Solder track feeder wires: Good feeder wires are an important part of building a reliable model railroad. Feeders are the small wires that connect the track to a layout’s power bus and ultimately to its control system. Whether you are using AC, DC, or Digital Command Control (DCC) to run your trains, you will need […]
Signs from swizzle sticks: When my wife, kids, and I visited the General Store Antique Mall in Kewaskum, Wis., I wasn’t really thinking about model railroading (although I did run into a fellow modeler at the store). Instead, I planned on enjoying an hour or two browsing the dozens of booths in the two-story building […]
Tools to cut and strip wire when building a model railroad: When wiring a model railroad, an essential tool is a good pair of wire strippers. I use the two examples of wire strippers shown in fig. 1, and both have served me well over the years. While there are other wire-stripping tools available, these […]
By Sam Towler Disneyland is one of the few places in the world where one is guaranteed to see an operating steam locomotive the day they visit. These trains have been hauling happy guests around the park since 1955. One particular engine, No. 4, the Ernest S. Marsh, has always interested me due to its unique […]
How to build a simple track cleaning car – MR contributor Gerry Leone shares instructions for making your own rolling innovation for cleaning the rails of your model railroad! From Gerry’s workbench, you’ll see the tools, materials, and simple techniques needed to shape a railcar and a small patch of Masonite (hardboard) into an unrelenting […]
Unless you’re content with watching your trains go around and around a simple loop, eventually you’re going to be looking for ways to turn a train. Don’t get me wrong, it’s entirely possible to go through your entire train-operating career and never have to turn a train; maybe you always play the yardmaster, or your […]
Q: I’m an HO scale modeler and struggling with track laying techniques. I would appreciate guidance on measuring, cutting, and installing flextrack on curves. I’m always disengaging the rails from the ties, and thus having trouble connecting to the next track. Also, when superelevating curves, is it better to attach the risers under the outer rail […]
5 tips for moving a layout Many people spend years building their dream layout in their home, building it in permanently, thinking they will never move. But we know that life happens, and things change. When building your dream layout, even though you’re not planning on moving, build it in sections, so that it can be […]
Packing up a model train layout: There are many reasons for packing up a model train layout. For John Lehnan of Pewaukee, Wis., the reason was to rebuild. His first layout had reached a point that the best way to improve it was to replace it, so the old layout had to come down. One […]
Q: I have a new HO scale 2-6-0 steam locomotive that has trouble negotiating my layout’s 18-inch radius curves. My 4-4-0 locomotive runs fine on the layout. I’ve read that on longer wheelbase locomotives, the center drivers have their wheel flanges removed for tight radius layouts. Is removing the flanges from locomotive drivers a thing to do? Or […]
As the author of Model Railroader’s “Ask MR” column, I get a lot of questions from readers. Usually I either know the answers or at least where I can find the answers for them. Sometimes, though, I get a question that stirs my imagination and prompts me to compose a more involved response. Such was […]
How to buy a toy train is a subject I’m frequently asked about. My focus is on trains and accessories from the post-World War II era, but I venture into the prewar and modern periods, too. In the past 25 years, Atlas, K-Line, Lionel, MTH, Williams, Weaver, and others have produced locomotives and rolling stock […]
