feet, and is double-decked, which includes four-track mainline.
John Elwood's HO Empire
Railroad Model Craftsman 2010-02 pg. 40 Scale: HO Author: Tom Bartley
A beautifully-scenicked layout that measures 12' x 16'. It models the Olympic & Puget Sound Rwy. The layout features many Selios structures.
John Longhurst's CP Rail Manitoba & Minnesota Subdivision
Railroad Model Craftsman 2009-12 pg. 48 Scale: HO Author: John Longhurst
This is a freelanced, double-decked 17 by 20 foot layout set in the Fall of 1995. The author describes the layout's construction and operations. Includes a track plan. You can see pictures of this layout on John's blog, and he has videos of the layout on YouTube. Another photo album can be found at this web site.
Keeping the Pennsy's Spirit Alive
Model Railroader 2006-09 pg. 74 Scale: HO Author: Ed Dougherty
This 24' by 32' layout represents the PRR's Middle Division in the late 1950's. It is a one-and-a-half level around-the-walls design with a long center peninsula. The author describes the building that houses the layout, how he built the layout, constructing the scenery, and operations. Includes photos and trackplan.
M&K Division of the B&O
Model Railroader 1990-06 pg. 60 Scale: HO Author: Don Cassler
An upside-down, reverse "F" shape, island-style layout that fills a 27' by 43' basement. The layout was designed as a railfan layout.
Modeling a Changing World
Model Railroader 2006-08 pg. 72 Scale: HO Author: Herb Gishlick
In this 23' by 27' layout, the author has attempted to stay up-to-date with the current times in his layout. Some structures have been modified over the years to reflect what happened to them in the real world over the years.
More Mears' Madness
Railroad Model Craftsman 1996-03 pg. 54 Scale: HOn3 Author: Jeff Reynolds
The old layout (featured in RMC June 1987) was moved from a 225 sqft space to a 652 sqft space. The layout is mostly around the wall with do duck-under bridges in a 40 by 26 foot space. The layout is private, but is being build with a group of 9 people. Has a sidebar on "Flangesaurus Rex", an in-place wheel cleaning section of track.
Morning at Mac Street
Railroad Model Craftsman 2010-03 pg. 40 Scale: HO Author: Jim Providenza
This article is a "railfan" view of Jim's layout, with lots of close-up photos. Includes a lower-level revision track plan.
Once-a-year Layout
Model Railroader 1991-01 pg. 184 Scale: HO Author: Peter Goudinoff
Why go through all the effort to make benchwork, when you can lay all the track on a wooden floor in a spare room. The author describes how he helps his son build a track plan that can have multiple trains running.
Peninsula Club's New HO Layout
Railroad Model Craftsman 1972-02 pg. 24 Scale: HO Author: Bob Dupont
This 30' by 60' layout was being built by the Peninsula Model Railroad Club at the San Mateo (California) County Fair Grounds. The handlaid track is code 70. The photos include ones of unfinished areas so that we can see their benchwork.
Prototype Scenes, Freelanced Layout
Model Railroader 2006-08 pg. 42 Scale: HO Author: Lou Sassi
This 19' by 34' layout features the fictional merger of 5 eastern railroads set in eastern Pennsylvania in the late 1960's to early 1970's. The father and son team Bill and Steve Brown worked on this layout for over a decade.
Railroading Salt Creek Style
Railroad Model Craftsman 1972-11 pg. 54 Scale: HO Author: Bob Walker
This club layout resided in Elmhurst, IL. It features four levels and mostly scratchbuilt structures and vast scenery. The club's history is covered.
Recreating Wisconsin's Past
Railroad Model Craftsman 2010-06 pg. 66 Scale: HO Author: Ray Meyer
This article describes the METRO Model Railroad Club of Port Washington, Wisconsin. The double-decked layout fits inside about 50 feet by 16 feet. Includes lots of photos but no trackplan.
Rich Sorensen's Wabash Valley R.R.
Railroad Model Craftsman 2011-04 pg. 42 Scale: HO Author: Bob Werre
The 38' by 30' layout spread over four rooms in Rich's basement models the eastern mountains in West Virginia.
Rod Stewart's Three Rivers City
Model Railroader 2010-12 pg. 56 Scale: HO Author: Carl Swanson
When I first saw Rod' layout in this issue, I was very impressed because it looks like something George Selios would do. It turns out he is one of Rod's idols. The article includes a track plan of this huge layout, and describes how Rod finds time to model, and how he is building his layout. Includes a side-bar on using LED lamps.
Southeast Division of the Milwaukee Road
Railroad Model Craftsman 2011-01 pg. 46 Scale: HO Author: Michael Duncan
A large, around the wall layout with several peninsulas for modeled industries in a 25 x 35 foot basement. The author writes about how he got into the hobby, why he models what he does, and describes the construction of the layout, his motive power, and operations.
Ted Hough's HO Canadian Pacific Ry.
Model Railroader 1987-10 pg. 92 Scale: HO Author: Malcolm Furlow and Paul Scoles
A 12 by 28 rectangular, around-the-walls kind of layout featuring Canadian railroading. The layout was started by Ted's brother Don and later moved to Ted's basement. The layout had been featured in Model Railroader before.
The California Central Line
Model Railroader 1988-02 pg. 68 Scale: HO Author: Don Mitchell
This club layout is housed in the Agnew depot. The article covers how the club was formed and progressed over the years, how they built the 12' by 55' layout, and describes their operations. Interior and exterior photos are included, as well as close-up layout photos and the full trackplan. Also includes a sidebar on how the club tested switch machines to determine which one would be used on the layout.
The Fremont & South Park R.R.
Railroad Model Craftsman 2009-11 pg. 81 Scale: HO Author: Dave Rickaby
This article is a fictional story about how Lynn Draper's rendition of his railroad came about. It is accompanied by photos of his layout, a track plan, and how the layout was built using I-beams. The layout measures 27' x 12'.
The Gladstone & North Houghton
Model Railroading 2000-11/12 pg. 38 Scale: HO Author: Doug Geiger
Fred Carlson's G&NH "G"-shaped layout models the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where iron ore is king. He is an MMR. The article contains lots of close-up photos, a description of how the layout was built, the motive power and rolling stock, and operations of the layout. A track plan is included. Another magazine article on the layout can be seen in the Railroad Model Craftsman February 1996 issue. Online photos for this layout are available at this Rocky Mountain NMRA Region web site.
The Granite Mountain Railway Part II
Railroad Model Craftsman 1991-04 pg. 48 Scale: HO Author: Doug Geiger
This installment covers the primary purpose of the layout: operations. Also covered are the Dynatrol command control, scenery design, and the added narrow gauge line.
The Kansas City Southern Lines
Model Railroader 1978-03 pg. 70 Scale: HO Author: Jim Hediger
This is a 15' x 30' layout in Wilson Hunt's garage.
The Midwest Lines
Railroad Model Craftsman 2010-07 pg. 45 Scale: HO Author: Dave Rickaby
This article describes the 33' by 52' layout built by Rolf Plachter. You can see more about the layout at the owner's web site
The New Numark Valley
Railroad Model Craftsman 2008-10 pg. 44 Scale: HO Author: John Edwards
The author visits Bill Kupiec's layout. An article about Bill's previous layout appeared in the September 2001 issue of RMC. Bill moved and his new covers 15 by 42 feet. The freelanced, almost completed layout is modeled after railroads that moved anthracite from eastern Pennsylvania to New York City and New Jersey.
The PRR's Williamsport Division, circa 1935
Railroad Model Craftsman 2011-09 pg. 42 Scale: HO Author: Jim Wing, Darren Ferretter
Two railfan friends combine their efforts to build a large layout in one of their garages. It is a folded dog-bone design with a branch line and offline staging. See the layout on their Facebook page
The Pasadena Model Railroad Club
Model Railroader 1978-03 pg. 90 Scale: HO Author: Bob Hegge
This large layout was built in a refurbished bowling alley. It has some impressive specs.
The Penokee, Grandview & Winnipeg Railroad
Railroad Model Craftsman 2011-06 pg. 42 Scale: HO Author: Dave Rickaby
This article is about Ralph Wehlitz' HO-scale that was started almost 50 years ago. This U-shaped layout measures 26' x 24' and is set on July 4th, 1963.
The Quartz Creek & Union Pass
Railroad Model Craftsman 2007-03 pg. 48 Scale: HO Author: Dave Rickaby
Bill Barr's U-shaped fictional railroad that takes most of a 22' by 22' outbuilding. The time period is the mid-1920's when Bill was a young boy.
The Raton Division
Model Railroader 1996-10 pg. 70 Scale: HO Author: Bob Foltz
This 24' x 27' around-the-walls layout models the ATSF from Trinidad, Colorado to New Mexico border. It has beautiful desert scenery, and operation was important.
The Reading Lines
Railroad Model Craftsman 1991-12 pg. 66 Scale: HO Author: Bill Gruber
This point-to-point layout set in 1955 attempts to adhere to the Reading Railroad's operating standards. In additional to prototype information, this article covers construction, scenery, equipment, and operation.
The Ria Grand & Southwestern
Model Railroader 1988-03 pg. 60 Scale: HOn3 Author: Jeff Griffin
14' by 25' island layout in a dedicated building with workshop, featuring Colorado prototype modeling.
The RvP Division
Model Railroader 1991-03 pg. 76 Scale: HO Author: Mike Cunningham
Rudi von Prittwitz built this 23 x 68 foot layout in his attic. It is based on the Southern Pacific from the 1950s onward. The layout features beautiful scenery, large yards, and tall mountains.
The Sierra Grande & Western RR
Model Railroader 1978-02 pg. 98 Scale: HO Author: Dale Olafson
Two friends built a 16'x30' basement layout in the shape of an "M". Includes photos and a track plan.
The Tule Springs & Western... Revisited
Railroad Model Craftsman 1996-04 pg. 56 Scale: HO Author: Steve Sint
The author revisits Frank Burke and Lynn Austin's two-car garage layout ten years after the first report. It describes the layout and the changes made in the last ten years. Includes lots of close-up photos of this nice layout.
The Utah Colorado Western
Model Railroader 1985-11 pg. 82 Scale: HO Author: Lee Nicholas
The layout fills most of the 33' by 30' basement. The single track mainline represents a bridge line between Craig, CO and Heber, UT. In addition to the description of how the layout was built, the article covers operations and includes a track- and elevation plan.
The White Pines Model Railroad Club
Model Railroader 1984-11 pg. 74 Scale: multi Author: Dick Christianson
The club has a building in an industrial complex in Bensenville, Illinois, which features a theater, a 25x32 foot N-scale layout, and a 45 x 85 foot HO-scale layout. Elmhurst Model Railroad Club (the new name and web site for this club).
Vic Kuklin's Modern-day Colorado Midland Ry.
Railroad Model Craftsman 1991-05 pg. 48 Scale: HO Author: Eric Lundberg
This double-decked layout, in the owner's imagination, had the Colorado Midland Railway continuing on to August, 1960. A trackplan and photos of the very nicely-detailed layout accompany the article.
Visiting Fred Carlson's Gladstone & North Houghton
Railroad Model Craftsman 1996-02 pg. 60 Scale: HO Author: Jeff Johnston
The article describes Fred's layout set in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, which measures 26' by 25' in an L-shape. It covers the layout's construction and design, operating, and plans for the future. Many photos and a track plan are also included
Visiting Larry Wright's Beaver Valley & Pennsylvania RR
Railroad Model Craftsman 2007-04 pg. 58 Scale: HO Author: Dan Lewis
The layout measures 35' by 55' in an around-the-walls style in Larry's basement. It is set in 1936 and features aspects of the Ma & Pa railroad if it had made it to western Pennsylvania. Includes many photos and a trackplan.
Visiting the Blackhawk Valley R.R.
Railroad Model Craftsman 1994-01 pg. 64 Scale: HO Author: Bob Krueger
This simple around-the-room layout fits in a 13' x 26' space. The photos in the article only cover a 2' x 8' area that is "finished". The track is all handlaid code 70 rail. The author enjoys rail-fanning his layout.
Where The East Broad Top Meets the Pennsy
Model Railroader 2010-04 pg. 52 Scale: HO Author: Lou Sassi
This 24' x 26' layout has a double-track Pennsy mainline around the perimeter of the layout and the narrow gauge EBT in the center island. Includes a sidebar on how Don Shook makes debris for the top of his steam engine's tenders.