Nearly all of us have dreamt of building a large toy train layout. The stark reality is that many of us lack the real estate, resources, or time for such an endeavor. But there’s no reason to be disappointed. This free guide from the experts at Classic Toy Trains includes a salute to the small layout, with […]
For those entering the hobby, this free guide from Model Railroader offers 14 pages of advice and inspiration. We provide tips on getting started, a guide on scales and gauges, and inspiration to build your own model railroad. […]
Click on the links at left to download the image sized appropriately for your computer screen. Dave Bigge photographed this stunning shot of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe El Capitan on his HO scale Cajon Pass layout that’s set in 1956. Click on the links below to download the photo sized appropriately for your […]
Click on the links at left to download the image sized appropriately for your computer screen. A manifest freight barrels through the crossing at York, Pa., on Brian Wolfe’s HO scale Western Maryland layout. Paul Dolkos shot the photo. Click on the links below to download the image to use as a background on your […]
Welcome to the enjoyable and exciting hobby of toy trains! Folks enter this hobby a number of ways. Perhaps you found your childhood train set after many years and want to relive the fun you had with those toys. Maybe you picked up a vintage toy locomotive and cars at a yard sale or an […]
Model roads look best when they are built to the proper size. By planning for the streets and roads at the same time you design your layout, you can be sure you have enough room for them. Rest assured that if you plan ahead and follow the prototype, your streets will realistically enhance your layout. […]
Click on the links at left to download this image sized appropriately for your computer screen. It’s a snowy winter day in Gold Mine Gap on Ron Foreman’s HOn3 Devil’s Gulch & Helengon. The silver ore train must go through so the precious metal can be smelted into Christmas gifts. Click on the links below […]
Great Model Railroads 2018 features a wide variety of outstanding model train layouts in N, HO, O, and large scales. This month you can download images from all 11 model railroads to use as a background wallpaper on your computer screen. Click on the links below for the appropriately sized images. Want to see more […]
Large layouts are cool, no doubt, but we thought that something smaller that combined postwar trains with modern materials also sounded like fun. We told Classic Toy Trains Editor Carl Swanson what we were thinking, and he challenged us to actually follow through. Uh-oh. This special 13-page magazine supplement contains step-by-step instructions for creating a 4 […]
In this special supplement to Model Railroader, you’ll get expert advice on and photos of lineside details for: Roadway, ballast, rails and ties Terrain and features alongside your track Signals, signs, and grade crossings Trackside communication, safety, and maintenance equipment Enter your email below to sign up for our weekly newsletter and get your free download! […]
Special note: All photos courtesy of Aileen Elizabeth Photography For many, garden railways are a unique hobby, but for Jack, a garden railway was a “special wish.” A Special Wish Foundation, North Central Ohio Chapter (“Special Wish”), is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to granting the wishes of children under the age of twenty-one who […]
Click on the links at left to download the wallpaper. Urban switching and street running are the highlights of Carroll Street on Paul Dolkos’ HO scale Baltimore Harbor District. Click on the links below to download the image sized appropriately for your computer screen. Download the 1600 x 900 image Download the 1600 x 1000 […]
