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Layouts - S Articles

"Chama", the PBL Display Layout

This 2'x20' Sn3 layout travels everywhere where P-B-L goes. Locomotive distances covered are measured in actual miles! Includes a couple of photos.

"In the Mood" Period Model Railroading

This is a preview article of Dave Jasper's S-scale layout that will be part of the 1999 NASG Convention's layout tour. Dave models 1927. Includes several photos, and Dave shares his philosophy of how he modeled that era. A sidebar is included about the 1999 NASG Convention.

2008 NASG Convention Layout Preview

This article covers the following layouts open during the 2008 NASG Convention: Tommy Robichaud's 22'x22' DCC-powered layout that can handle both hi-rail and scale equipment; Dick lannacone DCC-powered layout features AF, hi-rail, and scale equipment.

55 Years Ago in S

Jesse Bennett took photos in the early 1960s of Doc Johnson's S-scale layout, and of the one owned by Will Estes, which are shown on this page.

A 1950s-style AF Layout

The author describes how he got to building the layout he has, which measures 12'x8'. Includes one photo and a track plan.

A Boyhood Dream Fulfilled

The author finally gets to build the full A.C. Gilbert American Flyer layout he wanted to build when he was young, but couldn't because A.F. went out of business shortly after he got started. Includes several photos of his layout.

A Busy Day at Truckee on the S Scale Sierra Northern

A two-page photo, with a brief description, of the yard of the author's layout.

A Capitol Christmas

The 12' square layout at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem, Oregon features A.C. Gilbert equipment, because that was where A.C. was born. This article describes how the layout came to be, how the author provides the equipment to run, and how the layout has traveled over the years. Includes several photos of the layout.

A Carnival of S Gauge

A revisit of this 5-level layout, owned, by Tony Yorio, that features a carnival.

A Chicago & Northwestern Heritage

The author describes how he got around to building a 13'x13' layout. Includes a few photos and a track plan drawing.

A Collector's American Flyer Layout

The author describes the construction of his 28'x15' A.F. layout. Includes the track plan diagram.

A Glimpse of the "S" Roster of Iowan Bob Nicholson

Photos, and a brief description with each, of the models found on the author's layout.

A Hidden S Gauge Layout in Southwest Florida

Fort Myers, Florida's Lakes Park is home to the Railroad Museum of South Florida, which has a 9-1/2' x 20' S-scale layout. It models the 1950s/60s of railroading in Florida. The article includes photos and a track plan.

A Last Look... The Plateau Railway

The author shares his experience of visiting Len Giovannoli's layout, and several photos of the layout.

A Layout for the Kids

Each year the author sets up the American Flyer layout in the livingroom on a 5'x12' platform with a 4' extension. Friends of his children would come over during the Christmas period to play with the layout.

A Legendary Modeler in S and His Layout

Frank Titman is a prolific modeler, builder, author, editor, and kit manufacturer (Lehigh Valley Models). This is a photo essay of his Spiral Hill layout, which was featured in the Great Model Railroads 2000 annual magazine. This article includes a track plan of the 19'x20' layout.

A look at Sam Pellegrino's AF layout

The author describes his layout, and how he got into collecting. Includes several photos.

A Model of Stony Creek Railroad

The author describes his new layout after down-sizing. The layout features the Stony Creek branch of the Reading. It is a walk-in style that fits in a 12'x12' space. The article describes how he built the layout, and it includes several photos.

A Mountainous Pike in S-scale

This article covers Ed Sauers' B&O Mountaintop branch line layout that fits in his 17'x31' basement. The article covers the track's design (a plan is included), layout construction methods, and motive power. Includes photos of the layout and its owner.

A Permanent Club Exists

Prompted by Jeff's commentary in the previous issue about whether or not there are any permanent S-scale layouts set up in the country, the author responds with two photos and some details about the Nauset Model Railroad Club's hi-rail layout.

A Photo Visit to The Twin Cities

Several pages of photos of models and layouts by Steve Hanson, John Kromhout, Dave Jasper, and Tom Lennon.

A Photo Visit with John Bortz

Four pages of photos of John's Pennepack Valley & Western Railroad.

A Transcontinental S Gauge Layout

The author describes his 50'x18' U-shaped layout. The floor-to-ceiling scenery is reminiscent of John Allen's HO-scale layout from the 1950s. Includes several photos of the author's layout (more can be seen in the PDF online version starting on page 33).

A Visit With Dave Smith

After a brief introduction on how Dave got into S-scale, there are several pages of photos of his NYC/UP layout, including a full-page photo of his scratchbuilt trestle bridge.

A Visit with Ron Tilton

The author describes Ron and his layout, and shares many photos of the work Ron has done. Ron specializes in scratchbuilding rolling stock.

Action-packed Hi-rail Layout Features AF Track, Locos, Accessories

The author describes his toy-train layout (set up as if he was a 10-year-old boy). Includes several photos of the layout, and a track plan.

Adams Lines

The author's layout is 12-1/2' square which uses code 100 handlaid track. The article includes the track plan and several layout photos.

All American Railroads

That is the name of Bob Spaulding's layout. The "scale" layout measures 20'x24', build using a series of modules. Includes photos of the layout (no track plan).

Along the Hudson Central RR

The author describes his two 2'x5' portable modules that he built, using the "Switchman's Nightmare" track plan in the Kalmbach "101 Trackplans" book as a guide. Includes many photos of the layout.

American Flyer Christmas Layout

The A.F. layout of the All Gauge Toy Train Association of San Diego is featured in text and photos.

American Flyer Layout Filled with Accessories

The author describes how he got into AF and the layouts he has built.

American Flyer Lines, Western Division

The author tells the story of how he built his mostly AF-based layout, starting in 1999. Includes several photos.

American Flyer Under the Tree

For two months out of the year, Tim Price sets up his American Flyer train set layout on a ping-pong table for the family to enjoy during the Christmas time period. John Murray's American Flyer layout measures 24'x13' with a 4'x6' extension consisting of several loops for simple and reliable running, which family and friends enjoy.

An Executive Pike

Building a small layout that takes up very little space, yet provides switching opportunities, and takes only one 4'x8' sheet of plywood. Includes photos of the layout, cutting diagram, and installation diagrams.

An Operating Tour of the Great Northern Pacific

Lee Johnson and Arden Goehring visited and operated Jess Bennett's layout in 1990. It is a photo essay of the layout. Also included is a track plan of Jess' 20'x44' layout. Includes a side-bar by Ed Loizeaux about Jess' move from California to Idaho.

An S-Pike - The Layout of John Kosick, Jr

Four photos of this AF/hi-rail layout.

An S-Pike in Progress - Simon Parent in Quebec

A few photos of Simon's 28'x15' layout under construction (this issue's cover was also taken on his layout). There are more overall layout photos later in the issue, and a track plan is found on page 25.

An Update On The Buffalo Creek & Gauley

The author has been working on his layout for 10 years. It measures 44'x25' and based on the BC&G in West Virginia. Includes several photos of the layout, as well as a track plan.

An update on the Penn Western

The author details his moves and changes to his layouts over the many years he has been an S-scale modeler. He is currently working on a 29'x45' layout in his basement, which includes a 2'x16' switching layout and a portion devoted to the EBT modeled in Sn3.

Athabasca Northern Railway

This is likely the only S-scale layout in Alaska. The author describes his layout, which mixes Alaska and Canada prototype ideas. Includes many close-up photos and a track plan.

Background on the S-Helper Service Display Layout

A brief description of this famous layout (to S-scale modelers, at least) and how it was built. Includes a track plan.

Best Christmas Ever When You Are Eight Years Old

The author recalls his first train set for Christmas and describes his continued involvement in the hobby.

Bill Morrison's Morrison-Mathews Railroad

Bill is rebuilding a new layout after the previous one was destroyed by a California fire. The layout is still under construction, but the article includes many photos and a track plan.

Bill Wood's American Flyer Layout

Open as part of the 1988 NMRA convention, Bill Wood's 24'x35' walk-in U-shaped layout runs some of his 91 steam locomotives, 44 diesel locomotives, and well over 500 cars. Yes, he's a collector, too.

Bob Hogan's Sierra Northern

Photo essay of Bob's S/Sn3 layout. Includes a track plan.

Bob Hogan's Sierra Northern Layout

A two-page spread of photos of the author's layout, who has been an S-scale modeler for nearly 50 years at the time of this article.

Bob Johnson's Retro Layout

The author describes his history in the scale, and some construction details about his layout. The layout is 4'x16', and it was set up at the 2014 Spring S Spree. In addition to a photo on page 16, this article has additional photos and a track plan of the layout.

Boys and Their Toys

The author describes their 4-tier 5' x 7' Christmas layout.

Brian Nicholson's Layout

The author describes Brian Nicholson's (Montreal) layout, shares photos, and a track plan.

Brothers and Trains

The author recalls how his A.F. collection grew with each Christmas. Includes a handful of photos of the Christmas layout.

Buffalo Convention Visit Ron Kemp's New York Central Belt

The author introduces Ron, who then writes about the how and the why behind his currently layout.

Building a Simple Layout for 4-year-old Noah

Too young for electric trains, the author removed the motors from some AF steam locomotives, to allow his grandson to hand-operate the layout they built for him.

Building a Unique Cityscape

Photos of the owner's layout show off the interesting ways he has laid out the city scenes.

Building in S Scale

The center supplemental to this issue is 24 pages of S-scale modeling articles, tips, and currently available product from advertisers. This is a great source to find out what's available in S today. The supplemental was a co-operative effort by the RMC magazine and the NASG.

Building the New Buffalo Creek & Gauley Part IV

This final installment covers the "story line" of the layout and how he operates it. A little bit of prototype history is covered, including the lines' demise. On Brooks' layout, the line is doing well. He describes the car card routing system he uses, as well as the NCE DCC system he uses to run the trains. The locomotives are using the Soundtraxx Tsunami decoders.

Building the NNY RR

The author describes his around-the-wall layout with three peninsulas, for a total of 400 feet of mainline track. Construction has begun, so a couple of photos are includes, as well as a drawing of the completed track plan.

Chama Yard

The 3'x48' layout models the Chama Yard, which was the first layout the author built after switching from On3 to Sn3. Includes a track plan, and several photos. The article continues on page 59 of the issue (not so indicated in the article's lead).

Chicago, Priceless & Denver RR

The author describes his layout, which was open during the 2011 Fall S Fest. A track plan is included.

Christmas and American Flyer = Fun!

The author describes his layout, which contains almost all A.C. Gilbert accessories ever made. Includes several photos.

Christmas and S Scale Trains... A Recipe for Happy Holiday Memories?

Two authors share photos and a description of how S-scale trains are used at Christmas time.

Christmas Set Becomes Permanent Layout

The author describes how as a kid he could only have the AF layout out at Christmas time, and how that finally changed when he had space in his own house.

Chuck West's Layout

Chuck lives close to the Des Plaines Hobbies store, through which he learned about S-scale, and has been in S ever since. Many of the local S-scale modelers now work on and run trains on Chuck's layout. Includes many photos of Chuck's layout, and a group photo of some of the guys working on the layout.

Circular Modular S Layout is a West Coast Ambassador at Shows

The author takes his 10-foot diameter modular layout, built to NASG standards, to local train shows. It combines scale and A.F. Includes two photos of portions of the layout.

Coast to Coast in S Scale

Many photographs of 9 different S-scale layouts.

Coffee With Allen PhillipsAllen Phillips

The author introduces himself and his layout.

Coffee with Bob Bubeck

The author describes his A.F. layouts and what he collects.

Coffee With Gerald Burks

The author introduces himself and his layout.

Coffee With Nelson Steinmetz

The author introduces himself and his layout.

Colorado & Silver River Railroad's Monte Vista, May 1957

This article describes the updates done to Chip Romig's S/Sn3 layout, focusing on the town of Monte Vista, since the last article covering this layout.

Craig Wright's Cumbres & Toltec Western

The author describes how he switched to Sn3, built his 18'x30' layout, set in Chama, NM in the fall of 1950. Includes lots of photos.

Creation of the S Hi-rail Saguaro Valley

The author briefly describes his previous two layouts, and then covers his current layout after a move.

Dad's Dream

The author describes his seasonal layout set up on six 4'x8' sheets of plywood. It is an AF- and Plasticville-based layout. Includes several photos of the layout.

Dave Woodrell's Sn3 Rio Grande Southern

The author describes Dave's Rio Grande Southern layout, which was started in 1991 in an 18' X 33' space in his new basement. The article includes the layout's track plan, and lots of close-up photos.

Denis Fortier's Canadian S Scale

A brief introduction to Denis and his layouts. Photos include those of the layouts he has built, as well as track plans for each. Also includes photos of models he has custom painted for his fictitious layout.

Denver & Cat Canyon Western

The author describes his freelanced Sn3 layout set in the mountains of Colorado and New Mexico. Includes many layout photos

Denver & Rio Grande Western

The author describes his layout, which is centered around the town of Coffee Creek, a freelance town that grew to serve the area's Coffee Creek Lumber Company. Includes one photo and the point-to-point layout's track plan.

Denver, Rio Grande & Southern Railroad

The 12'x18' layout room, intended for an HO-scale layout, was filled with an Sn3 layout after catching the narrow-gauge bug. Includes many photos, a track plan, and a listing of engines found on the layout.

Die Modelleisenbahnanlage

The toy museum in Nuremberg, Germany hosts a huge S-scale layout. The 325sqft layout was built between 1950 and 1974 by Dr. Wolfram Bismarck in his spare time, most of it scratchbuilt. The Union Pacific-based layout depicts the Nebraska/Iowa junction on the west bank of the Missouri River. Includes many photos, and a track plan of this rectangularly-shaped layout.

Disaster Strikes Popular St. Louis Christmas Display Layout

The American Flyer S-Gaugers of the St. Louis Area-built layout at the St. Louis Famous-Barr department store was drenched in water due to a frozen pipe breakage.

Ed Cooper's Flyer Layout

The author shares his history in the hobby, and describes his reasoning behind building the A.F.-based layout he has. The layout has lots of items on it. Includes several layout photos, as well as a track plan.

Elk & Gauley Finally Gets Some Scenery

The author reports on the scenery progress he has made on his layout. Includes the latest photos and a track plan.

Engineer

The author shares his history in the hobby. He is a real-world train engineer. In addition to A.F. collecting, he also scratchbuilt NYC transit equipment. A track plan of his 11'x17' layout is included, as well as several photos, including ones of his scratchbuilt cars.

Everything in Model Railroading was Made by Someone Else

The author describes his journey into S-scale, and his layout. Includes photos and a track plan.

Evolution of an AF Layout

The author describes his involvement with American Flyer trains, and what he is doing today.

Finistere

The article covers the author's sectional Canadian National exhibition layout. The model represents an extension of the Caraquet & Gulf Shore lines on the Acadian Peninsular in New Brunswick, Canada, set in 1968 to 1972. The article includes a track plan and many photos of the layout.

First AF Trains Came in 1950

The author tells the story of how he got his first AF train set.

Focal Point: 'Rumansoda' on the Minnesota Heartland

The author tells about how he designed his layout to have several railfanning spots on it to remember the real-world railfanning he gets to do.

Francis Lee Jacques' Great North Road

The layout used AF mechanisms, trucks, and track, but Lee scratchbuilt everything else to his own standards, which was On3-1/2. The whole objective of the layout was an exercise in perspective, as he was a professional artist. The layout was moved to the Lake Superior Transportation Museum North Road in downtown Duluth after his death. The article includes photos of the layout, and a track plan reprint from the May 1962 issue of Model Railroader magazine.

Gary Waite's San Juan Extension

A brief description and a pictoral tour of Gary's Colorado-themed layout.

Glen Sponholtz's Laramie and North Park Railway

A visit and several photos describing Glen's layout. The layout was open as part of the 1991 NASG Convention.

Gregg and Colleen Mummert's Incredible Christmas Layout

Gregg describes how their Christmas layout grew over the years. Includes photos of the layout, as well as a track plan of this L-shaped 11'x17' layout.

Greymouth to Otira in Steam Days

The author describes his journey into model railroading, and how he is building a layout in New Zealand. Includes a track plan and photos of his layout.

Gulf Terminal Transfer

The author documents his previous layout. It was a U-shaped, 11'x14' industrial switching layout. The article includes track diagrams, and several photos.

Gwaine Dvorak's S Hi-rail Layout

A photo essay of Gwaine's 24'x17' J-shaped layout, and a full track plan.

Harriman to Nashville the S Gauge Tennessee Central

The author describes his renamed layout (was "Volunteer Central II") layout based on the what-if scenario of the Tennessee Central still existing. This AF-based layout has lots of track, engines, structures, and over 700 figures. Includes several photos.

Haunted Train At Look Park

The history behind getting an S-scale layout to be set up for the Christmas season at Look Park.

Have You Seen "All Aboard" Yet?

The tinplate display layout set up in West Nyack, New York is mentioned.

Herb Cotter's Layout

The author shares photos he took of Herb Cotter's layout.

Hi-rail Layout of Steve Lunde

Photos of Steve's 12'x23' layout which is open during the 2003 NASG Convention. Includes a track plan.

Hi-rail Layout on Tour at the NASG Convention

Dave's "Fourville Branch Line" measures 16'x16' and consists of four loops. Includes several photos and a track plan.

Highlights from a memorable railroad: Dave Jasper's New England Central

The author describes two scenes on Dave Jasper's layout before it is demolished.

His Layout is a 3D Reminiscence of His Life

The author describes how he envisioned and eventually built his dream "hi-rail" layout, building it scene by scene. The article contains a number of close-up photos. It even includes a photo of his grandmother's store which he had a modeler build for him based on a photo of the real thing.

Hobby Brings Christmas Joy

Having moved to senior housing, the author and his wife now set up his Christmas display in the building's lobby for all to enjoy. Includes photos.

Houston S Gaugers

Along with two photos on the cover of this issue, the Houston S Gaugers are also featured on this page with a group photo and a photo of Jack Troxell's engine facility on his Houston and Gulf Coast layout.

How One S Gauger Made His Childhood AF Dreams Come True

Well-known for his large, large-scale (Fn3) layout built in a dedicated building, a portion of that building is dedicated to his 13'x23' AF layout, described by the owner in this article. Includes lots of photos, and a track plan.

How to Build a Quick, Portable Layout in S

The author and one other person build a small layout using S-Helper Service, Woodland Scenics, and Plasticville products to build a Christmas display layout for a local bank. Includes the construction process, and a photos of the finished layout.

Illinois Railroad Relocates to Pacific Northwest

The author describes the American Flyer-based layout, how it has its roots in the artist's drawing of the A.C. Gilbert AF catalog from 1950. Having built the layout in a modular fashion, the author was able to move it to a new city. Includes several photos of the layout after the move.

Imagination is All It Takes to Create a Fun-filled Layout

The author details how he started and then re-started in the train hobby. His current layout grew out of a desire to have a Christmas set-up. Due to space constraints, the layout is two levels, set up in a series of unconnected loops.

Interest the Same for 50 Years

The author describes his family's Christmas traditions related to the A.F.-based layouts.

It's the 5:26 on the New Haven Railroad in 1953

A brief introduction to Jack Miller's layout, with a couple of photos.

Jefferson Central Railroad

The author describes his layout started in 1974, which is under DC block-control. Includes several photos and a track plan, including a detailed track plan of the switching areas next to the stairs into the basement.

Jess Bennett's Great Northern Pacific

The author describes how he built his 20'x44' layout, and how he enjoys scratchbuilding steam locomotives.

Jim Bezek's Christmas Layout

The author's Christmas-only layout measures about 13' square, and features S- and O-scale track. The layout grew each year to where there is no more space for a Christmas tree. Includes photos and a track plan.

Jim Martin's Port Dover Branch

The author shares the formal track plan drawing of his home layout, and how he builds his scenery.

Joe Kimber's First American Flyer Layout

A description of the author's 17'x4'6" A.F.-based layout. Includes a track plan and several photos. The layout was dismantled in 2004.

Joel Shank's Sn3 Rio Grande Southern

The author talks about how Joel went about building a 34'x44' building (from scratch itself in 1987) after literally burning his HO-scale layout in 1984. The article includes many photos of this highly-detailed layout, as well as a track plan.

John Ramm's Three-Dimensional Layout

This American Flyer-based layout measures 15'x25' and is 5 feet tall, covering several levels. The article includes several photos of the layout as the Greater Seattle S Gaugers club met at John's house.

Kaw Valley Line

This prototype-based layout built by Mike Fyten features 145 feet of main line running, with DCC and operations in mind. Most of the track is hand-laid, and the layout is about 85% finished.

Kaw Valley Railroad

The author describes how he switched from HO- to S-scale, a brief history of the prototype Kansas City, Kaw Valley & Western Railroad upon which his layout is based, and how he operates his layout. Includes several photos and a track plan.

Keegan's Mountain

The author visits Tom Keegan and his layout. The layout measures 30'x60' and features over 1000 feet of A.F. track.

Kentucky Road

Detailed information, track plans, and photos of the author's now 18-year-old layout.

Larry Blank's Ahnapee & Western

Larry Blank's home layout has sections that he takes to local model railroad shows for display and running. The article describes why Larry decided on S-scale, how he came up with the design for the layout, and how he built it. Includes many photos of the layout, as well as an overall planned track-plan.

Layout Building in 1:64 Scale

Chris talks about Trevor Marshall's S-scale layout construction. Trevor is modeling the town of Port Rowan in Ontario, Canada in the 1950s.

Layout evokes 1950s Cleveland

The author built a 6'x12' AF layout, with the intent of slowly converting parts of it to "scale". However, instead he kept the layout as-is, and is building a second 26'x26' around-the-wall layout in S "scale". This article only covers the AF layout.

Layout Grows with Each Christmas

The author describes how his father started the tradition of building an elaborate and always growing Christmas-only layout, which the author now continues with his son. Includes two photos of the layout.

Layout Photos from Dan Vandermause's S Scale Layout

A photo essay of the author's layout.

Layout Preview - Dave Lull's

Photos, a description, and a track plan of the author's layout, which will be open during the 2004 NASG Convention.

lESGAPN Celebrates 40 Years of Service

The Inland Empire S Gauge Association of the Pacific Northwest (better known as lESGAPN) celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2007, and the club recognized this occasion by documenting its history since inception. The club centers around Spokane, Washington. This article covers the formation of the club in 1967, the construction of the club's layout, the downturn in the 1980s, the revitalization in the 1990s, and typical annual club activities.

Let's Revisit the Updated Santa Fe & Western

The author provides a brief history of his 20'x22' layout, and the changes that he has made since the 1997 article about his layout. Includes a couple of photos and a roster of his locomotives.

Let's Visit the Boston & Maryland Railroad

The author's fourth layout, a double-deck 15'x20' layout connected by a 5-foot diameter helix, features an almost floor-to-ceiling mountain scene. The layout is "hi-rail" using American Flyer track components.

Let's visit the Midwest Central

The author describes is 12'x21' layout on the second floor above his garage. It features all American Flyer, some Lionel, and some American Models cars.
The single track point-to-point main line is 256 feet long with a reverse loop at both ends. Code 172 rail is handlaid. Includes one photo of the under-construction layout.

Lightweight Modules for Home Use

The author describes how he resolved to build a modular/sectional home layout, using Gatorfoam board for the construction material. Includes many module construction photos.

Living Room AF for Christmas

A description of the family's Christmas layout, with two photos.

Long Island Souther Revisited

The author describes why and how he built his 15' x 15' around-the-room, two-level layout using GarGraves track. Includes several close-up photos, as well as a track plan.

Manufacturers Build an Sn3 Layout

This article covers the layout that a group of manufacturers, who produce products for S and Sn3, built within a year, in time for the 1989 NMRA Convention in Houston, Texas. The layout is called the Durango, Rico & Northern RR. The L-shaped layout consists of a corner module that contains a wye, and four 5-foot modules, one on the short end of the "L" and three on the long end. Eighteen companies provided product and/or worked on the layout. The article includes photos of the layout and a track plan.

Meet an S Gauger

The author introduces himself, but most of the article is about his design and construction of his S-scale layout, The Kentucky Road. Includes a track plan and several photos.

Meet an S Gauger

This is a follow-up with Dick Kloes as he updates the reader on the state of his freelanced "Root River & Southern" railroad. Includes layout photos and a track plan. Dick's layout will be open during the 2003 NASG Convention.

Meet an S Gauger

Introducing Craig Wright and his Sn3 layout, the "Cumbres, Toltec and Western RR". Includes photos and a track plan scan.

Meet an S Gauger

Introducing Wally Collins (81 at the time). Includes several photos of Wally and his layout.

Meet an S Gauger - George Reneris

The author describes his Snoqualmie, Mohonk & Panguitch RR, which is an M-shaped 11' by 21', three-level layout.

Members Models

Two photos of members' layouts.

Milwaukee Road - Circa 1959

A couple of photos of Bob's layout.

Model Railroad Experience

The Model Railroad Experience is 8,000 square feet of toy trains in Kansas City's historic Union Station, part of which is S-scale. This is a one-page photo essay.

Monon Railroad "The Hoosier Line"

A photo essay about the author's layout, with a track plan.

Monon Route The Hoosier Line: Indiana's Railroad

A brief introduction to the author's second layout, which has been demolished due to a move. Includes a couple of photos.

Monon's Fourth Subdivision

Roger's layout fits within a 1,200 square-foot basement, with staging yards going into the garage. The layout is set in Indiana and features many interchanges with other railroads. In addition to many layout photographs, there is also a track plan included.

My Elevated Q

Due to lack of floor space, the author looked up, and built a shelf-style layout that runs around the perimeter of his home office. Includes a photo of the office space.

My First Train, Who Was it For, Me or My Dad?

A brief story and two photos of the author's first layout.

My Sn42 Blue Mountain Railroad

The layout is built on a bed frame, using HO-scale track to model Sn42 gauge track.

Narrow Gauge Narrow Budget

Russ Haigh's 20"-gauge mine tram is covered in this article, which uses N-scale power. Includes several photos of the briefcase-sized layout.

Neil Froese's Napinka Sub

The author visits and photographs Neil's layout that models a single scene (using sections/modules). Includes photos and a track plan.

Nelson Steinmetz' Santa Fe & Western

Nelson's 22'x22' AT&SF layout is featured in this article, which includes many photos and a track plan. The finished layout is always open for visitors.

News Flash: Penn Creek Valley Goes Down To Corporate Takeover Bid by Washington and Old Dominion RR

The author tells a "prototype story" of how his personal layout was sold to the W&OD club, and how he is taking a break from model railroading.

News From the North

After a few notes, the author describes John Johnston's Shelter Valley and Trent River Railway S-scale layout. The article includes many photos of the layout, as well as a track plan.

News from the North

The author introduces Brian Walsh, a Canadian who has built a CB&Q-based S-scale switching layout, which is operated using S-CAB battery-powered engines. Includes photos and a track plan.

News from the North

The author attended Canadian Paul Raham's open house and shares many photos of Paul's layout.

Next Stop Linwood!

Paul visits Mike Fyten's Kaw Valley model railroad, which is set in rural eastern Kansas in the early 1950s. It measures 28'x28' in a mostly around-the-walls layout with one peninsula. The article includes many photos, a track plan, and a small bio about Mike.

Oak Bridge Line

On Tour Layouts of the SMSG

A profile of the various layouts that will be open for the local tour during the 1996 NASG Convention. These include Dave Belanger's Detroit & Chicago Central, Don Gates' New York Central, Jim De Witt's Denver & Rio Grande Western, and the author's Grand Valley Northeastern. All with a photo.

Operations on the NYW&B

Dick's layout will be open as part of the 32nd National Narrow Gauge. In this article he covers the design and implementation of his layout which has lots of electric engines, overhead wiring, and beautiful scenery, all done in the minority scale of S.

Our Grandson's First Christmas Train

The author built a 24' x 14' temporary layout for his and his sister's grandkids to enjoy over Christmas. Includes several layout photos.

Our Layout is Strictly for Fun

The author describes his AF layout which is built on three 4'x8' tables.

Oxford Two-Rail Train Club

The club has no dues, and meets weekly for operating, construction, and more operating, in the loft of a barn that houses a 7-loop layout. Their 37'x24' regularly pulls 80-car trains. The layout is fully scenicked and includes tall mountains.

Pennsy Inspires S Layout

The 15' x 38' layout features three loops on two levels. Includes three photos of the layout.

Pete Smith's Loon Lake Navigation & Railway Co.

An interview-style article about the owner of the layout, how he got into Sn3, and how he designed and built the layout. Includes many photos and a track plan.

Phoenix S Gaugers

Photos taken at the Cooke's residence of their layout during a club visit.

Photos from Poughkeepsie

The author visits Stan Stokrocki's L-shaped, 25-foot long, modular layout, and Bill Marks' layouts. Includes photos of both, and a track plan of Stan's layout.

Port Huron & Northern

The author describes the construction and operation of the layout. Includes photos and a track plan.

Port Huron & Northern Construction Status 6-21-06

The author shares his progress report on the construction of his layout, including several color photographs.

Port Huron & Northern Railroad

A description, with track plan and several photos, of Dave Held's 34'x17' layout.

Port Rowan in 1:64

The author describes the history of Port Rowan, Ontario, on the north shore of Lake Erie, and proceeds to describe his layout, which is a small S-scale switching layout, built to Proto:64 standards. Included are lots of layout photos, a track plan, and a description of the operational scheme.

Postmortem on the Penn Creek Valley

The author describes why he decided to demolish the 25 year old layout. He then continues by sharing his thoughts on what the new layout will be like. Includes a track plan.

Powell Layout Finds Home in Southwest PA

The late Sam Powell's layout is now at the Tri Town Historical Society in Dawson, Pennsylvania. The Pittsburg S Gaugers club were instrumental in making this possible. This article covers the journey to discover a new home, the packing up of the 20-section layout, and the installation at the new location. Includes photos and a track plan.

Powell Layout Still Developing Part Two

The story of moving this layout continues, with covering the electrical system's connection, attaching the Lenz DCC system that Sam Powell used on his layout, debugging electrical gremlins that had crept in, and scenery updates that were made.

Preserving Pennsylvania's Railroad History

The author built a freelanced S-scale layout set in Pennsylvania to preserve the railroading heritage of the state. After describing how he got into S-scale, the author describes the operations on his layout, building a 15-foot long mountain, tall structures representing Philadelphia, and moving into DCC and Sn3.

Pressed for Space?

The author describes how he built a 3-1/2' x 6' portable, self-contained display layout, using S-Helper Service track and equipment.

Rail Fanning the Sundance Branch

A photo essay of the author's layout.

Railfanning the Texas Southern Lines Arlen Yard

The author tells the story of a typical day at the yard on his layout. Includes many photos of his "scale" layout.

Railroading in a Limited Space

The author described how he got to building his current layout. The article contains the layout's track plan and many photos.

Rainbow Route Update Part 1

The author describes his layout as an "American Flyer S gauge simulation of the Rio Grande Railroad". It includes A.F. track, but with scale scenery. Includes several layout photos as well as a sidebar on the D&RGW.

Rayson House Railroad Highlights

The author describes his layout. Includes several photos.

Recreating The Gilbert #401 Window Display

The author builds a reproduction of this 8'x8' layout, in such a way that it is portable to take to local train shows. It allows the operation of three trains at a time. The article provides instructions on how to build such a layout, with a couple of photos and a track and wiring diagram.

Red Pine & Oxville Railroad

The freelance layout measures 18'x22', and features a Sn42 branch line. Photos and a track plan are included.

Regaining Lost Time

The author introduces himself and his L-shaped American Flyer-based layout.

Remembering the Plateau Railway

This is a reprint from a 1975 S Gaugian magazine article in which the author describes Len Giovannoli's layout. Includes a track plan and several photos of the visit.

Remembering the Ridgehill Central

The Canadian S Scale Workshop's previous layout is described. The article includes photos and the track plan for this Free-mo-style layout.

Return to Model Trains Satisfies a Long Time Interest

The author describes his A.F.-based new layout that is still a work-in-progress. Includes photos of his layout, as well as a track plan.

Revisit the Minnesota Heartland

The December 2016 issue of this magazine documented the first visit to the author's layout, so this article catches us up on the changes he has made since then. The article includes many photos, and an updated track plan.

Revisiting the Denver & Rio Grande Southern Railroad

Photographed by Bob Werre, this revisit to the layout showed the tremendous amount of progress Roger Russell had made to his layout, with lots of trees and lots of details added. The article includes a track plan of the 12'x27' layout.

Riding the Tall Bridges

The 10'x25' was built by the author and three friends, consisting of code 100 hand-laid track. It features 13 bridges. Includes many layout photos.

Rio Grande Northern Railway

The author describes his layout built in a space of 10' x 12' with a yard addition of 2' x 10'. The track plan allows for continuous running or point-to-point operation over 90 ft. of main line trackage. It is open during the 1st annual Narrow Gauge Convention in St. Louis. Includes two photos.

Roger Nulton's Monon

This is a photo essay of Roger's beautiful, finished layout.

Ron Schlicht's Layout

This article covers how Ron got started in the hobby, and describes his current layout, which features over 3,600 figures. Includes photos and a track plan. Page 43 of the PDF version of the magazine contains more photos of his layout.

Root River & Southern

A brief introduction to Dick Kloes' layout, with two photos. The layout was open as part of the 2000 Fall S Fest.

Rusty Westermeier's Layout Saved

The author was good friends with Rusty Westermeier, and describes the operating sessions that they had on Rusty's home layout. The rest of the article has photos and information about how Rusty's layout was cut into sections and repurposed by other modelers.

S Christmas Layouts on Parade

The author shares his story about how he re-set up his Dad's AF layout now that he himself is a father.

S Clubs Are Busy

A series of photo essays are featured in the PDF version of this issue, including Washington & Old Dominion S Gauge Club, Golden Gate American Flyer Club, Rocky Mountain Hi-Railers, a visit to the Steam into History (a non-profit Civil War-themed heritage railroad), a visit to the B&O Railroad Museum, a visit to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, Ed Sauers layout, some of the Greeley's Contest entries, the South Jersey S Gaugers layout, and the North Penn S-Gauge club.

S Pikes

Two photos of the author's layout, which will be open after the 2013 NASG Convention.

S Scale Across the Pond

The author reports on visiting prototype and model railroads in England, specifically reporting on the one day model railroad show in Blechley, which included 12 S-scale layouts. Several layouts are photographed and track plans are included.

S Scale Empire with a Narrow Gauge Past

Photos by Bob Werre. Bob Christopherson changed from Sn3 to S standard gauge by simply moving the rail out to the correct gauge. This meant that some equipment couldn't run on the layout, but he solved that by moving the clock forward from the 1940s to 1957. Includes layout photos and a track plan of the Columbia Valley & Western, an 18'x19' "M"-shaped layout.

S Scale Free-mo Style

After covering the concepts behind a Free-mo-style of modular layout, the article continues by describing the S Scale Workshop group, and how the S-scale modular layout is constructed. It includes a few photos of the layout, as well as a track plan for their typical set-up.

S Scale Great Northern Pacific

Photos by Bob Werre. Beautiful photos of big vistas accompany this article about the author's 33-year old layout that fits in a 20'x44' space. The layout is set in the mid 1950s and models a freelance of various western railroads in northern Idaho. The article describes the process of building a house into which the layout was planned, how the author uses natural materials for scenery, and how his hobby within the hobby is scratchbuilding steam locomotives (50 of them!).

S Scale NYC Southern

This freelanced AF/hi-rail layout is a 12'x16' island-style layout, with some extra tables on the sides.

S Scale Takes Over HO Layout

The author's three-level layout features S-scale in the center level, with the others HO-scale.

S Scenes - Vistas of Member Layouts

Single photos of Joe Kimber's, Bill Winans', and Nelson Steinmetz' layouts.

S Team Builds Promotional Layout

"S Team" is the name of a group of S standard- and narrow-gauge modelers in the Chicago area. They built a 10'x30' layout.

S-pikes at St. Louis

Two pages of photos of S layouts in the St. Louis region that were open of the convention tours.

Sam's New Home Part I

This story is about Sam Powell's "Penn Creek Valley Railroad" being moved to a museum. Sam passed away in January 2016, but his layout will be preserved. The Pittsburgh S Gaugers club is helping with the move. The article includes photos of the layout being disassembled, and its new home. More photos can be found on page 41 (PDF version).

San Juan Southern

The author briefly describes his point-to-point layout representing railroading in southwest Colorado during the late 1920s. The layout is built in an L-shaped space and measures 23' x 50' x 12'. It is open during the 1st annual Narrow Gauge Convention in St. Louis. Includes two photos.

Scale Scene

The author describes his thoughts on designing and building his unfinished layout. Includes several photos.

See the B&G Railroad on Fall S Fest Tour

This A.F.-based layout consists of two separate layouts, one regular, and one suspended from the ceiling. Each is capable of running 4 trains at once. Includes several layout photos.

Small American Flyer Play Layout

The author describes a small (24"x54") layout he built using A.C. Gilbert AF parts. Includes photos and a track plan.

St. Louis Gets An S Gauge Department-Store Christmas Layout

This article is about how the American Flyer S Gaugers of the St. Louis Area (AFSGSLA) built an S-scale layout for Famous-Barr Department Stores in their Famous-Barr's downtown St. Louis location. It consisted of 4 loops of 300 feet total on three levels. Includes two photos.

Stephen Hatch's Rio Grande Western

A visit with the Steve covers how he has always been an S-scale modeler, how he is building his current 20'x20' garage layout, and how he built his vertical landscapes. Includes many photos of the layout under construction, and a photo of his hand-drawn track plan.

Steve Doyle's Chicago and Route 66 Layout

After a brief introduction to Steve, the author describes the layout, which features scenes along the famous Route 66. Included are lots of photos, including one on night-time operations.

Stoner, Colorado, May 31, 1947 in Sn3

Photos of Bill's scene which measures 3'x6'.

Superdetailed Layout Built for Travel

Not having enough space at home for a permanent layout, the author build a sectional layout, so that he only has the section in the house that he is currently working with. The other sections are stored in the garage or the purpose-built trailer. He takes the mostly-scratchbuilt 6'x24' layout to local train shows. His 1929-1935 Silverton Central is not modeled after a specific prototype. The simple oval track plan (with only two turnouts) makes it easy to run the layout at a show.

Switching Contest Layout Entertains the NMRA and the NASG

The Pines and Prairies S Scale Workshop presented a 15'x7' L-shaped switching layout, at which attendees could test their switching skills, given a set of rules. Photos and a track plan are included in the article.

Switching Puzzle at Storkville

Jack Miller's New Haven Railroad layout features switching operations to make the layout interesting for the owner to operate it.

Taking the Locomotive for a Night on the Town

The author describes a historical event that caused an NP steam locomotive to fall into the pit of a turntable. The author built a scene on his home layout to replicate the event.

Tennessee Central Railway

The author's Volunteer Central has migrated from a pure AF-based layout, to a hi-rail one, modeling the eastern part of the TCR. He describes the changes he has made to make this change. Includes several photos of his layout, as well as a track plan of the two-level layout.

Tennessee Central Railway

The author describes the things he has added, changed, or replaced on his layout since his last report in the Dispatch. Includes a couple of photos of his layout. The PDF version of this issue has extra photos on pages 33 through 35, and a track plan on page 36.

Terry Henderson's American Flyer Layout

This 10'x24' layout is set up several times per year by Terry Henderson and his friend Keith Erickson and their supportive families. Includes many photos, and a track plan.

The 'S'traight & Narrow

The author shares the track plan and a full description of his multi-gauge, 25'x33' layout (S, Sn3, Sn2).

The 4'x6' Rock & Weedin

This article covers the portable layout built by members of the Badgerland S Gaugers. It is a basic oval with two spurs. Included are photos and a track plan.

The Athabasca Northern Railway

The author describes his layout, which models an Alaskan railroad in S-scale while living in Alaska. Includes photos of the layout, as well as a track plan. The author describes how he first learned of S-scale. Due to high postage costs, the author has learned to be very creative in building his layout, with most of it scratchbuilt.

The Atlantic and Pacific Railroad

A description of Russ Mobley's 12'x37' layout. Includes several photos and a track plan of the layout.

The Auburn Extension of the Rio Grande Southern

This article covers how Bob Hogan got started in Sn3, and his current layout at the time. At the time of the article he had completed a 20'x30' dedicated building for his next layout. Includes many photos of the layout.

The Berkshire Central Railroad

The author describes the history of his layout. Includes a track plan of this large layout, as well as many photos.

The Buckingham Valley Railroad

The author describes how he built his A.F.-based layout in a 24'x13' dedicated building. Includes several photos and a track plan.

The Buffalo & Chautauqua Railroad

A visit to Gaylord Gill's 30' x 42' layout. There is an explanation of how the layout came about, and there are lots of photos of the layout, some showing specific features of the construction (including how he builds Old Pullman turnouts).

The Buffalo Creek & Gauley R.R.

A beautiful rendition of the standard gauge shortline in West Virginia. It still used steam in the early 1960s. Includes layout photos, track plan, and structure sketches done by the author to capture the flavor of a structure before building it. Includes information about the BC&G today.

The Buffalo Creek & Gauley Railroad Part II

The article started in the June issue continues by covering operations on the BC&G, it provides a description of the author's S-scale layout, and includes both prototype and layout photos. A track plan of the author's layout is also included.

The Building of The Silverton Railroad

A group of Tucson, Arizona modelers wanted to build a portable Sn3 layout to show people what was possible in S-scale. Includes several photos.

The California Central Railroad

The author briefly describes his layout, and shares a number of photos.

The Cambria & Ohio River Railroad

The author describes his layout, and the recent changes he has been making on this 40-year old layout. Includes several photos.

The Canal Line

The Caribou and Sierra Falls Railroad

John Albee's layout is fictitious, but it is set in Colorado, and connecting with the UP and the D&RGW. Includes lots of photos of the layout.

The Central California Railroad a Tradition Continues

This article covers a visit to Brian Jackson's layout, built by him and his late father. The article is accompanied by a large number of photos of this well-lit layout.

The Cheyenne Mountain RR

Bob visits Rusty Paulus' layout, which is a layout that was started by its previous owner, along with the help of the local Houston S Gaugers, and eventually moved to Rusty's house. The layout measures 12' x 26', and has two levels.

The Conrail & Eastern Railroad

The 24'x32' layout will be open as part of the 2013 NASG Convention. Included with the article are photos and a track plan of this two-level layout, featuring Conrail.

The Coos River Railroad

The fictional, around-the-walls 8-1/2'x12' layout is based on western Pennsylvania. Includes many photos and a track plan.

The Crested Butte & Northern

The author describes his 10'x23' layout set in 1938.

The D&RGW Pasquinel Branch

A photo collage of Jerry Boudreaux' 10'x11' bedroom layout. Includes a track plan.

The Great Northern & Central

Introduction to layouts open for the 2014 NASG Convention, with focus and photos of Steve Lunde's layout.

The Great Smoky Mountain Rwy: A Railroader's Railroad

This article covers Homer Henry's S tinplate empire, owner of "Train Plus" model railroad shop in Wheaton, Illinois.

The Harper Valley Railroad

The author, and photographer Bob Werre, visit Don Harper's Sn3 layout, providing all the usual descriptions of the layout and how it was constructed. It also includes a track plan and plenty of photographs.

The Harper Valley Railroad

A visit of Don Harper's Sn3 freelanced-style layout based on Colorado prototypes. The two-level layout measures 13'x20', which was an HO-scale layout prior to 1981. The article includes many photos of the layout.

The Keystone, Columbine & Blue Hen Railroad

The author describes his layout, which is three levels and fits in a 1,200sqft basement. The article includes several photos, and a track plan with a legend.

The Layout as Art

A 2.5' x 19' switching layout represents a logging diorama, which won an award at the 1987 National Narrow Gauge Convention. At the time of the writing, this layout was being integrated into a larger garage layout.

The LCPA Middle School Model Railroad Club

An S-scale layout was built for the Lincoln College Preparatory Academy Middle School in the Kansas City Missouri School District, sponsored by Richard Wholf. Includes several photos of children using the layout.

The Loon Lake Railway & Navigation Company

The author's retirement layout is a freelance one set in 1938. It follows a folded-dog-bone design, but it is operated as a point-to-point during operating sessions. He covers the layout's construction, how he made his trees (it is a logging railroad), and how he made the harbor scene with water using Golden's "Soft Gel (gloss)".

The Makasey Railroad

The author describes how he eventually discovered S-scale, and how he built the layout, especially the electronics side of it. Includes many photos.

The MHRy Gets an Update

The author describes how his layout has changed over the years to match his changing interest in what he wanted to model in terms of operations. Includes a couple of photos of his layout.

The Minnesota Heartland

The author describes his visit to Ken Zieska's layout, a brief history of Ken's involvement in the hobby, the start of this layout in 1980, his involvement with the local Pines and Prairies S Scale Workshop group, and the couple of expansions that the layout has enjoyed. Includes many photos of the layout, as well as its construction and a track plan.

The Minnesota Heartland Railway (Western Division)

A description and photos of the author's layout, which is open as part of the 1999 NASG Convention's layout tours. The layout is set in the 1960s, and fills the basement. Includes several photos of the layout.

The MoiraValley Railway

The author provides a brief description of his home layout, and includes several photos and the layout's track plan of both levels.

The Monon Route

The author models the Chicago, Indianapolis, and Louisville Railroad, more commonly known as the Monon, in S-scale. The layout is set in the 1940s. The article covers his growing up with A.F., migrating to hi-rail, and now, to scale modeling. Includes many photos and a trackplan of the in-the-attic layout.

The New Mexico Northern Railroad

Chuck Thurman's 14'x28' layout is described in detail in this article. This Sn3 layout is shaped like a "G" and uses mostly hand-laid code 70 rail. The article includes a track plan and several photos.

The New West Jersey Railroad part 4

Photos and a description of the author's layout continuing to be built, this time covering scenery and structures. Also includes the latest version of the track plan.

The Northbound Local

The layout fills most of the 22' by 46' basement, and this narrow gauge line is set in 1895 in California. The article's photos take you on a tour of the layout.

The NS&T Reborn: William Flatt Has Another Go

William had to dismantle his previous NS&T layout due to a move, but missed having it, so he is building a new one, albeit a bit smaller. This photo essay article covers the first of the two sections that compose the 38" by 16' switching layout; the second section had not been started yet at the time of this article.

The Ontario Midland Railway

The author describes how he built his 11'x32' fictitious railroad in less than two years. Includes many photos, and a track plan.

The P&J Railroad

This L-shaped layout measures 23'x21', and uses hi-rail GarGraves track. The articles includes several photos of the layout and a track plan.

The Pelican Bay Railway & Navigation Company

This layout article was inspired by the author's friend purchasing a new digital camera "that had to be tested". Includes a description and lots of close-up photos of the author's 1895-era layout set in Northern California.

The Penn Creek Valley

The author describes the idea behind his layout, his design criteria, the era and area modeled, the track plan, its operating scheme, and an evaluation of what worked and what didn't. Includes a track plan of the entire layout, and many photos.

The Penn Creek Valley

Sam describes his layout and how he acquired and built the layout's equipment. Even though S is a minority scale, Sam still has 7 steam engines, one A-B diesel set, 40 freight cars, and 6 passenger cars operating on his layout. In addition to the many photos of his layout, a track plan is included, as well as ways in which the reader can get additional information about S-scale.

The Penn Western

The author's Penn Western is a standard-gauge and Sn3 layout of freelanced design, based around Philadelphia, PA. This is a photo essay of his layout, and includes a track plan.

The Penn Western's Sn3 East Broad Top Addition

Another photo essay about the EBT section of his layout.

The Penobscot Central

The author describes his layout. Included is a track plan.

The Plum Creek Railroad

A visit with Clayt Peter's Plum Creek Railroad, which measures 14'x28'. It is still under construction, but the parts that are finished look very nice. Includes photos and a track plan.

The Polar Express Comes to City Hall

The author builds a 6'x9' S-scale layout with the Polar Express theme based on S-Helper Service's track for the local town's city hall reception area.

The Port Huron and Northern

The author visits Dave Held's layout, which is based on a fictitious railroad in the Detroit area. Many of the background buildings use printed photograph he took himself in the 1980s. Includes many photos of the layout, as well as a track plan. Dave's layout is open for this year's NASG convention.

The Prescott, Dewey, and Eastern

The author describes his switch from O-scale to Sn3 in the same 14-foot square space as before. A basic track plan and photos are included with the article.

The S models of Joe Greynolds

This is a follow-up to the November/December, 1989 issue article of Joe Greynold's layout, in which the author shares photos of Joe's cars which didn't fit in that previous issue. Photos only; no commentary.

The S scale Buffalo Creek & Gauley RR

The real Buffalo Creek & Gauley was an 18-mile West Virginia short line. Brooks has modeled that using S-scale hi-rail track and large flanges, but you have to look long and hard to see that through all of the scenery and details that are on this 22'x28' layout. The layout is set in 1962, three years before the BC&G went out of business. The article includes lots of photos, and a full-color track plan.

The S Scale Monon Moves - And Will Move Again

The author describes the extensive remodeling work he did to create a 600 sqft space for his second S-scale layout (several photos included). He recounts how re-using old layout sections appeared to be false-economy. The article goes on to describe how he built this second layout, and preparing for a move in a couple of years again.

The S scale San Diego Central

The French author describes how he came up with the name of his layout (has both standard- and narrow-gauge), how he stumbled into 1:64 modeling, how his layout is constructed, and how he acquired the models in France. Includes several photos of his layout under construction.

The S Scale Sierra Northern

Bob's layout was open as part of the 2013 NMRA convention. In this article he describes his current layout, which is mostly S standard gauge after 25 years of modeling Sn3. The new layout features the Southern Pacific in Sierra Nevada set between 1950 and 1956, and it is built into a dedicated 24'x26' building. The article includes many layout photos, and the layout's track plan.

The S Scale Workshop

The author introduces the Free-mo style club layout built and shown by The S Scale Workshop, an south-central Ontario, Canada group. Several modules are described, and each include a track plan drawing.

The Sacramento Division - Phase I

The father and son team share how their layout has come about, and what they wanted to have. Includes several photos of the layout still under construction, an large track plan, and diagrams of the layout's benchwork.

The Sandy Creek and Pennsylvania R.R.

The author describes a visit to Barry Mertz' S-scale layout. The brief article is accompanied by a good number of color photos.

The Sn3 Manufacturers' Co-op Display

The display layout was conceived and built by Jon Stetz of Finestkind Models to promote S-scale to the general public, and to show that several manufacturers can work together to create the layout. Nothing was scratchbuilt. The manufacturers are listed in the article. Also included are several photos and a track plan.

The Sn3 Re-Birth of the DR&N Railroad

The author describes the history and construction of his 11' x 24' D&RGW, RGS layout. Includes many photos and a track plan.

The South Pacific Coast Railroad

The layout is a collection of modules that form a double-oval loop with a very large yard in the center of the loops, for the purpose of being able to make-up and break-down trains to run on the loops. Stairs to the attic enter into the center of the layout. Includes photos and a track plan.

The Southwest Central American Flyer Lines

The author describes the construction of his 12'x14' layout, which looks to be a nicely-scenicked AF layout. Includes a track plan, which lists the AF accessories he used on the layout.

The Spiral Hill Railroad

An interview with the well-known S-scale modeler. Included are a track plan of his layout, and many photos of his layout and his steam engines.

The Springfield Terminal

The author describes how he got around to building a 17'x17' layout. Includes a few photos and a track plan.

The Story of the Volunteer Central

The author tells his story of how he evolved from O-scale to S-scale modeling, and how he set about building the U-shaped 12'x8' layout. Includes a track plan and a few photos.

The Tinplate Road

A visit and tour of Ernie Horr's layout. Includes several photos, some of which are full-page.

The West Shore Railroad

This article covers the Mark family's involvement in S-scale layouts, including the current one. A track plan is included, as well as many photos. The layout was still under construction.

The World's Busiest Layout Builder

Rich Lenart builds a completely new A.F.-based layout each year for the Christmas season, and has been doing so since age 2. He currently uses an 18'x22' room. Includes several layout photos.

There Is Always Something New

A layout visit with Norm "Chic" Hartert. After a full history on Chic, the article covers how he discovered Sn3 through a P-B-L ad. There are lots of photos of the layout. Part of which is being rebuilt.

Thundering Steam Railroad

The author describes his L-shaped A.F. layout, and the fact that he has been an A.F. model railroader since he was 6. Includes photos and a track plan.

Ticket to... West Hades & Beelzebub

A visit to Ken McMillan's layout. The freelanced layout includes animated coal dumpers. Lots of photos of this fantastic layout.

Tom Robinson's Tennessee Central

After detailing his history of previous layouts, the author covers his current layout, which includes photos.

Tour the Penn-Southern Railroad

A visit with Carl Vanvick who had recently switched from HO- to S-scale. The proto-freelance layout takes up the entire 2,700sqft basement. He kept his previously layout's benchwork when switching to S. The article includes many photos, and basic track plan diagram.

Trackside Photos

Includes a photo of Bob Hogan's Sn3 Rio Grande Southern, and Brooks Stover's S-scale Buffalo Creek & Gauley RR.

Trackside Photos

A full-page-plus photo of Bob's Sn3 layout featuring a high trestle bridge running two P-B-L C-16 class D&RGW engines.

Trackside Photos

Simon's Canadian National #5076 moves across a scratchbuilt bridge in this two-page photo.

Trackside Photos

A full-page photo of Frank's Red Dot Mine taken on his 50-year old Spiral Hill layout.

Trackside Photos

A single photo of the author's Canyon & Rocky Mountain RR featuring engine #452, Denver & Rio Grande Western class K-27 Mikado, crossing the Animas River bound for Silverton.

Trackside Photos

A full-page photo of Ken's Sn3 Colorado & Southern layout is included on page 69, showing several levels of scenery.

Trackside Photos

Photos of Pat Gerstle's Sn3 and Roy Hoffman's S and Sn3 layout.

Trackside Photos

Peter Moffett photographed an empty log train heading for the reload on his Sn42 Trout Creek Lumber Co. layout. The layout is set in Northern Ontario's lumber stands during the 1930s and features geared locomotives, small diesels, and several logging scenes.

Trackside Photos

A photo of Jon Addison's Sn3 Silverton Central modular railroad, which took first place in the individual module category, best module group, and best of show at the 2002 National Model Railroad Association national model contest in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Trackside Photos

Contains a photo of Dave Woodrell's Sn3 layout, and of Paul Scoles' Sn3 Pelican Bay Ry. & Navigation Co.

Trackside Photos

Ken's Sn3 Pandora & San Miguel RR is a good example of narrow gauge modeling. This photo shows Rio Grande Southern 4-6-0 #20 departing the Ophir depot with a passenger train.

Trains Under the Tree

Photos of various Christmas layouts.

Twilight of the Berkshire Central

A visit with Tom Coughlan's layout. The layout was sold to Bob Wall. Includes many photos, and a track plan.

Twin Cities, Duluth & Northern Railroad

The author describes how to got into building his current S-scale layout. It measures 18' x 22' and is shaped like a stretched "C", with a storage track in the closet.

Two Great Americans

The author describes his model railroading history, and how American Flyer and American Models brought him back into S-scale. Includes several photos of equipment found on his layout.

Vern Chester's Cascade Western Railroad

The author visited this hi-rail layout, and also shares several photos taken there. Track is hand-laid, but the equipment is all American Flyer. The layout was started in 1956.

Visit the BE&C Lines

The author describes how he found his way into collecting AF trains and eventually set about to create his own L-shaped layout. Includes photos and a track plan.

Visiting Two Hi-rail Layouts

The author visits Rodney Gutzmann's layout and large A.F. collection (displayed to mimic the A.C. Gilbert catalogs of the time), and Jim Brown's Twin Cities & Western Railroad. Both layouts fits the "hirail" category perfectly in that they are nicely scenicked layouts with taller rails, and equipment has larger flanges and claw couplers (for compatibility between older and newer S-scale items).

Volunteer Central II

The author describes that a move destroyed the original Volunteer Central layout. This new one, an AF/hi-rail layout in a 25'x18' space, is a display-style layout with three loops of track, and lots of switching opportunities on the interior. Includes photos and a track plan of the layout.

West Side Lumber Co. Circa 1940

The 15'x21' layout is set in the late 1930s-early 1940s, and is loosely based on the WSLCo prototype. Includes a couple of photos of the layout, including a full-page one of the trestle bridge, and a track plan.

West Side Lumber Co. Circa 1960

The layout measures 20'x2' and is set in 1960, and is based on a fictitious version of the WSLCo. Includes a couple of photos and the track plan.

William "Bill" Winans' St. Louis Eastern and Pacific & Coal Creek Central

The author visits with Bill Winans (former NASG president) and his wife, and their fictitious, still-under-construction, standard-gauge (SLE&P) and narrow-gauge (Coal Creek Central) layout. Covered are Bill's start in model railroading, why he chose S-scale, layout and equipment photos, and a track plan of this two-level 16'x20' layout.

Wisconsin Central Southern & Santa Fe

The author visits Gary Children's freelance layout. Includes many photos and a complete trackplan.

Work-a-day on the Cambria & Ohio River RR

A short photo essay of Jerry Schnur's layout.