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The SoundTraxx Tsunami SoundCar is a Digital Command Control decoder that brings the sounds of the train beyond the locomotive to a model train layout. In this video, Model Railroader senior editor Dana Kawala gets a demo of the SoundCar with George Bogatiuk of SoundTraxx. Listen to various SoundCar installations in freight and passenger equipment […]
Check out my video of the Cincinnatian on the L&S division of the B&O RR, stopping at Winton Place Station. Video shot by Edward Lorence […]
Mid train helpers works hard in this heavy train on its way through the living room. Video shot by OA Hildebrandt […]
This HO scale Pennsylvania RR class H10s from Broadway Limited Imports features the firm’s Paragon2 Digital Command Control sound decoder and synchronized puffing smoke. Watch the HO scale 2-8-0 Consolidation-type steam locomotive as it hauls freight on the Model Railroader staff’s club layout, the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy. […]
Name: Milwaukee & Northwestern Wisconsin Division Layout designer: Chuck Sable Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 13’-8” x 24’-0” Prototype: Chicago & North Western Madison and Lancaster Subdivisions Locale: Southern Wisconsin Era: 1955-1980 Style: Around the walls Mainline run: 100 feet Minimum radius: 24” (main), 22” (branch) Minimum turnout: no. 6 (main), no. 4 (industries) Maximum grade: […]
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Now that the rocks and basic ground covering is in place, MR’s Cody Grivno adds the tall timber to our Olympia Logging Co. On30 layout. In this video, he shows how to install and blend big commercial trees along the sloping mountainside terrain. […]
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Host Cody Grivno escapes the workbench to prepare a simple fence for a new scene on the MR&T, the Model Railroader staff’s HO scale layout. In addition to building the fence for this Thanksgiving edition of Cody’s Workshop, Cody also takes time to […]
Name: Red Oak Layout designer: staff of Model Railroader Scale: N (1:160) Size: 3′-0″ x 6′-8″ Prototype: Chicago, Burlington & Quincy RR Locale: Red Oak, Iowa Era: early 1960s Style: island, portable Mainline run: 15 feet Minimum radius: 13″ Minimum turnout: Peco no. 6 medium Maximum grade: none Originally appeared in the January 2015 Model […]
Name: Aksarben Road/ATSF Wishbone Division Layout designer: John Armstrong Scale: O (1:48) Size: 26 x 32 feet Theme: freelanced short line and Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe branch line Locale: Colorado and New Mexico Era: Sunday, May 27, 1951 Style: walk-in Mainline run: 202 feet Minimum radius: 42″ (Aksarben), 48″ (Santa Fe) Minimum turnout: no. […]
Name: Fernwood Lumber Co. RR Layout designer: Pete Birdsong Scale: On30 (1:48 proportion, 30″ narrow gauge) Size: 12 x 24 feet Theme: narrow gauge Southern logging Locale: Southern Mississippi Era: 1910 Style: walkaround Mainline run: 64 feet Minimum radius: 22″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 2 percent Originally appeared in the January 2015 Model […]
Model Railroader readers first encountered a track plan designed by John Armstrong in 1952. John became popular, and dozens of his designs were published in magazines and books, earning him the title “dean of track planners.” He died in 2004. John’s style was fully “out of the box” for the time. You might wonder if […]
Interlocking machine The intricacies of interlocking plants have fascinated me since I read Model Railroader’s “Mechanical interlocking and signaling” series in 1961. In that series, MR’s Gordon Odegard and Paul Larson explained how they scratchbuilt a miniature interlocking machine that included operating finger-size levers for Paul’s HO layout. It took me almost 50 years to […]
