Cody Grivno answers the question with resources for finding railroad radio frequencies. You want to know more about railroad communications or you have questions about your model railroad? Send us an email: AskTrains@trains.com, and if you have other resources for finding railroad radio frequencies, please leave them in the comments field below. […]
Tag: Ask Trains
What is the thickness of the tempered hardboard used on the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy N scale state line route layout?
Cody Grivno explains the thickness and intricacies of working with the tempered hardboard. Do you have questions about the products that we use for magazine articles or for videos, or do you want to learn more about full size trains? Send us an email: AskTrains@trains.com […]
Ask MR: What railroads had dedicated merchandise service boxcars?
Q: I model the Missouri Pacific and am familiar with its fleet of dedicated Eagle Merchandise Service boxcars. These cars were not to be used in interchange service and remained on home tracks. How many other railroads had a similar service, and what were they called? – Carl Storms A: While relatively few railroads had […]
Where do you find specific prototype drawings again?
Cody Grivno answers another request regarding prototype drawings and how to locate them. There is an online archive to access older Model Railroader issues. Hard copies may be harder to come by. Do you need help tracking down an old drawing in MR? Or, are you looking for information on prototype trains? Send us an […]
Where can you find out of production parts?
Cody Grivno answers the question about finding out of production parts for a Roundhouse Ready-to-Roll HOn3 2-Truck Shay. If you’re looking for old parts or models, or you want to learn more about full trains, send us an email: AskTrains@trains.com. And if you have other sources for Pete to find gears for his Roundhouse Shay, […]
Ask MR: What does an air repeater car do?
Q: While browsing a railcar photo site, I came across an interesting Burlington Northern car. The photo’s caption calls it an “air repeater car.” What is its intended purpose? Where is it mainly used? – Tom Huffman, Fort Worth, Texas A: An air repeater car is used to keep up the pressure in brake air […]
What was the name of that railroad?
Cody Grivno explains where to find the information on railroads. Take a peak at the The Historical Guide to North American Railroads. This book can answer your question! You can order a copy of the Historical Guide to North American Railroads Third Edition at the Kalmbach Hobby Store website. KalmbachHobbyStore.com Do you have more questions […]
Can you tell me where to get specific tools for building my layout?
Cody Grivno answers the question: Can you tell me where I can buy a Proto:87 track and wheel gauge? Do you need help tracking down tools for your layout, or would you like more information on full-size railroads? Send us an email: AskTrains@trains.com And if you model in Proto:87, please leave your tips in the […]
Ask MR: How can I build a layout if I know I’ll have to leave it?
Q: My wife and I are discussing purchasing our forever home and there are questions about including room for, and the cost of, a MRR layout. I have Parkinson’s Disease, so HO scale is the smallest I can imagine modeling. That scale (or larger) will require a good bit of layout space, plus working space. A […]
How do you model locomotive terminals faithfully?
Cody Grivno explains that by researching terminals in books, as well as images online, you should be able to get a good idea of how to re-create a building using accurate colors and more. Do you have questions about railroad facilities or do you like to learn more about adding them to your model railroad? […]
What’s behind those doors?
Cody Grivno explains what the two little doors on each side of the headlight on an F7 or F9 nose are. He also explains what the MU receptacles (behind the doors) are used for. Do you want to know more about the details on diesel locomotives? Or would you like more information about model railroading? […]
Ask MR: What kind of ballast should I use?
Q: I’m designing an HO scale model railroad that will include an old mountain main line that’s due to be closed after a new bypass line has been constructed. Though my line will be freelanced, some examples of what I’m thinking of would be the old Colorado Midland Hagerman Pass line or the Denver […]
