Vol. 09: Rick Rideout's L&N Henderson Subdivision

Rick Rideout’s L&N Henderson Subdivision is a 35×70-foot model railroad layout that resides in an awe-inspiring custom-built basement. Rideout scaled down the 146-mile subdivision to an 8-scale mile HO layout. His obsession with the L&N is deeply rooted and so strong that he built his house along a former L&N line.

In his exclusive behind-the-scenes series, Rideout takes us down the tracks of his magnificent L&N subdivision. He explains the impetus for its existence, which stemmed from a lifelong love affair with these stories tracks, and talks in-depth with Allen Keller about his model’s origins, construction and operations. Rideout views modeling railroads as a challenging and rewarding art form that allows him to express himself as well as his rail fandom.

One third of Rideout’s L&N layout is scenic. Its focal point is a spectacularly designed bridge that spans the Ohio River between Evansville, IN and Henderson, KY. The bridge runs 23 feet and rides out to Louisville and Nashville. Rideout utilizes mass-produced items that cannot be found in stores, in addition to advanced electronics controlled by computer software, which handle the centralized traffic control machine and signals. Rick Rideout’s ambitious scale model of the L&N Henderson Subdivision is truly a wonder to behold, and Allen was thrilled to get a backstage look. Join him, won’t you?

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