Trip on the GM&O in May 1951 Trains

Read the article, “Travel . . . Family Style,” from the May 1951 issue of Trains magazine, in which Bill Akin and his wife and daughter, identified as the “Andrews” family, ride the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio between Chicago and St. Louis. Download the story by clicking here. […]

Read More…

Realistic model railroading with Pelle Søeborg

yhst-22106725251441_2124_80215382

Pelle Søeborg is a model railroader known for his ability to create ultra-realistic scenes. His main modeling focus is modern-era railroading in the California desert, but his techniques are useful whatever your modeling subject. This article collection includes two track plans: one for a shelf layout and another for Pelle’s 11′-6″ x 22′-0″ Union Pacific […]

Read More…

Handcar shed drawings

Handcarshed

Check out these plans for a handcar shed from Model Railroader magazine. Every railroad needs myriad small storage sheds along the right-of-way and in engine terminals and yards. When I required a small trackside shed for my freelanced On30 (also known as On21⁄2) North Cariboo Ry., I decided it should show its age. I figured the shed would […]

Read More…

HO scale Sebring Model RR Club

SebringModelRRClub

Name: Sebring Model RR Club Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 25 x 75 feet Prototype: freelanced Locale: eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania Era: late 1940s to late 1950s Style: walk-in Mainline run: 1,100 feet Minimum radius: 42″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 1.5 percent Originally appeared in the March 2014 Model Railroader. Click on the […]

Read More…

HO scale Union Pacific Daneville Division

UnionPacificDanevilleDivision

Name: Union Pacific Daneville Subdivision Layout designer: Pelle Søeborg Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 11 x 22 feet Prototype: Union Pacific and BNSF Locale: freelanced, inspired by the Mojave Desert in Southern California Era: present Style: walk in Mainline run: 59 feet (excluding hidden staging) Minimum radius: 33″ (main), 31″ (sidings) Minimum turnout: no. 8 (main), […]

Read More…

Video: Athearn Genesis HO scale GE ES44AC

The HO scale General Electric ES44AC diesel-electric locomotive from Athearn Trains is part of the firm’s Genesis line and includes prototype-specific detail. The models are also available with SoundTraxx Digital Command Control sound decoders. We ran two of the DCC sound equipped GEVO locomotives on our model railroad. […]

Read More…

Olympia Logging Series: Selecting lumber and hardware

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page David and Kent head to a local home improvement store to collect the building materials they’ll need to start an all-new On30 project layout. Inside the store they’ll share insights for selecting quality lumber, essential hardware, layout lighting, and more. […]

Read More…

The Roundhouse: Episode 14

Hal Miller, Steve Otte, and Neil Besougloff

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Host Hal Miller welcomes MR’s Neil Besougloff and Steve Otte on the set. In this episode of The Roundhouse, the guys talk about the ups and downs of scratchbuilding in the 21st Century. […]

Read More…

Basic Training: Ground foam basics

Hand applying ground cover to model train layout

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page The wide array of scenery products available for making a model railroad look realistic can be overwhelming, especially if you’re just getting started in the hobby. In this video, Kent Johnson takes a quick look at some of the most common varieties of […]

Read More…

Building a 5 x 8 harbor railroad part 6

Neil Besougloff and Hal Miller next to a layout

The South Carolina scenery starts to take shape on the Model Railroader staff’s Rice Harbor project. Editor Neil Besougloff describes some of the material used for ground cover, while managing editor Hal Miller tackles the garden tracks and cinder ballast of the Seaboard Shore Line’s engine terminal. Meanwhile senior editor Dana Kawala works to build […]

Read More…