Take in historical information and photos covering locomotives, passenger equipment, freight cars, and trackside details. Featured layouts in a variety of scales show you how to model Chicago’s Dearborn Station, move coal in the Appalachians, carry produce, and recreate Los Angeles of the 1950s.

Looking to make that scene on your layout look more railroady? Wanting to find a trestle that will look right bridging the gorge on your layout? Searching for yard buildings that make sense? Model Railroader's now retired managing editor and creative modeler Jim Kelly has answers and ideas for you in this book.

Jim has divided the book into five chapters, arranged by type of railroad structure or feature. You'll find ideas related to railroad yards, bridges, structures, tunnels, and more. Jim provides photos and information about a variety of characteristically railroad scenes and locations. In every instance he provides photos or a railroad location. He describes the scene, offers modeling suggestions, provides some ideas on kits or materials you can use to model the scene, and in several cases provides track plans and drawings. By following Jim's advice and ideas, you're guaranteed to have a more interesting, more realistic, more accurate model railroad!