Matthew Mendolia might have been away at college, but that didn’t stop him from building this impressive layout for the 2021 Walthers National Model Railroad Build-Off from the confines of his dorm room. Matthew uses every piece that he received from his kit from Walthers to prove that you don’t have to spend a lot […]
Check out the layout built by open class contestant DJ Arlia for the 2021 Walthers National Model Railroad Build-Off! Designed to look like an old chemical plant based in Pittsburgh, Pa., this module is full of interesting details and thought-out designs. Interested in hearing more from DJ? Check out his interview! […]
Enjoy this look at Dave Baule’s S gauge layout. The traditional looking pike occupies a modest footprint and is chock full of Plasticville buildings, vintage American Flyer accessories, and trains from a variety of eras. The display is featured in the special publication “Toy train layouts for small spaces,” available in fall 2021. […]
Modeler Dave Abeles shares insights on the signal installations and operations on his HO scale Conrail-inspired layout. In this narrated trackside tour of the layout, Dave shares how to interpret signal indications. Also explore additional signaling info in the Kalmbach book, Guide to Signals & Interlockings, available from KalmbachHobbyStore.com. […]
Railroading is an industry that operates around the clock, and modeler Dave Abeles proves that model railroads can roll just fine in the dark too! Watch the night moves from a trackside position on Dave’s Conrail-inspired HO scale layout, and then look for additional coverage of the model railroad in the September 2019 and February […]
Make a trek to this tourist railroad site in Hill City, SD, and you can also see a 300 square foot model railroad. Enjoy a quick look at an HO scale (1:87) display that works to depict the railroad scene in South Dakota. To learn more, visit www.sdsrm.org […]
Come with us to visit Jon Balka’s S gauge layout that’s made of Flyer All Aboard panels. Trains loop through this relatively compact pike that features plenty of buildings and scenery. […]
For many years I have been a volunteer at our local nature center (Sandy Creek Nature Center of Athens-Clarke Co., GA). It occurred to me that their circular flower and nature gardens would be a perfect setting for a garden railroad. I approached personnel at the center, and they were enthusiastic, as it would create […]
By Allan Gartner The Advanced Control Module from Walthers will work with DCC systems capable of controlling accessories, such as turnouts. Your system will need at least one throttle that you can set thrown/closed, on/off, 1/2, or whatever your system calls it, as needed. Systems where the throttle only allows you to toggle from the […]
Name: Michael Marmer Railroad Name: D&K RR Location: Germantown, Maryland Scale: S Theme: Small town America Description: This is my childhood American Flyer Set that was for the family when it came out in 1958. I was 3 years old and I still remember it being set up and running in the house. I will […]
Layout builder Ted Pamperin hosts an exclusive video tour of his HO scale (1:87) layout capturing Chesapeake & Ohio Railway’s steam and diesel-powered Appalachian operations during the early days of winter in 1951. Even in this unique scenery motif, you’ll find Ted’s depiction of West Virginia’s New River Gorge is quite impressive. […]
![Applying Woodland Scenics Scenic Cement with pipette.]](https://www.trains.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/MRR_Scenic_Cement_with_pipette_04.jpg)
On Model Railroader’s Beer Line project layout, which was set in 1947 Milwaukee, I ballasted the track on the entire layout using a favorite technique. I used a 50:50 blend of Highball Products Light Gray and Dark Gray limestone ballast, which looks similar to ballast used by the Milwaukee Road [Highball Products ballast is no […]
