{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Episode 289: Steve Goaring","description":" Steve Goaring\u2019s Illinois Terminal Railroad, O\u2019Fallon Branch, is a terrific example of prototype-focused HO scale model railroading. It recreates a relatively obscure Southern Illinois branch line and, rather than simply building a generic railroad, Steve researched the prototype and built the layout around how the railroad actually operated.  For the basic concept he modeled the Illinois Terminal's Troy Junction\u2013O'Fallon branch in 1961, in HO scale. The layout is approximately 12 \u00d7 21 feet, with about 75 feet of mainline. It represents the line from Troy Junction through O'Fallon to the St. Ellen coal mine. The prototype is particularly interesting because this wasn't a big mainline railroad. It was a relatively short branch, but it connected with several important railroads and generated substantial freight traffic. This a great podcast with an experienced modeler that does a nice job of explaining the overall concept. ","author_name":"a ModelersLife ","author_url":"http:\/\/amodelerslife.com","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/42907752\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/88AA3C\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/item\/42907752"}