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Facts and features Name: Pennsylvania RR Panhandle Division Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 25 x 41 feet Prototype: Pennsylvania RR Locale: eastern Ohio, western Pennsylvania, and West Virginia panhandle Era: late 1940s and early 1950s Style: walk-in Mainline run: 150 feet Minimum radius: 36″ (main), 24″ (branch) Minimum turnout: No. 6 (main), No. 5 (branch) Maximum […]
When David Clune began work on his On3 Cascade County Narrow Gauge in 1985, he intended it to be a small model railroad. His initial plan was to have a freight railroad that ran between two small towns, incorporating enough rail-served industries to keep two operators busy for an evening. But before David knew it, […]
Paul and David Bradt’s Ardiono Projects offers multiple ways to use Arduino and Raspberry Pi microcontrollers for your model railroading projects. Buy the book here. Code for Button/Blink Test (SN095) – Chapter 1, page 11 This code is basic but allows the reader to gain insight into key elements for several other projects in this […]
Lionel’s No. 2159W GG1 Freight Set for 1950 often has received criticism from collectors for being less than outstanding. In fact, this O gauge outfit generally has been assessed as a disappointment because it came with some common items. Admittedly, the locomotive included with the five pieces of rolling stock outshines these freight cars and […]
Q: I would like to feature modern automobiles on my currently under construction layout. Is there a manufacturer that makes vehicles from the late 1990s to modern day? If not, is there any way to make them? — Jake, via email A: You didn’t specify your modeling scale, Jake, but there are multiple sources for […]
This article was originally published in the November 2002 issue of Model Railroader. Hosting an open house is a great way for model railroaders to share the hobby with others. But coordinating one that people will never forget requires not only good planning, but practice. In the past two decades, I’ve hosted several open houses, […]
I found this manuscript from the late John Grams in our manuscript files. There was no date on the envelope but it’s likely from the early 1990s. The article discusses 12 Lionel products that, while great inventions, were fraught with problems or didn’t work exactly as advertised. He included the following disclaimer: Lionel trains were […]
Q: I have a question about removing markings from rolling stock and steam engines. I’ve seen your videos on removing decals, but how do I remove these items when they are factory painted? — Michael Ricci A: Over the years, I’ve used a variety of methods to remove factory-printed graphics. In my September 2022 Model […]
Q: I own the Ives train set my father had as a boy. Based on information found at the Ives Train Society website, I believe locomotive No. 3253 dates from between 1921-1923. The three passenger cars seem to match set No. 504. The overall condition of the paint and sheet metal is poor. I doubt […]
I found this manuscript from the late John Grams in our manuscript files. There was no date on the envelope but it’s likely from the early 1990s. The article discusses 12 Lionel products that, while great inventions, were fraught with problems or didn’t work exactly as advertised. He included the following disclaimer: “Lionel trains were […]
The thunder of modern motive power and the rumble of long trains rolling through Colorado’s Rocky Mountain passes caught Bill Becker’s imagination years ago, and it remains the theme of his fictional N scale Colorado & Eastern RR. Working in this small scale makes it possible to capture the majesty of the Rocky Mountains with […]
From its 1859 charter to the 1995 merger into BNSF Railway, the history and size of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway made it a powerhouse in Class I railroading. Because of its overall popularity, modelers will find it easy to source the necessary materials to create a stunning representation of the iconic railroad. […]
