Wanting to expand the structures in my railway’s yard, I decided to build a sanding house and tower. I was inspired by the Tyco HO sand house and the large-scale Pola sand house. As with most of my builds, I made it primarily from repurposed parts. I used a Pola Wells Fargo building and a […]
Amtrak’s newest passenger equipment is now available in HO scale from Bachmann. Entering service in 2018, Siemens has already built more than 100 Venture cars for service with Amtrak, Brightline, and VIA Rail Canada. The company is also under contract to deliver more equipment to existing operators and Ontario Northland Ry. A modern prototype The […]
Early model railroaders used wood, wire, and paper to create rolling stock. Today’s scratchbuilders can choose from myriad detail parts and use sophisticated laser cutters and 3-D printers. Sometimes it’s fun to explore old-school materials and techniques. To make this little G scale tender, I used a hybrid approach — mixing the old and the […]
My garden railway is like a 4 x 8-foot layout, only it’s scaled up to around 12 x 32 feet and built outdoors. I’ve added a small garden retaining wall to raise the railway to knee height, which is comfortable for viewing and placing trains on the track. Originally, the patio had no roof or […]
Meet John Morrison How did I get started in the hobby? I’ve been a model railroader as long as I can remember. As a little kid, I would tie all my wheeled toys together with string, pull them around the house and call it a “train.” I grew up in Sydney, Australia and couldn’t afford […]
I grew up around cars; my dad managed a tire/repair shop until his retirement. So when Bachmann offered to send a couple of their new E-Z Street vehicles for review, the answer was an easy yes. These vehicles are part of the former K-Line “Super Streets” line, renamed by Williams by Bachmann as E-Z Street. […]
Even the smallest layout needs at least a few structures on it. We’ve compiled a list of manufacturers offering products in O and S scale. We’ve noted each manufacturer’s contact information, what type of structures, the material(s), and if the kits are lighted. Please contact the manufacturer directly if you have questions about their products. […]
Name: Neal Mayer’s O gauge layout Dimensions: 12′-0″ x 27′-3″ Track and switches: Lionel FasTrack (diameters range from 27 to 36 inches) Motive power: K-Line, Lionel, MTH, Williams by Bachmann Rolling stock: K-Line, Lionel, MTH, Williams by Bachmann Controls: Lionel No. CW-80, MTH No. Z-1000 transformers with MTH Digital Command System Structures: Atlas O, Korber, […]
I have always liked narrow gauge. In my early 20s I tried my hand at modeling a bit of the South Pacific Coast RR in HOn3. But truthfully, I didn’t have the skills or the time. Frankly, my first love was the 2-foot gauge Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes. I remember talking to Bob Brown, […]
In 2023, I wrote an article about four young men under the age of 40 that were either modelers or worked in the model railroad industry. I had noticed a lot of young people working for various manufacturers at the National Train Show in Grapevine, Texas. Since then, I had the opportunity to attend the […]
Automatic knuckle couplers have been a part of model railroading for more than 60 years. Not only do these couplers look more like what you see on full-size locomotives and freight cars, they’re easy to install and use. You can learn more about them in my articles on HO and N scale couplers on Trains.com. […]
Valentine’s Day gift guide With Valentine’s Day coming up, you may be at a loss when it comes to buying a gift for that special someone. Chocolates and flowers are blasé. Dinner and a movie? Sure, but that only lasts a few hours. A mixtape? Come on, it’s 2024, making a Spotify playlist takes seconds. […]
