Model Railroader March 2026

In the March Issue

Ron Stallman’s second layout, The CB&Q Aurora Branch, is a small shelf layout designed to go into a downsized retirement residence. Inspired by childhood railfanning, the switching layout covers a little more than 6 square feet.

Other Can’t Miss Stories

• Ernie Carlson’s ZigZag Valley RR is inspired by the Mt. Hood RR. The layout takes up most of Ernie’s 24x24-foot garage. 
  
• David Popp explains how he wired the track for our East Troy Industrial Park (ETIP) project railroad.
  
• Prototype plans from the April 1962 Model Railroader issue inspired Jerry Lauchle’s boxcar scratchbuild.
  
• Cody Grivno builds a 3D printed model kit station, produced by former DCC Corner columnist Mike Polsgrove, for our East Troy Industrial Park layout. 
  
• Continued from the February issue, Mike Tylick models a small sandpit on his O scale New England layout. He starts with cardboard webbing and plaster and ultimately covers the pit with sand and some ground foam around the edges. Mike also details kitbashing a 1:48 scale military kit into a small steam shovel.
  
• And more!