Building a T-Trak module | Basic Backdrop Painting

In this helpful, introductory effort, David Popp shares simple and easy techniques for adding a scene-extending background/view block to a model railroad. While the planning and painting steps are all demonstrated on his N scale (1:160) T-Trak module, David’s explanations and efforts can certainly be applied to other layouts or displays of any scale! If […]

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Trains.com Insider Exclusive | Tour of Firecrown Wisconsin Office

Tour of Firecrown Wisconsin Office | Trains.com Director David Popp leads this quick, walk-and-talk tour of the new office space hosting all of your favorite railroad and modeling magazines, including Model Railroader, Trains, Classic Trains, Classic Toy Trains, FineScale Modeler, and Astronomy too! Enjoy this first look at the work areas, library, studios, and other […]

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Fall 2024

The Fall 2024 cover of Classic Trains magazine, which features a yellow locomotive and a red locomotive running alongside one another against a blue background

Welcome – The intermodal revolution Head End – A potpourri of railroad history, then and now Fast Mail – Letters from readers on our Summer 2024 issue Mileposts – Commentary by Kevin P. Keefe True Color – Contrasts at LaGrange Sequence – Milwaukee Road mail train Short Rails – East Jordan & Southern Classics Today […]

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December 2024

The December 2024 cover of Trains magazine, which features a red and yellow locomotive moving towards the photographer in a forested setting with lush greenery on both sides of the train

In every issue News, p. 4 InnoTrans brings together the rail world’s new products Bill Stephens, p. 8 Amtrak flexes legal muscles vs. its host railroads John Hankey, p. 10 First day: You never know how things will turn out Great Railfan Roads, p. 44 Across the Canadian prairies Brian Solomon, p. 48 Cool train […]

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T-Trak Fun Run across the Colorado Plains

Trains.com staff set out to prove they could build out a layout one square foot at a time! Now that most of their T-Trak modules are completed, it’s due time to have some fun running trains around Model Railroader magazine’s latest project layout, the N scale (1:160) “Colorado Plains”, as featured in the January 2025 […]

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Enjoy Trainfest 2024 Highlights with Trains.com

Trainfest 2024  occurred November 23-24, 2024, at the Baird Center in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Over the two-day event, thousands of train enthusiasts made their way into the sold out exhibit spaces to enjoy visiting model manufacturers, hobby product/material vendors, model train retailers, operating layouts, and so much more! Watch this compilation video to catch a […]

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Big Skies & Iron Rails, Just Add Water

Ride the waves with railfan/videographer Tom Danneman, as he makes another epic summertime trek into Big Skies & Iron Rails territory! But this time, he’s hard-pressed to keep his feet on dry land…especially when there are so many captivating angles to be found in, on, and along the trackside waterways on Montana. Join Tom and […]

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