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Why would anyone model the Stockton & Copperopolis, an obscure short line with a name that sounds made up? Or model this little-known prototype in the 1890s? Most importantly, would it be practical to build it as a large, prototypically faithful model railroad capable of realistic operation and equip it with authentic locomotives and rolling […]
In this video, I show how I set up operations on my small switching layouts, including making car cards, building car-card racks, and running through a short operating session. Video by Steven Strum […]
The 2020 Amherst Railway Society Railroad Hobby Show is being held Jan. 25 and 26 at The Eastern States Exposition Fairgrounds in West Springfield, Mass. The two-day show, now in its 52nd year, features model railroad manufacturers, railroad historical societies, vendors, and clinics. Athearn Genesis 2.0 HO scale EMD SD80MAC diesel locomotive HO scale locomotives […]
For nearly 30 years, when we lived in upstate New York, I would occasionally watch my husband, Lou, making trees for his HO scale West Hoosic Division RR. Over the years, together with his friend, Pete Darling, he managed to build and plant more than 4,000 HO scale hardwoods on his 22 x 26-foot layout. […]
Menards exclusive Rocket Freight train set is led by a Bachmann HO scale GP40-2R diesel. Many of us got our start in the hobby with a train set like the new Bachmann HO scale Rocket Freight set, with its sturdy diesel locomotive, colorful cars, and oval of snap-together track. This set includes everything a new […]
Athearn HO scale CN GP9 diesel Our review sample included a SoundTraxx Tsunami2 decoder mounted above the Athearn Genesis mechanism. The model also features all-wheel drive and pickup. Both of our CN review samples feature roadname- and roadnumber-specfic details and accurate paint schemes. Superdetailed Electro-Motive GP9 diesel locomotives return to the Athearn Genesis series in […]
RailSmith N scale Tippecanoe Rapids sleeper The partitions and seating arrangements match prototype plans. Pennsylvania RR N scale modelers can now add an accurate re-creation of Pullman-Standard (PS) sleeper Tippecanoe Rapids to their passenger car rosters thanks to Lowell Smith’s Signature Series of RailSmith cars. The prototype. As part of its post-World War II modernization […]
ExactRail HO scale Berwick 7440 boxcar The model also features a detailed underbody. The Berwick Forge & Fabricating 7,440-cubic-foot-capacity boxcar is the latest addition to Exact Rail’s HO scale Platinum line. The plastic model features a one-piece body with separate roof, factory-applied details, and wire uncoupling levers. The model. Our sample is decorated as Penn […]
Tony describes how he kitbashed the feed mill, pictured on the left, of his portable O scale Wingate model railroad. Using parts from two Atlas O Ace Feed & Supply kits, Tony rearranged the side walls and added a second story turned sideways to create a more realistic footprint and to disguise the kit’s all-too-familiar […]
Click on the links at left to download this image sized appropriately for your computer screen. The prominent sign of the beverage store at Thomasville Crossing is a prominent scene on Brian Wolfe’s HO scale Western Maryland Ry. Blue Ridge Division model train layout. The image is also this month’s featured desktop wallpaper download. Click […]
Roadname- and roadnumber-specific details abound on this pair of Canadian National GP9 diesel locomotives Both also come factory-equipped with SoundTraxx Tsunami2 Digital Command Control (DCC) sound decoders. Watch senior editor Dana Kawala use the Geeps to work some freight along the Model Railroader staff layout, the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy. […]
The layout at a glance Name: St. Louis Junction Layout designer: John Schindler Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 30 x 60 feet Prototype: BNSF Ry., CSX, Norfolk Southern, Terminal RR Association of St. Louis, and Union Pacific Locale: St. Louis area Era: 2010 Style: multi-deck walk-in Mainline run: 275 feet Minimum radius: 32″ Minimum turnout: no. […]
