For me there's been several but,here's my favorites.
Allegheny Midland.
Virginian & Ohio
Utah Belt
The Maumee Route.
Kingbury Branch
East Rail.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
For me, it's gotta be Gary Hoover's HO scale Santa Fe model railroad.
The two end points are San Bernardino and Chicago.
The Chicago end of the layout features Dearborn Station and the surrounding area of station tracks and freight houses.
Sadly, Gary dismantled his Santa Fe layout in 2011-12, an act for which he will never be forgiven.
Rich
Alton Junction
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Some of my favorites:
John Armstrong's Canadaigua Southern, January and March 1971.
John Allen's Gorre & Daphetid, many issues
Dick Knotts' Troll & Elfin, April 1982.
Norton Clark's Bemis Street Ry, November 1970.
Mr's project railroad The Virginian, starting January 2012.
Paul
George Sellios' Franklin & South Manchester has been my inspiration for many years. His attention to detail is just amazing. April 1986 MR, December 1999 MR, and March 2004 MR come to mind. Even articles in other publications. If I find something about the F&SM published, I buy it.
inspired by EL Man Tom's thread about Favorite Issues of MR,but i'm going to take this a step further and ask... "What are your favorite layouts that have been published by MR or some ofthe special publiations?
Virginia & Ohio - January 1998 - This will be on a lot of lists. Allan MCClelland's third V&O is one of the railroads every gets inspired by him,wheather we freelance or not.
Bitteroute Lines - GMR 1999 - another one that stuckm y brain, was this Layout that regularly saw massive 100 car trains
Allagash Railway - MRP 2012 - Not supposed to be a layout tour, but I looked at the scenery more than I read the article.