From the Editor
No room for a railroad? Think again
This month we profile three layouts that make the most of modest space.
Lance Mindheim, whose N scale layout is on this month’s cover, drew inspiration from 1940s Brooklyn.
Although huge cities offer more than enough inspiration to fill the largest model railroad empire, Lance looked at it another way.
“Because New York harbor railroads were small and dense,” he writes, “they lend themselves to being modeled in a small space.”
With good planning and a sharp eye for detail, Lance captures the flavor of a distinctive place and setting in just 5'-6" by 7'-4". Turn to page 38 to learn more.
Ron Stallman has been interested in model trains since receiving a Lionel set at the age of 7. He set aside that interest while working as an educator and raising a family. However, good things come to those who wait, and at the age of 62, Ron began to build his first HO layout.
Ron’s freelanced Santa Fe Shortline hosts regular operating sessions lasting up to two hours – and all in a space of just 7' x 8'!
As Ron says in his article starting on page 44, “It’s never too late!”
Peter Waldraff took a different path to small layout happiness. He made a piece of art for his dining room wall that houses a secret. It folds down to reveal a 131 ⁄2" x 60" N scale shelf layout.
The tight oval of track is just right for a Kato Pocket Line series steam locomotive and two cars.
This railroad is a creative way to enjoy the hobby when floor space is at a premium. Turn to page 50 to read details of this cleverly built small layout.
There’s always room for a model railroad, but as these talented builders demonstrate, sometimes you have to think differently.