building materials - Model Railroader Magazine

It's true that 2x4s are mighty big for layout benchwork, but on the other hand with the price of lumber, 2x4 studs are generally cheaper than the smaller stuff! If you look through the 99 cent stud pile you can find some lumber straight and clear enough you can use it to build benchwork.

I believe Miles Hale even has a clinic he presents at conventions about using cheap studs to build benchwork. He makes the case that if you buy reasonably straight stuff and let it season in your room for a couple months, you build a basic table support for the layout and as long as you make it level, that's all that really matters. Then you can build up from there with some smaller stuff, or rip the better 2x4s into smaller lumber.

Then ...

And now ...

Similar locations on the Siskiyou Line from benchwork to present day.