Garden-railway etiquette for visitors

The Gateway Garden Railroad Club's modular layout

Bob Temper • Don’t arrive early. Most garden railroaders tend to work frantically up until the last minute getting their lines ready. Arriving early can be disruptive. • Don’t stay late. Our hosts are exhausted by the end of the day, so please leave by closing time. • Sign the guest book. Owners like to […]

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Garden railroading/Large-scale railroading terms

Garden Railways

Annual refers to a plant that lives for only one season and must be replanted each year. Ballast is the medium, usually gravel of some sort, that provides a firm underlayment for track, helps to hold it in place, and drains water away from the ties. Battery power is another way of operating electrically powered […]

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Choosing rail for the garden railroad

Garden Railways

Rail comes in many different sizes and materials. Here’s a little background information to help you chose the one that’s right for you. Rail sizes The size of model-train rail in any scale is referred to by “code.” For instance, in large-scale railroading we commonly use code-332, code-250, or code-215 rail, although code 197 is […]

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Basics of gauge-1 switches, part 2

Marc Horovitz Marc Horovitz Marc Horovitz Marc Horovitz Marc Horovitz Keeping dirt and debris out of the moving points is imperative to proper operation. The author uses a stiff brush to keep things moving freely through an operating session. Kevin Strong The frog and guardrail flangeways—like the points—need to be kept clear. These areas aren’t […]

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Bachmann Spectrum 2-10-2 Steam engine Southern #5224

I recently purchased this product, and to be honest, it is one of the best 2-10-2 models ever made by Bachmann. The model features directional lighting and is equipped with a DCC decoder for compatibility with a DCC Controller. It also has unique drive rod connections on the wheels. I recently gave it a break-in […]

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Kato N Scale SD70ACe Rio Grande Heritage

I just received my new (and long anticipated) Kato N scale SD70 ACe D&RGW Heritage locomotive. I am truly impressed with the detail. The locomotive has flawless paintwork, crisp decaling and runs like a dream with the Kato five-pole motor with dual brass flywheels. This locomotive comes prototypically accurate with bolsterless non-radial HTSC truck and […]

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Reading Co. Office Car No. 15

Now on display at the Reading Co. Technical & Historical Society’s Reading Railroad Heritage Museum in Hamburg, Pa., office car No. 15, the Henry E. Huntington, led a rich life. No. 15 served the Reading for 40 years. Then, Philip and Diana Goldman purchased, preserved, and used the car. Author of “Going Home” in August […]

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Build a 1:22.5-scale creamery car PDF

Build a 1:22.5-scale creamery car

Download the PDF of this project here. This PDF is formatted to print on your home printer. Most pieces are formatted to fit on a 8.5″ x 11″ piece of paper. For larger parts of the plan, you will see “break lines.” Line up the break lines to create the larger piece. Despite our best […]

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Aristo-Craft Revolution system

Aristo-Craft Revolution system

Kevin Strong Wireless control system Aristo-Craft Trains698 S. 21st St.Irvington NJ 07111Web site: www.aristocraft.comPrice: $300; additional receivers, $105 2.4GHz wireless control system for use with track or battery power; receiver rated for 5 amps continuous, 8 amps peak power Pros: Can be used with either track or battery power; simple installation (plug-and-play in some instances; […]

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Louisville & Nashville in Alabama

Flying flags that mark it as an extra, Louisville & Nashville 806 South pulls a 106-car freight upgrade south of Montgomery, Ala., on May 26, 1955. The train consists mainly of empty cars bound for the docks at Mobile, Ala., and New Orleans. […]

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