One of my favorite things to do while eating lunch is to pull out an old volume of Model Railroader magazine and page through it. Lately, I’ve been working my way through the decade of the 1960s, often posting things I’ve rediscovered to MR’s Facebook page under the heading of “Lunchtime Reading.” Editor Linn Westcott […]
“Less is more,” as the saying goes from the article, How to lubricate your O and S gauge trains. The same applies to regularly lubricating postwar equipment that has stood the test of time. Rolling stock — ranging from freight cars to cabooses — is no exception. Oiling around Lubricating postwar rolling stock will involve […]
Q: I’m building a retaining wall using Woodland Scenics’ cut stone castings and want to attach them to extruded-foam insulation board. What is the best glue to use for this project? — Alan Cox A: The Woodland Scenics cut stone retaining walls are Hydrocal castings, so you’re going to want an adhesive that will work […]
Facts and features Name: Milwaukee, Racine & TroyScale: HO (1:87.1)Size: 28′-3″ x 54′-9″Prototype: freelanced bridge lineLocale: southeastern WisconsinEra: 1980s and 1990sStyle: walk-inMainline run: approximately 200 feetMinimum radius: 36″Minimum turnout: No. 6 (main), No. 4 (spurs)Maximum grade: 3% eastbound, 1.5% westbound (5.5% on ramp)Benchwork: 1 x 4 open gridHeight: 493∕4” to 671∕2“Roadbed: cork on 3∕4” plywoodTrack: […]
Facts and features Name: Grand Street & Three Rivers RRScale: HO (1:87.1)Size: Layout: 27′-6″ x 62′-0″, Room: 31′-6″ x 66′-0″Prototype: New York Central and Pennsylvania RRLocale: Chicago/New York CityEra: mid-1940sStyle: walk-inMainline run: 900 feetMinimum radius: 30″Minimum turnout: No. 8Maximum grade: 3.5%Benchwork: box gridHeight: 39″ (main line), 51″ (El), 52″ (viaduct loop), and 56″ (upper cement […]
Dick Christianson, the founding editor of Classic Toy Trains and the consummate cheerleader for Lionel trains of the postwar era, was recently asked about his top locomotive. He’s owned several great steam and diesel models from the 1940s and ’50s. As editor, he observed virtually every locomotive Lionel cataloged in those decades and long after. […]
Common name: Red Tip mountain plum pine Latin name: Podocarpus lawrencei ‘Red Tip’ Plant type: dwarf conifer USDA Hardiness Zones: 7-9 Cultural needs: moist, well drained, neutral or slightly acidic soil, sun to full shade Plant size: 20” high x 28” wide in ten years Would you like the conifer-tree look, but you’re stuck with […]
Railroads carry a multitude of loads, from passengers, livestock, and a variety of other goods. I decided to build a high-power transformer and the car designed to carry it—the Schnabel car. The Schnabel car is designed to carry heavy or oversized loads. The construction of this car involves two friends and 3-D printing. One hobbyist […]
Let’s admit it, model railroading isn’t the cheapest hobby. Whether you’re a collector, operator, or both, trains and accessories can add up quickly. I’m not a financial advisor, and I can’t tell you how to spend your money, but here are some points to think about when you question when to splurge and when not […]
Computer-aided design (CAD) software is an essential tool and great option in helping to experiment and track plan your model railroad in a timely manner. There can be a learning curve in understanding the program of your choosing. However, understanding the basics of using track planning software can go a long way when preparing to […]
Q: What is recommended for attaching buildings and other structures to the substructure of a model railroad? — Byron Christmas A: There’s no one-size-fits-all way to attach a building to a model railroad. One of the most common methods for anchoring buildings to a layout is with white glue. The key attribute of white glue […]
There are many reasons you might need to bring a locomotive back to life. Here are some tips for resurrecting unused locomotives. Disassembly The first thing you’ll need to do is to get inside the locomotive shell. Maybe you’re lucky enough to have an exploded-view diagram of your model. If not, you can check the […]
