Running a locomotive around a layout is fun, but eventually you may want to make your train to be powered by more than one engine. On the railroad this is called “multiple-unit operation.” If you have two or more DCC-equipped locomotives, you can run your own multiple-unit locomotive consists. This article will explain how to […]
Do you need some industries for small spaces on your model railroad? If you ask modeler railroaders something they’d like to have more of, space will be a common answer. Everything in our hobby takes up space – benchwork, track, structures, and scenery, among other items. When I kick around layout plans for my basement, […]
When the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Great Northern; Northern Pacific; and Spokane, Portland & Seattle merged to create the Burlington Northern on March 2, 1970, the new railroad had an interesting fleet of cabooses. While there were plenty of cars built by commercial builders, mainly International Car Co., BN’s fleet was also filled with cabooses […]
Why use Digital Command Control? Related to this is whether you should, so I’ll start by answering that first, and say the answer is yes, you should. Now, as the reasons why? Let’s make a list, shall we? Why use Digital Command Control for locomotives? Digital Command Control (DCC) allows your locomotives to do more. […]
Preview Model Railroader June and July 2023 content We’re always adding new content to our website! Here are some recent stories you may have missed, and a look at some items coming in July. Short Amtrak consists of the 1980s Amtrak’s business model relies heavily on supply and demand, so when a route has […]
Midday Modeler – May 31st. 2023. On this week’s episode of Midday Modeler, Eric and Steve serve as your hosts! They go over progress on the project layout, including where the new structures might be placed along with other additions. Steve introduces some hot new items, fresh on the Kalmbach Hobby Store. Questions for the […]
Modeling plate girder bridges: The most commonly found type of railroad bridge in the country has to be the good old plate girder. You see them everywhere. They’re simple, inexpensive, and can handle spans up to about 100 feet. (The longer the span, the deeper the sideplates on the bridge.) As long as there are […]
Tips for body mounting couplers: “Oh, no,” I can hear you saying, “He’s off on couplers again.” Well, sorry, I am, and perhaps not for the last time. Almost all N scale rolling stock until recently has come with truck-mounted couplers. It’s true that cars so equipped can handle tighter curves, but it’s also true […]
I have a confession to make: I’m an ops noob. I’ve been a model railroader for more than 30 years and have worked for Model Railroader magazine for 15. I edited Jerry Dziedzic’s “On Operation” column for years and Andy Sperandeo’s “The Operators” before that. And I know my way around a throttle. But a […]
What are DCC sound decoders? Well, to put it briefly: A sound decoder is a computer on a chip that receives and interprets signals sent from the DCC base station and puts out an analog signal that makes an attached speaker produce the sound desired. There’s more to DCC sound decoders, though. There are two […]
Unless you model a short line or branch line that owns only one locomotive, your layout probably needs some kind of model railroad signals. Signals are used to convey information to an engineer about the block of track ahead: whether it’s safe to enter, whether it’s occupied by another train, and how fast it can […]
Today, it’s easier than ever to railfan without leaving the comfort of your home. Kalmbach Media is one of several companies that offers DVDs on various prototype subjects. If you prefer seeing trains in real time, you can watch any number of railfan webcams, such as the one Trains magazine has at Rochelle, Ill. This […]
