Great Model Railroads 2013 desktop wallpaper

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Great Model Railroads 2013 features 10 outstanding railroads in N, HO, and O scales. Use these images from this Model Railroader special issue as backgrounds on your computer screen. Click on the image size appropriate for your monitor and drag the image onto your desktop. Click to order Great Model Railroads 2013! Bob Collett’s HO […]

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Basic Training: Cementing plastic parts

Hand applying adhesive to plastic part

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Whether you’ve never built a plastic kit or you’ve assembled several, this video is for you. Cody takes you through the steps to clean up, fit, and cement plastic kit parts like a pro. […]

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Lionel postwar No. 682 O gauge 6-8-6 locomotive

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In the September 2012 issue, Terry Thompson detailed how to restore an iconic Lionel steam locomotive. Use this image as a backdrop on your computer screen. Click on the image size appropriate for your monitor and drag the image onto your desktop. 1600 x 900 wallpaper 1600 x 1000 wallpaper 1600 x 1200 wallpaper […]

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A steam up in Nebraska

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1. Scratchbuilt, battery-powered brass steam locomotive. The author could not bring his live steam engine because of airport inspection. Yukio Nakagawa 2. Durham Western Heritage Museum, formerly the Union Pacific, Omaha Station. Yukio Nakagawa 3. Present Amtrak Omaha Station. Just one passenger train a day stops here. Yukio Nakagawa 4.House of Trains store in Omaha. […]

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Model railroad trackside photos

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Looking at other model railroads can inspire you to reach greater heights on your own layout. Ask your local hobby shop owner about modelers or clubs in your area whose railroads you could visit. And remember, no matter how incredible the artistry involved, every one was built by someone who was a beginner at first. […]

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Model train set video demonstrations

MRR 021412 Walthers Trainline HO train set

Most model railroaders get started in the hobby with a ready-to-run train set. These sets include a locomotive, cars, track, and a power pack. In these videos you’ll see members of the Model Railroader magazine staff showing you how to set up and run some recently released model train sets. Are you new to the […]

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Build a table for a small model railroad

benchwork lead

Good plywood benchwork provides a solid foundation for a model railroad. There are many different ways to support your railroad, and they all fall under the general heading of “benchwork.” Benchwork can be just about anything. We’ve heard of one modeler who uses the top of his piano for his railroad so he can enjoy […]

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Guide to model railroading scales and gauges

Image of model locomotives arranged by scaled size

You don’t have to spend much time with model trains to realize that they come in a number of different sizes. These differences are one of the things that make model trains so much fun because there are advantages to each size. Let’s take a look at them so you can think about which size […]

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Basic Training: How to install feeder wires

Hand adding feeder wire to piece of track

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Good electrical connections are key to a smooth running model railroad, and one way to help achieve this is with feeder wires. In this basic training video you’ll learn how to attach feeder wires to the rails of model railroad track. […]

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Old model-railroad books

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Marc Horovitz Here are a few of my favorite old model-train books, all published before 1960, in chronological order. There are many more. These are a mix of US and British books. I’ve tried to give a very brief synopsis of each. If you have a favorite old book, drop me a line at mhorovitz@gardenrailways.com […]

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