Jerry Strangarity’s Reading Co. in HO scale

Title screen from Jerry Strangarity's HO scale Reading Co. layout visit video.

Jerry Strangarity’s Reading Co. in HO scale last appeared in the November 2010 issue of Model Railroader magazine. Since our last visit, he’s completed three more scenes on the layout: West Philadelphia, Reading/Hamburg, and Birdsboro. Enjoy this video showing a mix of steam and diesel locomotives running through eastern Pennsylvania in the 1930s and 1940s. […]

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Fall journey along the Cumbres and Toltec Railroad

Experience the breathtaking beauty of fall in Chama, New Mexico, as you embark on a train journey through stunning mountain peaks of the Western U.S. Ride aboard the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, covering 14 miles from Chama to the summit at Cumbres Pass. Ascend over 2000 feet on a 4% grade, accompanied by a captivating […]

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Visit the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway

The Hocking Valley Scenic Railway was formed in 1972. Operating out of the town of Nelsonville, Ohio, with a former Lake Superior & Ishpeming 2-8-0. Most days, diesels handle the primary schedule along with special steam excursions with former Ohio Power Company No. 3, a Baldwin 0-6-0. Trains operate from Nelsonville, Ohio, north to both Haydenville, Ohio, and a longer trip to East Logan, […]

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Big Skies & Iron Rails, Grain Trains

When the bounty of Heartland crops are harvested, much of the grain goes west. Destined for North American ports and then foreign shores, the first leg of that western trek is often aboard commodity cruisers, otherwise known as grain trains. Naturally, railfan/videographer Tom Danneman is poised to capture these heavy haulers in season, and as […]

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Central Vermont Rwy. Southern Division in HO scale

Central Vermont Railway Southern Division in HO scale | In Northern California’s San Francisco Bay Area, a dedicated group led by Paul Weiss is passionately re-creating the Central Vermont Railway’s Southern Division as it existed in May 1956. This historically accurate project showcases meticulously replicated scenes from New London, Conn., to Palmer, Mass., portraying the […]

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Planting structures

Learn how to seamlessly integrate model buildings into your train layout. Discover techniques for adding realistic dirt, gravel, and ground cover to establish a firm foundation, free of visible gaps, for nearly any structure. Also be sure to follow the exclusive In The Workshop series for tips, tricks, tools, and clever insights, as demonstrated by various members of Trains.com […]

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Trains LIVE — Riding Amtrak

Two men in a TV interview. Trains LIVE — Riding Amtrak.

Trains LIVE — Riding Amtrak — 10-25-2023 — There are still places in this country that one can only see while riding a train. Today, taking an Amtrak train will deliver spectacular scenery and get you to your destination. The train trip again becomes part of the travel adventure. Additionally, Amtrak, while only a little […]

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Trains LIVE — The new golden spike

Three men during a Zoom interview. Trains LIVE — The new golden spike.

Trains LIVE — The new golden spike — 10-11-2023 — The Transcontinental Railroad did more than join East and West. Completion of the line from Omaha, Neb., to Sacramento, Calif., on May 10, 1869, condensed the United States. No longer did it take 6 months to travel from coast to coast; with the driving of […]

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