Category: O Scale & Proto 48

This category includes all posts on O scale and Proto 48 topics.

I began building freight car models in O scale in 2008. At that time, while editor of the Seaboard-Coast Line Modeler magazine, I built an Intermountain O scale 1937 box car model for an article in the magazine. I enjoyed it so much that I have continued to build a few O scale models every year as a hobby-within-the-hobby.

My models are built to the “Proto48” standard. American O scale is 1/48 scale but the track gauge is unprototypically 5-feet, zero inches (sometimes called “OW5”). Proto48 is the same 1/48 scale, but the track gauge is the prototypically correct width of 4-feet, 8-1/2 inches. The models are the same, but the wheel gauge is exact-to-scale. Moreover, since Proto48 is generally recognized as a fine-scale standard, most modelers who adapt to Proto48 tend to build models to a higher standard.

My long-term goal is to continue building freight cars for the time being, and build a small Proto48 switching layout when I finally retire and settle down.

Hermitage Road Layouts, Layout Next, O Scale & Proto 483 Comments

No. 206: Back to Germany

Golden1014

My wife and I are leaving the US at the end of January for another three-to-five year job at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. At 61 this will probably be my last full-time assignment working for the Air Force. After this tour we plan to come back to the US and settle down for a while. That’s the plan anyway… Leaving is bittersweet. I’ll miss family and friends, and we’ll be a long way from our three terrific kids who are all in college in the Mountain West. I’ll miss my modeler friends and all the fun RPM events, my footballer … Continue reading No. 206: Back to Germany

O Scale & Proto 483 Comments

No. 203: Freight Cars for The High Line

Golden1014

At Chicagoland RPM in October, our friend Tony Koester revealed his latest project, an O scale Tribute Layout on the Wabash “High Line” branch from Bluffs, Illinois to Keokuk, Iowa, which he’s building in his four-season porch. The real railroad gained notoriety in the 1950s for its locomotives. Because of a spindly bridge across the Illinois River the ‘Bash used a small fleet of lightweight 2-6-0s exclusively on the line. The little engines got a lot of press as the steam era ended. The right-of-way was interesting too; it was a friendly little railroad, running through Illinois cornfield country on … Continue reading No. 203: Freight Cars for The High Line

Layout Visits, O Scale & Proto 48, Prototype Topics, Railfanning & MuseumsLeave a comment

No. 201: Visit to Minneapolis, Part 2

Golden1014

This is Part 2 of my trip to Minneapolis back in August 2024. Part 1 can be found here: https://railroadprototypemodeler.com/2024/09/19/no-200-visit-to-minneapolis/ After spending a fun Thursday with my buddy Clark Propst in Mason City, I drove north on Highway 65, which parallels the old Rock Island, to Northwood, Iowa, to try and find some inspiration on the railroad. I wanted to go to Manly but there was practically nothing left of the big yards, enginehouse and junction there. Then I drove north to Albert Lea, Minnesota to photograph the ruins of the old Milwaukee Road and M&StL there. The Rock Island, … Continue reading No. 201: Visit to Minneapolis, Part 2

Layout Visits, O Scale & Proto 48, Prototype Topics, Railfanning & Museums3 Comments

No. 200: Visit to Minneapolis, Part 1

Golden1014

What a fitting subject for my 200th post–a visit to Minneapolis, my home away from home during my youth. Above: A westbound Milwaukee Road freight train at Chanhassen, Minnesota in August, 1980. This is the first train picture I ever took. I was 16 years old. My mother was from Chanhassen. Her father–my grandfather–owned a large dairy farm just west of town and we visited the farm every summer. Minnesota is where I started railfanning, and Chanhassen is where I learned to admire The Milwaukee Road. Above. I broke the trip into two days so I could visit Jason Klocke … Continue reading No. 200: Visit to Minneapolis, Part 1

Freight and Passenger Car Modeling, O Scale & Proto 481 Comment

No. 197: Finishing Projects

Golden1014

In June I committed to some significant model-building projects for a friend–a Nickel Plate 1937 box car, one or two Wabash composite gondolas, and maybe a few more freight cars as time permits. To make room for the new work, I’ve been working hard to clear a large lot of almost-completed models off the workbench. Here’s what’s new and finished. CGW Box Car The first car finished was this ancient Red Caboose box car. I built up the model last fall and left it sitting on the shelf, 95% done, for about five months. Below is a photo of the … Continue reading No. 197: Finishing Projects

Freight and Passenger Car Modeling, O Scale & Proto 48Leave a comment

No. 196: Proto48 PFE R-40-10 Refrigerator Car

Golden1014

Last weekend was a busy weekend at the Golden household. My youngest daughter graduated from high school on Saturday afternoon and then attended a prom for another high school the same night, and then hosted an after-prom party here at the house. Saturday was crazy. Sunday was Mother’s Day and after church I made sure the wife was happy, well-fed and didn’t have to do any chores. My other almost-adult-age children kept me busy the rest of the weekend, celebrating another year of college complete. Meanwhile I celebrated finishing an O scale Pacific Fruit Express R-40-10 refrigerator car model. Here’s … Continue reading No. 196: Proto48 PFE R-40-10 Refrigerator Car

Freight and Passenger Car Modeling, O Scale & Proto 48, Prototype Topics, Railfanning & Museums1 Comment

No. 195: Atlanta, Illinois Grain Elevator Walk-Around

Golden1014

On the way back from the O Scale National in Lombard, Illinois I stopped in Atlanta, Illinois to visit the J.H. Hawes Grain Elevator museum. The J.H. Hawes Grain Elevator was built in 1904 on the former in Atlanta. The east-west crossed the busy, double-track Chicago & Alton RR a block east from the elevator. According to town’s website, found at https://atlantaillinoistourism.com/grain-elevator-museum/, The historic J.H. Hawes Grain Elevator Museum was in operation for 75 years and is one of the few all-wooden grain elevators in America — and it still runs! A unique piece of American farming history, this museum … Continue reading No. 195: Atlanta, Illinois Grain Elevator Walk-Around

Freight and Passenger Car Modeling, O Scale & Proto 48Leave a comment

No. 193: 2024 O Scale National and Proto48 USRA Box Car Model

Golden1014

On Saturday, March 23rd I made the all-day trek from St. Louis to Chicago to attend the O Scale “National” at Lombard, Ill. The venue was the beautiful Westin Lombard, same as last year, and there was a lot going on. I went up for the day and spent a few fun hours talking to friends and also buying some harder-to-get models, then headed back home in the evening. I like starting a trip report with a driving picture. It makes me feel like I went somewhere. This northbound on I-55 in Illinois. This picture makes it look an awful … Continue reading No. 193: 2024 O Scale National and Proto48 USRA Box Car Model

O Scale & Proto 48Leave a comment

No 179: New Proto48 Builds

Golden1014

Years ago I had dinner with Ted Schnepf. Ted is a former Milwaukee Road track guy and now runs an online and traveling hobby shop called Rails Unlimited (http://railsunlimited.ribbonrail.com/). I explained to Ted that I had an HO layout and was fully-invested in HO scale, but I also enjoy building Proto48 freight car models as a side-hobby. Ted said, “Oh yeah, you’re what we call a rubber-gauger. That’s a guy that bounces back and forth between a few scales.” New Proto48 Builds I’ve lived back in the St. Louis area for a little over four months now, and in that … Continue reading No 179: New Proto48 Builds

Freight and Passenger Car Modeling, O Scale & Proto 48, Prototype Topics, Railfanning & Museums1 Comment

No. 178: Freight Car Modeling, November 2022

Golden1014

Above. This former PRR Express X29 greets you at the gate of the Age of Steam Museum in Sugarcreek, Ohio. Unfortunately for me, this was as far as I got into the museum, as they were closed the day I got there. In September I flew to Baltimore to pick up a car at the port and drive it to St. Louis.  I flew to Baltimore the morning of Sept 20th, picked up the car, and drove all the way to Sugarcreek, Ohio.  On the way I stopped in Blue Ridge Summit, PA to visit Mainline Hobby Supply—that was cool—and … Continue reading No. 178: Freight Car Modeling, November 2022