Snow arrives on the Norfolk Southern Bristol Line

Norfolk Southern’s Bristol Line, departing from the mainline at Walton, Virginia, west to Bristol is a vital cog in the Class One railroad’s system. Originally, the Norfolk & Western mainline routed from the coast at Norfolk to a connection with the Southern Railway at Bristol. These days the route handles a lot of freight moving […]

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T-TRAK Project Part 2: Building modules

Two men with beards working at make-shift workbench set up on yellow sawhorses using assorted hand tools and clamps to build small brown wood boxes.

Modelers David Popp, Brian Schmidt, and Bryson Sleppy continue their series of projects to build a modular T-Trak N scale layout. T-Trak is a modular N scale railroading system that uses foot-wide boxes that can be plugged together to build tabletop layouts. In this second installment, the team demonstrates how to build RS Laser Kit […]

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Conway Scenic RR in N scale

A model railroad trackplan

Facts & features Name: Conway Scenic RRScale: N (1:160)Size: 6 x 12 feetPrototype: freelancedLocale: New Hampshire’s White Mountain regionEra: modernStyle: islandMainline run: 45 feetMinimum radius: 36″Minimum turnout: No. 8Maximum grade: 3.5%Benchwork: open gridHeight: 36″Roadbed: CorkTrack: Peco code 80 flextrackScenery: extruded-foam insulation boardBackdrop: painted on wallsControl: SCADA automation system     Download this trackplan! Buy the […]

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Otter Valley Railroad HO bulkhead flatcar

Color ¾ view of HO scale bulkhead flatcar.

The FreightCar America (FCA) 52-foot, 100-ton bulkhead flatcar with side stakes is the third HO scale freight car released by Otter Valley Railroad, a hobby shop located in Tillsonburg, Ont. Features on the newly tooled model include an injection-molded plastic body, die-cast metal underbody, and trucks with rotating bearing caps. The prototype We received two […]

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Explore Nevada Northern Railway’s rich heritage

Explore Ely, Nevada, and experience the rich history of the Nevada Northern Railway, one of the best-preserved tourist railroads in the United States. Originally built for copper ore transport, this 140-mile railway, now operating under the White Pine Historical Railroad Foundation, showcases various steam locomotives. With ongoing restoration projects and a recent $10 million grant, […]

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Rapido Trains HO scale RS18u

Title screen of Rapido Trains HO scale RS18u Product Review video

A sample of the Rapido Trains HO scale RS18u diesel locomotive recently arrived at our offices. Join Model Railroader Senior Editor as he takes a closer look at CP Rail No. 1826. He’ll point out features on the model, demonstrate some of the sound and light functions, and use the locomotive to power a short […]

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Rapido Trains HO scale RS18u

Title screen of Rapido Trains HO scale RS18u Product Review video

A sample of the Rapido Trains HO scale RS18u diesel locomotive recently arrived at our offices. Join Model Railroader Senior Editor as he takes a closer look at CP Rail No. 1826. He’ll point out features on the model, demonstrate some of the sound and light functions, and use the locomotive to power a short […]

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Lionel brass hybrid Strasburg 90 2-10-0

black model steam engine on layout

Lionel brass hybrid Strasburg 90 2-10-0 The history of Strasburg RR No. 90 starts with the Great Western RR, which purchased the standard light 2-10-0 Decapod from Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1924. After 40 years of traveling through the mountains of Colorado, the steam engine was sold to the Strasburg RR in 1967 for $23,000, […]

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Model trains in The White House this holiday season

For the first time in many years, model trains are in The White House this Christmas. In a press release from The White House, First Lady Jill Biden announces the 2023 holiday theme, “The Magic, Wonder, and Joy of the holidays.” “In this season of reflection and goodwill, we hope you will embrace your inner […]

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Big Skies & Iron Rails, Bridge Out!

Embark on a captivating journey through the picturesque landscapes of Big Sky country during Summer 2023. Join railfan/videographer Tom Danneman on a railfanning adventure along Montana Rail Link (MRL), capturing the essence of the railroad “Blues” before its imminent takeover by BNSF. Witness unexpected turns, like a bridge collapse in Reed Point and rare train […]

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