Big Skies & Iron Rails, Coal Hauling Trains

Tons of Black Gold rides the rails under Big Skies. Tom Danneman is frequently there to capture these unit trains, so we’ve compiled this video of heavy haulers working the western main lines. These big trains and even bigger skies are all part of what makes Tom’s brand of contemporary railfanning so compelling to view […]

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Big Skies & Iron Rails, Coal Hauling Trains

Tons of Black Gold rides the rails under Big Skies. Tom Danneman is frequently there to capture these unit trains, so we’ve compiled this video of heavy haulers working the western main lines. These big trains and even bigger skies are all part of what makes Tom’s brand of contemporary railfanning so compelling to view […]

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Building Trees

As work on the HO scale Freemont Mills model railroad continues, Eric White shares his technique for making realistic trees from scratch! The Super Trees natural product is at the root (pun intended) of all his work. After he shows how to model these trees, Eric also demonstrates helpful hints for installing them on a […]

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Ask Trains.com July 2023 compilation part two

Ask Trains.com July compilation part two: An image of a man standing behind a workbench

Ask Trains.com July 2023 compilation part two: Cody Grivno answers viewer questions regarding weathering freight car trucks, accurately scratchbuilding a switcher locomotive interior using prototype references, passenger train departure and arrival announcement recordings, and more! Are you looking to learn more about your model railroad, or do you have questions about full-size trains? We’d love […]

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Building Trees

As work on the HO scale Freemont Mills model railroad continues, Eric White shares his technique for making realistic trees from scratch! The Super Trees natural product is at the root (pun intended) of all his work. After he shows how to model these trees, Eric also demonstrates helpful hints for installing them on a […]

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Olympia & Sand Creek, Episode 14 | Details inside the passenger car

Before David jump into detailing the interior of his combine car, he first looks to add a tried but true structure from the original Olympia Logging layout display! Watch to see how he plans to revamp and return Eric White’s scratchbuilt sawmill structure (a building front) to service in a new, but similar position on […]

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Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum BL2 nears operation (with video)

Man stands in front of blue and yellow diesel

NORTH JUDSON, Ind. —  After two years of restoration work using an all-volunteer labor force, the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in North Judson is close to beginning operations with one of its two former Bangor & Aroostook Railroad BL2s. BL2s No. 52 and No. 56 came to the museum in June of 2021 after private […]

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Shay-It-Forward and the Silver Creek & Stephenson Charter

On June 25th, 2023, Trains Magazine sponsored their first photo special of the year at the Silver Creek and Stephenson Railroad in Freeport, Illinois. The event was timed to coincide with the Jim Wrinn Memorial Shay-It-Forward event at the Illinois Railway Museum. Let’s take a look at the weekend! […]

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Spaces to Places IV | Detailing the Streets, part 5

The town of Westcott on this HO scale model railroad is approaching completion! But not before host Gerry Leone shares his insights for adding subtle, but very effective weathering effects to the roadways. Follow along to learn how to fade stripes, draw cracks, create potholes, install manhole covers, and much more! Want to see more […]

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Jack Burgess’ Yosemite Valley Railroad in HO scale

Jack Burgess’ Yosemite Valley Railroad in HO scale | Jack Burgess, a dedicated model railroad enthusiast, has masterfully recreated the Yosemite Valley Railroad, an iconic prototype railroad that operated in central California until 1947. Over the course of 31 years, Jack poured his heart into crafting an intricate and historically significant model railroad, capturing the […]

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Jack Burgess’ Yosemite Valley Railroad in HO scale

Jack Burgess’ Yosemite Valley Railroad in HO scale | Jack Burgess, a dedicated model railroad enthusiast, has masterfully recreated the Yosemite Valley Railroad, an iconic prototype railroad that operated in central California until 1947. Over the course of 31 years, Jack poured his heart into crafting an intricate and historically significant model railroad, capturing the […]

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