Q: I recall an article from a few years back that was about setting up a minimalist layout set on a bookshelf or board. It was intended as a quick and easy way to get started in the hobby, especially for those who don’t have a lot of space. I believe it used an NCE […]
Track planning can go in so many different directions. That’s why it’s often helpful, especially for beginners, to start with an already created idea. From there, you can either fully recreate a plan or use it as a template to adapt as your own. The Trains.com Track Plan Database is a great starting point, with […]
Howard Hitchcock, CEO of Lionel, talks about Lionel’s 125th anniversary, as interviewed by Classic Toy Trains Editor Rene Schweitzer. Howard was kind enough to give us some time to talk about their anniversary, new products, virtual events, and show us some brand-new anniversary items in this video! You don’t want to miss this exclusive video […]
Join Trains.com staffer Bryson Sleppy, as he hosts Curtis Koch of Broadway Limited Imports for an insightful interview at Trainfest 2024 in Milwaukee, Wis. Listen in, as Curtis shares news and specifics regarding new product releases from this notable HO and N scale model railroad manufacturer! Watch additional behind-the-scenes interviews from Trainfest 2024! […]
Make building signs from polyester labels: In our hobby, the little things can make a big difference. When adding buildings to our railroads, it’s details like signs that help us determine if it’s the local drug store or the donut shop. Signs also clue us in to what era the railroad is set in. I […]
If you look closely at a diesel locomotive, you’ll see the letter “F” stenciled near the stairs. As obvious as it seems, the “F” stands for Front, and it’s required under the Railroad Locomotive Safety Standards section of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Title 49 CFR Part 229.11 reads, “The letter “F” shall be […]
Q: I recently ordered one of the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy N scale bay-window cabooses from Shop.Trains.com. What does the “P” on top of the bay window stand for? — R. Anderson A: The “P” indicates it’s a pool caboose, one not assigned to an individual conductor or specific crew. Former Senior Editor Jim Hediger […]
Traditionally, the hobby we all know and love was typically sequestered to our basements, spare bedrooms, or the occasional pole barn. Publications like Classic Toy Trains began to bring those of us in the hobby together, allowing us to see layouts and collections from all over the country. While CTT continues to be a staple […]
Last month we took a look at modeling urban scenery. This time around, we’ll step back from the big city and focus on rural scenery. I spent my formative years in the Red River Valley of the North, which was dotted with small towns up and down the Minnesota and North Dakota sides of the […]
Perhaps you don’t have the space to build a layout but still want to build “something.” Maybe your layout is already built but you’re looking to renovate a scene or section. Or there might be a show coming up and you want to highlight a scene or show off an animated feature. The solution to […]
One of my favorite things to do while eating lunch is to pull out an old volume of Model Railroader magazine and page through it. Lately, I’ve been working my way through the decade of the 1960s, often posting things I’ve rediscovered to MR’s Facebook page under the heading of “Lunchtime Reading.” Editor Linn Westcott […]
What happened to the caboose? Many factors helped seal their fate, and the demise of the caboose has been mourned in many places, including in the pages of Trains, which bid farewell in a special issue in August 1990. But the caboose hasn’t disappeared. Even today, you can find a few cabooses still at work. […]
