Planned
RailForge Project
RF Mainline
RailForge Flagship HO Scale Model Railroad Layout
RF Mainline is the RailForge flagship: a prototype-based HO scale layout modeling active CSX railroading across Southwestern Pennsylvania — the Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh & Western, Keystone, and Somerset & Cambria subdivisions. It's where every lesson from the Five Pillars — Engineering, Systems, Fabrication, Realism, and Workshop — comes together in one continuous build: benchwork and track geometry engineered for reliability, DCC power and automation wired as real systems, custom parts fabricated in-house, and scenery weathered for believable depth. The whole layout is documented in the open, so you follow the reasoning behind each design decision, not just the finished scene.
Overview
Layout Plan
RailForge Mainline is a prototype layout focused on active CSX railways within Southwestern Pennsylvania, which includes:
- Pittsburgh Subdivision
- Pittsburgh & Western Subdivision
- Keystone Subdivision
- Somerset and Cambria Subdivision
Finished scenes
Project Scenes
Finished HO scenes and dioramas, each a mini case study where all five pillars come together on one build.
12 x 12 in
The Cookout After Dark
An HO scale 12x12 backyard cookout where two Arduino systems run the night: a glowing burn barrel and a house that lights its own rooms. Make it real.
View sceneProject videos
Project Videos
Build videos documenting the RailForge Mainline as it comes together, piece by piece.
No project videos yet
Build videos for the RailForge Mainline will appear here as the layout comes together. In the meantime, follow along on YouTube.