O Scale Trains Annual 2026

8.5 x 11 Softcover, 116 pages

The 2026 O Scale Trains Annual celebrates the art of 1:48 model railroading — including a special look at the legendary New York Society of Model Engineers as it marks its 100th anniversary. Inside you’ll also find visits to beautifully crafted layouts, step-by-step how-to features on kitbashing and scratchbuilding, and a showcase of the latest products to enhance your railroad.

Whether you’re building, operating, or just looking for inspiration, this year’s edition is packed with ideas to take your modeling to the next level. Table of

Contents:

• 2026 Product Showcase Our listing of exciting products for your O scale model railroad empire, including locomotives, freight cars, structures, decals, scenery items, detail parts, and more. Starting Over with a Shelf Layout LEX PARKER
• MMR — A fresh start in a compact space: follow the design and construction of a shelf layout that delivers realistic operation and satisfying scenes in a limited footprint. Scratchbuilt Hood Diesel from Sheet Styrene BILL YANCEY
• MMR — Based on a rebuilt Canadian Pacific GP20C-ECO, you can build a unique diesel hood unit from the ground up using sheet styrene and detail parts. 100 Years: New York Society of Model Engineers ROBERT LAVEZZI — Celebrate a century of O scale excellence with a look inside the New York Society of Model Engineers, one of the nation’s oldest and most influential model railroad clubs. Build a Small Scrapyard GEORGE RILEY — Using off-the-shelf components and proven scenery techniques to create a compact, detailed scrapyard scene that adds realism and operational interest to your layout. Finishing a 3rd Rail Burlington SD9 SANTIAGO PINEDA — Transform an unpainted 3rd Rail model into a late-era Burlington SD9 with custom paint, detailing, and finishing techniques that capture prototype-specific features. Scratchbuild an Enclosed Water Tank BRUCE J. MOHN — Based on an East Broad Top prototype, create a distinctive enclosed water tank with scratchbuilding techniques that combine styrene, texture, and weathering. Modern Narrow Gauge: The Amargosa & Badwater EKKEHARD K. WENZ — Explore a modern narrow-gauge concept set in the Nevada desert, blending imaginative operations, contemporary themes, and compact design into a unique O scale layout. The Real Atomic Car JOHN SETHIAN — Kitbashing a Louisville & Nashville heavyweight Pullman modified to discreetly carry nuclear materials from Oak Ridge
• Tenn., to government facilities across the country. Intro to 3D Modeling DAVE JACOBS — Learn the basics of CAD and 3D printing by designing and producing a narrow-gauge Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes flanger, includes scale drawings. Hamilton Broom Company THOMAS YORKE — Build a weathered industrial structure full of character using styrene techniques that convincingly replicate wood, age, and patchwork repairs. Portfolio: The Art of 1:48 Modeling ERIK C. LINDGREN — A visual showcase of standout O scale modeling, highlighting craftsmanship, creativity, and the artistry that defines 1:48 scale railroading.

  Edited by Otto M. Vondrak