Model Railroader Tips & Tricks | Choosing roadbed

Choosing roadbed | While adding track to your subroadbed layout base is an possible, you’ll want to consider installing an additional, more realistic layer of material specifically designed to support and secure your trackwork. Follow along as David shares various roadbed options that can be used across layouts of all sizes and scales! Be sure […]

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Olympia & Sand Creek, Episode 24 | Barn scene figures and details

Host David Popp is making good progress with his modeling, so he takes a moment to highlight some of the details that help shape the realistic barn and farmhouse setting on his Olympia & Sand Creek On30 display layout. In this episode, he talks through tree selection, fabricating custom figures, adding exterior/interior structural intricacies, and […]

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April 2025

The April 2025 cover of Trains magazine

In every issue News, p. 4 California drops zero-emission locomotive rule Bill Stephens, p. 8  BNSF’s double-tracking persistence pays off History with Hankey, p. 10 A railroad-themed float at a president’s inauguration Great Railfan Roads, p. 42 Route 66 is the country’s greatest railfan road Brian Solomon, p. 50 United Kingdom celebrates two centuries of […]

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Model Railroader Tips & Tricks | Evaluating subroadbed options

Evaluating subroadbed options| When it comes to building a new model railroad, the foundation you use to support your trackwork and scenery is especially important. Taking numerous factors under consideration (e.g., cost, easy of use, durability, etc.), expert layout builder David Popp shares info and insights you need to know before making your choice! You […]

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Model Railroader Tips & Tricks | Determining reasonable reach

Determining reasonable reach | David Popp shows you how to establish the most reasonable depth — distance from front edge to backdrop — for a model railroad. Along the way, he’ll share helpful measurements and practical insights for keeping your layout functional and fun to run! You can learn more about benchwork construction in the […]

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Spaces to Places VII | Yard Servicing Area

In a space just beyond the lower-level yard recently featured in Spaces to Places VII, is where our host Gerry Leone now turns to make a place for a locomotive servicing area on his double-deck, HO scale (1:87.1) model railroad. Follow along as he first plans and plots out the trackwork and structures needed to […]

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Winter 2024

The Winter 2024 cover of Classic Trains magazine, which features a locomotive with a striped red and white front end moving towards the camera in a snowy winter location

Welcome – Still has the connections Head End – A potpourri of railroad history, then and now Mileposts – Commentary by Kevin P. Keefe True Color – Katy green-and-yellow Short Rails – Illinois Central in Wisconsin The Way It Was – Tales from railfans and railroaders Classics Today – Preserved NYC steam Looking Back – […]

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March 2025

The March 2025 cover of Trains magazine, which features a train crossing a bridge over a body of water

In every issue News, p. 4 VIA Rail Canada’s equipment request includes dome cars; Trains.com forums return Bill Stephens, p. 8 UP-short line deal aims to improve service John Hankey, p. 10 Why 2025? Railroading’s bicentennial is surprisingly complex Great Railfan Roads, p. 44 Follow California 99 for busy Central Valley railroad action Brian Solomon, […]

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