Two interesting freelanced HO flatcar and gondola loads can be made out of plastic parts from used Bic disposable razors. The flatcar load is made from the blade covers while the gondola carries cut-down handles. Of course, you need to be careful with the spent razor blades and dispose of the remnants properly to avoid […]
Electro-Motive Division’s NW5 history Electro-Motive Division’s NW5: Steam was still king when Electro-Motive Division (EMD) produced the NW5 diesel locomotive. However, railroads were taking note of the economy of performance offered by the various yard diesels entering the marketplace. This led railroads to approach EMD about the possibility of constructing low-cost diesels that could be […]
Realistic operations on a raised railroad: In my first garden railroad, (see Garden Railways May-June 1990), The Great Lakes and Gazebo Railroad, the objective was to add interest to my garden, have fun around the pool, and engage my kids in a new way to play with Dad. My new chapter had to include a […]
We share five ways to make durable signs for your large-scale structures. Methods include using decals, vinyl stencils, styrene and magnets, and more. Weathered enamel signs Here’s an easy way to simulate old, rusting enamel signs. First, invent and print the sign, or take a photo of a real one. Print the image on glossy […]
Facts & features Name: Chicago, Milwaukee & Puget Sound Scale: N (1:160) Size: 48 x 96 feet Prototypes: Great Northern; Milwaukee Road; Northern Pacific; Pacific Coast RR; Spokane, Portland & Seattle; Tacoma Belt Line; and Union Pacific Locale: Pacific Northwest Era: circa 1950 Style: multi-deck walkaround Mainline run: approx. 1, 250 feet Minimum radius: 12 […]
Facts & features Name: The Baraboo Subdivision Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 10 x 24 feet Prototype: Chicago & North Western Ry., Madison Division Locale: Baraboo, Wis. Era: variable, from 1956 to 1995 Style: around the walls Mainline run: 38 feet Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: flat Benchwork: 1 x 4 open […]
Name: Richard (Al) Phillips’ O gauge layout Dimensions: 11 x 12 feet Track: GarGraves, Lionel (diameters range from 27 to 72 inches) Switches: Lionel Motive power: Lionel (all eras), Marx Rolling stock: Lionel (all eras), Marx, MTH Electric Trains, Williams Controls: Lionel types KW and ZW transformers Accessories: Lionel (postwar), Marx Structures: Lemax, Lionel, Plasticville, […]
Name: John Mansueto’s S gauge layout Dimensions: 7 x 11½ feet Track and switches: Gilbert American Flyer (maximum diameter is 54 inches) Motive power: American Models, Gilbert and Lionel American Flyer, S-Helper Service Rolling stock: American Models, Gilbert and Lionel American Flyer, MTH, S-Helper Service Controls: Lionel types RW and ZW transformers, MTH nos. Z-750 […]
Burlington Northern locomotive one-offs. Burlington Northern (BN) had more than 2,000 diesel locomotives on its roster. With a fleet of that size, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that there were more than a few Burlington Northern locomotive one-offs. Paint scheme variations, wreck rebuilds, and test subjects were among the examples I found when searching […]
What my garden railroad taught me: Our first garden line, The Johnsville & Cripple Creek, was complete – as these things go. We moved. I looked forward to starting over. Construction on the Hitchcock Railway began a few months after moving in – and continued for more than 10 years. When NMRA National Convention visitors […]
Lionel F3 sets that never existed are a constant source of conversation among collectors. One area of focus is the late 1940s. Amid the ordinary items produced in vast quantities, there were some advertised that were probably never produced – but maybe they were. Lionel’s first O gauge F3 diesels came in freight sets with […]
Why I love the Electro-Motive Division SD40-2 Many modelers have a locomotive that they are fond of, probably one of their first models that they received as a kid. My first engine was an O gauge F7, a far cry from the locomotive that I love, the Electro-Motive Division SD40-2. In fact, nine years later […]
