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Magazine: Model-Railroader
Train shows face pandemic pressures

WAUKESHA, Wis. — Train shows remain challenged nearly two years after the novel coronavirus first appeared in late 2019. Several of the nation’s most popular train shows slated for 2021 were made virtual, such as the National Model Railroad Association’s national convention, this year called “Rails By the Bay” and scheduled for the San Francisco […]
A Rapido refrigerator car, an Athearn GP60 locomotive, and a new book! Plus modeling tips and viewer mail

Cody Grivno is back in the studio for the latest episode of Cody’s Office, and today he’s taking a look at a Rapido Trains HO scale 37-foot meat refrigerator car, an Athearn HO scale EMD GP60 diesel locomotive, and a new book called Building the Right Size Layout by Thomas Klimoski (available at the Kalmbach Hobby […]
State Line Route in N scale: Laying down track, Episode 6

After sanding the cork roadbed, David is ready to lay track on the State Line Route N scale layout. His tip: start with the most complex piece of track, which, in this case, is in the train yard! Plus, David checks in with Rene and Jenny to see how their structures for the layout are […]
Model railroad humor: Stranded

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Ask MR: What do you know about Santa Fe’s train NCX?

Q: I’ve heard about a freight train the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe operated in the early 1970s and earlier in California called the NCX. The few references I’ve seen indicate it was a hotshot intermodal train. This train sounds interesting, especially since it ran at the same time as the famous Santa Fe Super […]
Model railroad locomotive, freight car, and club offering announcements for September 16, 2021

Product news Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. Here are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of September 16, 2021. HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division GP15-1 diesel locomotive. Chicago […]
Ask MR: What should I use to detail my lumber mill?

Q: My layout will have four lumber mills and a planing mill. Where do I get real HO scale lumber and plywood to detail them? Also, do I use covered hoppers to haul sawdust, and where can I get sawdust that doesn’t have oil or grease in it? – Russell C. Brenchley A: Scale lumber, […]
Model railroad humor: Figure 8

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Back on Track: How to hide backdrop seams, Episode 12

In this episode, host Gerry Leone gets back to the backdrop. Namely, he’s working to disguise those unpreventable seams that appear between sections of hardboard panels. Gerry shares his techniques for getting the job done in a satisfactory way, but without the painstaking efforts of a professional drywall installer! […]
Back on Track: Layout progress report and more, Episode 11

It’s hard to keep with Gerry’s rapid pace of construction. Fortunately, he slowed down for a quick recap of what he’s accomplished with the cameras turned off. Then, it’s back to solving benchwork problems! […]
Back on Track: Tips for testing and tweaking a track plan, Episode 10

Host Gerry Leone continues to plan and build out a switching area for his all-new Bona Vista HO scale model railroad. This time, Gerry shares how he uses actual model structures and track remnants to visualize and plot his plans, and then adjust them to suit layout realities. […]