How to switch model railroad freight cars

Illustration of switching basics for model trains

Do you know how to switch model railroad freight cars? Operations, once considered a quirky art practiced by few, has become commonplace on today’s model railroads. As interest in operations increases the need for “boomers” – operators, in other words – has also increased. Therefore you may find yourself pressed into service on a new […]

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How-to Library: Signaling with JMRI, Part 2

A tv screen with JMRI logo

The JMRI signaling series continues with MRVP’s Ben Lake taking a closer look at the Layout Editor tool within PanelPro software. On the Canadian Canyons N scale layout, Ben shares his process and insights for using Layout Editor to link various components (turnouts, track segments, etc.) of a signaling system. […]

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Dow to sell rail operations to Watco: Digest

Still more Monday morning rail news: Dow to sell rail operations to Watco Dow Inc. will sell its rail infrastructure and operations at six sites to Watco for more than $310 million, the chemical giant announced today. The two companies will also enter long-term service agreements to continue to provide service to Dow businesses at […]

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Las Vegas high speed project reaches agreement to build along I-15

virgin_trains

Tuesday afternoon rail news: Caltrans, high speed project reach agreement on use of state-owned right-of-way The California Department of Transportation and Xpress West, the Virgin Trains USA/Brightline subsidiary planning to build a high speed rail line between Southern California and Las Vegas, Nev., have reached agreement on a lease allowing the rail line to build […]

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New model trains for the week of July 2, 2020

Yellow, pink, and blue train cars

Check out the latest HO and N scale model railroad products from Accurail, Kato USA, Micro-Trains Line Co., and more! HO scale locomotives Alco RSD-5 diesel locomotive. New paint schemes: Chicago & North Western (yellow and green); Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (pinstripe scheme); and Southern Pacific (“black widow” scheme). Two road numbers per scheme; […]

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Ask MR: Where can I find scale drawings of the K-27?

Model Railroader placeholder image

Question: When I was young, my father collected issues of Model Railroader. Some issues were lost when we moved. One of the lost issues contained scale drawings of the Denver & Rio Grande outside-frame narrow gauge 2-8-2 steam locomotive. I’d be very happy to know if such a scale drawing can still be bought. I’ve […]

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