Thin Branch Series: Ballasting turnouts

Cody Grivno ballasting turnouts.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Ballasting turnouts can be tricky because there’s a lot of potential for the little stones and glue to interfere with the proper operation of the points. Cody Grivno shows you an easy technique for ballasting turnouts that keeps the points working just like […]

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Thin Branch Series: Powering turnout frogs

David installing turnouts.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page You can improve the operation on most any railroad by installing turnouts with powered frogs. David shows you how we set up the Thin Branch project railroad with turnout frogs powered through switch motor contacts. […]

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Searchlight sentinels

  This hot eastbound BNSF Railway “Z train” is seen near Bucklin, Mo., on July 28, 2013. The searchlight signals are a hallmark of the former Santa Fe route. Photo by Russell J. Lyon […]

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Layout visit: Kent Johnson’s O scale Canadian Pacific

Kent Johnson's O scale Canadian Pacific

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Model Railroader and Classic Toy Trains staff member Kent Johnson has a fabulous 3-rail O scale layout in his basement depicting the Canadian Pacific Railroad. Kent applies the same weathering and realism to his toy-train layout that one would to a scale railroad, […]

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MR Insider Exclusive: A visit to the The General

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page While Neil and David were in Atlanta for the National Train Show, they took a side trip to Kennesaw, Ga., to visit the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History. Included in the museum’s collection is The General, the 4-4-0 Western & […]

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Cass Scenic before it was a state park

  Shay No. 4 of the Cass, Greenbrier, Cheat and Bald Knob Scenic Railroad backs between switchbacks on the railroad in transition from logging railroad to tourist line. Today this is the Cass Scenic Railroad, and it celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2013. Check out more Cass and West Virginia coverage in the August 2013 […]

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In-depth Product Review: Walthers HO scale C&NW bi-level cars

Walthers HO scale CNW bilevel cars

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Walthers has released a new version of the firm’s HO scale bi-level Pullman Standard commuter passenger cars decorated for the Chicago & North Western RR. The new models feature detailed interiors and lighting, and MR’s Jim Hediger makes a detailed survey of the […]

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Cass before it was Cass

  With Cass Shay No. 4 lettered for the scrapper that was dismantling the railroad, a governor’s special visits the wye located at Camp One on Bald Knob on April 23, 1961. Check out more Cass and West Virginia coverage in the August 2013 issue of Trains magazine. Photo by John P. Killoran […]

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