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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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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
Learn the basics of the hobby of model railroading Illustration by Theo Cobb If you’re new to model railroading, a hobby shop is probably where you’d get your first crash course in hobby terminology. However, spending an afternoon staring at trains in display cases trying to get answers to basic questions can be frustrating. Having […]
Model railroading scales are described by letters such as N, HO, S, and O. This alphabet soup may seem confusing at first, but the letters are simply shorthand to describe the ratio of the model’s size to its prototype, which is what model railroaders call the real thing a model is based on. The chart […]
The Cascade & Timber Trail Ry. is one of CTT’s project railroads. Click here for the entire series of building this layout from a starter set to its realistically scenicked, action-filled completion. 800 x 600 wallpaper 1024 x 768 wallpaper 1600 x 1200 wallpaper […]
Use this image from Herb Lindsay’s O gauge New York Central & Pennsylvania Railroad layout as a background on your computer screen. Click on the image size appropriate for your monitor and drag the image onto your desktop. 800 x 600 wallpaper 1024 x 768 wallpaper 1600 x 1200 wallpaper […]
Fred Dole’s re-creation of Raymondale was featured in the October 2008 issue. It is home to several original buildings from the Delta Lines of the 1940s. 800 x 600 wallpaper1024 x 768 wallpaper1600 x 1200 wallpaper […]
