Create Your Own Structures for your Model Railroad or Diorama

Scale: G, (Garden Scale)

Building footprint: 23" x 8" (approx.)

Back in 1876 you could get a one way ticket on the New York and Long Branch Railroad from Matawan, New Jersey to New York City for under a dollar.

The Matawan depot was one of five identical stations using the same mid-Victorian design. The freight shed shared the same ‘half-hip’ roof style, and is similar in design to many such railway buildings across North America.

Scale: G, (Garden Scale)

Building footprint: 17" x 8" (approx.)

The Grand Trunk Pacific Railway was formed in 1903 as a subsidiary of the Grand Trunk Railway. The GTP mainline ran from Winnipeg, Manitoba, to the port of Prince Rupert, British Columbia. Financial difficulties led the GTP and the GTR to merge with the Canadian Northern to become part of the Canadian National Railway.

Bunk houses such as these provided sleeping accommodations for railway work crews along the routes. Several railroad lines on both sides of the border used similar designs, which were sometimes modified to be used as portable stations. (HO Scale cardstock version shown)

Scale: G, (Garden Scale)

Building footprint: 21" x 9" (approx.) plus platform

The Grand Trunk Railway and it's many subsidiaries operated in several U.S. States and Canadian Provinces. The GTR main line operated in Maine, Ontario and Quebec. The Grand Trunk Pacific Railway operated in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia, while the Grand Trunk Western Railway operated in Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois.

The Grand Trunk Railway Standard Station Type No. 1, as shown, and the slightly larger Type No. 2 version serviced some of the smaller stops along the various routes.

Scales: G, (Garden Scale)

Building footprint:

• G Scale 16 3/32" x 21" (approx.) inc. platform

When British Columbia joined Canada as it's sixth province one of the promises made was the construction of an intercontinental railway linking BC to the rest of Canada, to be completed within ten years. Ten years came and went, but it was not until responsibilities were assumed by the newly incorporated Canadian Pacific Railway that the project reached completion. Craigellachie, located between Salmon Arm and Revelstoke on the Trans-Canada Highway, is the site of the historic last spike of the railway liking British Columbia to Eastern Canada on November 7, 1885.

(HO scale version shown).

Scales: G, (Garden Scale) and 1:10 RC Scale

Building footprint:

• G Scale 11" x 18" (approx.) inc. pump island
• 1:10 Scale 2'3" x 3'7" (approx.) inc. pump island

The Fernridge Garage was part of a lone commercial area a few miles south of Langley, British Columbia. The business started as a rural Post Office in the early 1920's and shortly after, added a small grocery store. It is not clear when the garage was added, but at one time the tiny structure housed a tire store as well.

Whether it was a sign of economic times, or development favoring another part of town, one by one, operations ceased. At the time of researching the project the structures were still standing, but in need of repair.

Scale: G, (Garden Scale)

Building footprint: 20" x 10" (approx.) plus platform

One of several smaller railways that ultimately became part of Canadian Northern was the Central Ontario Railway. One of the focuses of this railway was to service the various mines in the area.

With slight alterations to window and door placement, this model could represent COE Hill, Frankford, Marmora, or others along the Central Ontario routes.

Scale: G, (Garden Scale)

Building footprint: 15" x 8 1/2" (approx.)

The Safety Hook & Ladder Co. Firehouse was a one engine firehouse in Orbisonia, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. Orbisonia was once a terminus of the East Broad Top Railroad, a narrow guage railway which ran from Mount Union, Pennsylvania to Orbisonia, in the 1870's. The lines were constructed to haul coal from the Broad Top Mountains to the Pennsylvania Railroad in Mount Union.

This Garden Scale Firehouse uses Krylon "Make it Stone" spray finish over Coroplast sheeting, with band-sawn cedar shingles. Sign graphic file is included.

Scale: G, (Garden Scale)

Building footprint: 20 7/8" x 10" (approx.)

By the mid 1970's mobile homes had well entrenched themselves into the realm of affordable housing. As their popularity as temporary and permanent residences increased, the designs became more elaborate, and ultimately rivaled some of their conventional housing equivalents.

The Flamingo was one of the first of the double wide mobile homes, and were soon seen in mobile home parks across North America.

Scale: G, (Garden Scale)

Building footprint: 19" x 17" (approx.)

The original barn is still standing in Sumas Prairie near the BC/Washington border, but the classic style can be seen almost anywhere in North America.

Scale: G, (Garden Scale)

Building footprint: 19 25/32" x 14 1/16" (approx.)

Mobile homes have come a long way over the years, evolving from over-sized travel trailers designed for occasional relocation by the owner. They further evolved into ‘modular’ homes, consisting of two, three, or more sections, transported on special frames called floats, usually pulled by short wheelbase, single axel trucks.

Modern modular homes are built to relatively the same standards and codes as “stick-built” homes, and often are placed on conventional concrete foundations.

Scale: G, (Garden Scale)

Building footprint: 10" x 17" (approx.)

Back in the early 1900’s in rural Saskatchewan a house didn’t need extravagance or embellishments to be a home. For the typical farm family of the prairies, the main priorities in life were practicality and functionality.

Recycling is nothing new either. This house once sat in Viscount, Saskatchewan, about 45 miles east of Saskatoon, and was later moved to my grandparent’s homestead outside the town of Bruno, about 35 miles to the north.

Scales: G, (Garden Scale) and 1:10 RC Scale

Building footprint:

• G Scale 12" x 18" (approx.)
• 1:10 Scale 2'5" x 3'7" (approx.)

Fort Langley was the site of one of several Hudson's Bay trading Posts established in the early 1800's to handle the fur trade between British Columbia and England. The area also became an important agricultural center. Grandma's house was situated about a half mile from the Canadian Northern Railway station.

The image shown is of the Z Scale cardstock version, but plans are available in 1:24 Garden Scale as well as 1:10 Scale for RC vehicle scenes.

Scale: G, (Garden Scale)

Building footprint: 20" x 18" (approx.)

In 1923 an association of Alberta farmers established the Alberta Wheat Pool. By the 1960's they had built over 560 grain elevators, many of which are still seen across the Canadian Prairies and across the U.S.

Scale: G, (Garden Scale)

Building footprint: variable

The Great Stone Viaduct in Bellaire, Ohio, was constructed between 1870 and 1871 by the B&O and Central Ohio Railroads. The viaduct consists of 43 stone arches, providing a rail link between Ohio and West Virginia.

The Great Stone Viaduct Historical Education Society is working to restore and preserve this National Historic Site. Please visit their site at http://www.greatstoneviaduct.org

Scale: G, (Garden Scale)

Building footprint: 25" x 13" (approx.)

Watson's Store in Spalding, Idaho, operated from 1911 to 1964. The store contained living accommodations, and ultimately included a Post Office.

The building eventually became part of the National Park Service. (Sign templates included)

Scale: G, (Garden Scale)

Building footprint: 38" x 11" (approx.) can be shortened to 25"

Located about 10 miles Northwest of Savona, BC, sits St. Mary's church. Built in 1909 by Oblate missionaries and the Skeetchestn Indian Band, the church has seen almost continual use to this day. The town of Savona, to the Southeast, has seen its share of transportation history. Once the site of a small ferry crossing Kamloops Lake, and a stage coach stop along the Cariboo Wagon Road, it is now situated between both the CPR and the CNR mainlines.

(N scale version shown)

Scale: G, (Garden Scale)

Building footprint: 37" x 8 3/4" (approx.) can be modified

Anyone with a hint of nostalgia would not be able to take a trip across the Maritimes or New England without visiting a covered bridge. This HO scale model captures the details of two of my favorites – one in Eastern Canada, the other in the Eastern States. The plans indicate the original dimensions of the structure but can easily be modified to fit individual layouts.

Scale: G, (Garden Scale)

Building footprint: 14 1/16" x 22 1/8" (approx.)

Originally named Webster School and later named Mattock School after Reverend John Mattocks, the Secretary of the Board of Education, Mattock School was a one room school built using local limestone. The limestone block walls were roughly twenty inches thick, with two inches of plaster on the interior surfaces.

Over the years it has served various purposes and many students, including some of my ancestors, and now sits on the site of Highland Park Senior High School in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Included are instructions on making simulated limestone blocks.

Scale: G, (Garden Scale)

Building footprint: 16" x 16" (approx.)

In the days of steam locomotives travel distances were limited by the available on board storage of fuel and water. Tenders attached to the locomotives were designed to increase this capacity, allowing a train to travel greater distances, but regular stops were still necessary. Water towers were regular sights along rail lines. This example is modeled after a 40000 gal. tower common to CNR, CPR, and many other railroads across Canada and the U.S.

Scale: G, (Garden Scale)

Building footprint: 31" x 10 1/8" (approx.) can be modified

Covered railway bridges came about as a plan to extend the life of the structures by protecting the critical components from the elements. As the concept caught on they began appearing throughout the world, but probably the greatest number being in Canada and the United States. This example does not represent a specific structure, but takes it's design from the many thousands of similar bridges constructed in the Eastern United States and Canada during the 1800's.

Scale: G, (Garden Scale)

Building footprint: 17" x 17" (approx.)

This two story home was inspired by a farmhouse in the prairies, and with it's wrap-around veranda was typical of many of the era. With additional accents it can be customized as a Victorian home.

Scale: G, (Garden Scale)

Building footprint: 2' 4" x 2' 3" (approx.)

In the early 1900’s the small town of Eastport Idaho played an important role in the history and evolution of several railways, including Great Northern, Canadian Pacific, Spokane International Railway, S & K, and others.

Sitting just a few hundred feet from the tracks, and across the road from the US/Canada border crossing into Yahk, BC, is the Idaho Hotel and Store.

Scale: G, (Garden Scale)

Building footprint: 3' 2" x 1' 6" (approx.)

The Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad had its' beginnings in the mid 1850's with the purpose of linking the Great Lakes with the Mississippi River. In 1863 as the Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway, it gradually acquired other smaller railways working its' way west to Seattle. This depot is typical of a style that could be found from Washington State all the way to Minnesota.

Image shown is the HO scale version availabe from www.ScaleModelPlans.com

Scale: G, (Garden Scale)

Building footprint: 

• Plate-girder: 49 3/8" x 9 1/4" (approx.)
• Deck-girder (each): 2'6" x 3 3/4" (approx.)

Plate girder bridges are probably the simplest of railroad bridge styles, but add so much to the realism of any layout because they are so common. Almost any railroad or line you can imagine has at least one style of plate girder bridge.

late girder bridges get their name from the components of their simple design. This is also how they get their structural integrity. The vertical plates provide a significant amount of strength, and the girders, or glorified I-beams tie them together to provide their significant load-bearing capacity.

Scale: G, (Garden Scale)

Building footprint: 2' 2 1/2" x 1' 5 1/2" (approx.)

The Golden Age of Automobiles is sometimes considered to include the 1920's, when assembly lines made automobiles more affordable to the masses, to the 1950's, where style, power, and prestige were paramount. Production of passenger cars slowed down during World War II, but came back with a vengeance in the late 1940's and 1950's. Part of the American Dream was to have a new car in the driveway of your new home.

To keep all these vehicles running service stations like this one sprang up across the continent. In addition to two grades of gasoline and a variety of parts and auto supplies, you could often count on a mechanic being available to handle any repair job that came up.

(HO scale version shown)

Scales: G, (Garden Scale) and 1:10 RC Scale

Building footprint:

• G Scale: 2' 10" x 1' 9 1/2"
• 1:10 Scale: 6'9" x 4' 3" (approx.)

Back in 1876 you could get a one way ticket on the New York and Long Branch Railroad from Matawan, New Jersey to New York City for under a dollar. The Matawan and Red Bank Depots were two of five similar stations using the same mid-Victorian design. The ‘half-hip’ roof style is similar in design to many such railway buildings across North America. The NYLB Matawan freight shed is available as Plan 730. Pictured is the HO Scale version using scaled lumber from Northeastern Scale Lumber.

Scale: G, (Garden Scale)

Building footprint: 10 1/2" wide, length can be modified

This bridge near Hope B.C. is a common truss type, spanning approximately 180 feet across the Coquihalla River. It is shared by both CN and CP Rail as the route from the Fraser Valley to the west heads north along the Fraser River. This style of bridge is common to just about every popular railroad, and can be found in single spans, or multiple spans resting on concrete piers. The plan can easily be extended for increased span.

Scale: G, (Garden Scale)

Building footprint: 1' 11" x 1' 8" (approx.)

Greencourt Garage was located near the town of Mayerthorpe, Alberta, about 90 miles Northwest of Edmonton. You couldn't buy milk or eggs, but in early gas stations like this you could probably find a radiator hose, fan belt, or spark plugs for your car, and in later years you had a choice of 'regular' or 'supreme' leaded gas.

Gas pump plans included.

Scale: G, (Garden Scale)

Building footprint: 2' 9" x 2' 8" (approx.)

The "Pacific Northwest", which included British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon, was home to some of the largest Douglas Fir, cedar, hemlock, and other species of softwood in the world. What was originally an encumbrance to the settlers arriving from Europe wanting to farm the areas soon became one of their most valuable commodities. In some cases, trees were actually burned in order to prepare the land for farming, but once farming was established, logging and lumber mills began to appear.

The Arrow Creek sawmill, one of many small steam powered sawmills, used a converted "donkey" engine from a logging camp. The mill was later converted to electricity.

Scale: G, (Garden Scale)

Building footprint: 25" x 17" (approx.)

The Canadian Northern Railway, (later to become absorbed into the Canadian National Railway), located various renditions of their 3rd Class Depot across Canada from as far west as Fort Langley, B.C., and down into various locations in Minnesota. One of the reasons for the popularity of the design was the integration of living accommodations for the agent's family.