Winter 2024

The Winter 2024 cover of Classic Trains magazine, which features a locomotive with a striped red and white front end moving towards the camera in a snowy winter location

Welcome – Still has the connections Head End – A potpourri of railroad history, then and now Mileposts – Commentary by Kevin P. Keefe True Color – Katy green-and-yellow Short Rails – Illinois Central in Wisconsin The Way It Was – Tales from railfans and railroaders Classics Today – Preserved NYC steam Looking Back – […]

Read More…

March 2025

The March 2025 cover of Trains magazine, which features a train crossing a bridge over a body of water

In every issue News, p. 4 VIA Rail Canada’s equipment request includes dome cars; Trains.com forums return Bill Stephens, p. 8 UP-short line deal aims to improve service John Hankey, p. 10 Why 2025? Railroading’s bicentennial is surprisingly complex Great Railfan Roads, p. 44 Follow California 99 for busy Central Valley railroad action Brian Solomon, […]

Read More…

Model Railroader Tips & Tricks | Building L-girders

Building L-girders| Watch and learn as David Popp demonstrates how to assemble one of the most essential and versatile components of a model railroad! You can learn more about benchwork construction in the East Troy Industrial Park project layout video, “Building a frame”. Plus, you’ll want to be sure to find other helpful videos like […]

Read More…

Model Railroader Tips & Tricks | Adjusting leg height

Adjusting leg height| In instances where the floor isn’t quite as flat as it looks, David Popp shows how to install adjustable feet or glides on layout legs…and then use them to level out any troublesome height discrepancies across your model railroad! You can also read about this technique in the Trains.com article, “How to […]

Read More…

Spaces to Places VII | Within yard limits, part 2

Host Gerry Leone is back for more work on his double-deck model railroad, specifically targeting the lower-level yard recently featured in Spaces to Places VII. Follow along as he finishes out the scene by restoring and recycling ballasted track from his previous HO scale Bona Vista layout! Want to see more of Gerry’s work on […]

Read More…

Model Railroader Tips & Tricks | Rotary tool cutoff techniques

Rotary tool cutoff techniques | Trains.com Director David Popp demonstrates how a rotary motor tool can be used for a variety of applications when building model railroad benchwork. In this instance, David shares how a rotary tool and a cutoff disk make quick work of errant nails protruding from wood frame components. You can also […]

Read More…

Model Railroader Tips & Tricks | Replacing a circular saw blade

Replacing a circular saw blade| In this instance, David Popp shows Bryson Sleppy how installing a new, sharp blade yields clean, smooth edges when cutting benchwork components. Putting safety first, David shares the proper process, along with insights for maintaining a saw for years of reliable use! You can also read about this technique in […]

Read More…