Q: I have a trestle bridge above a deep ravine on my HO scale layout and would like to automatically slow DCC locomotives approaching the bridge to avoid too rapid an entry. Using DCC, is there a method to provide such “auto deceleration?” — Paul Savello, Cedar City, Utah A: Hi, Paul. Such a thing […]
Intermodal equipment If you’re trackside, odds are you’re going to see an intermodal train. Intermodal made up 49% of the 34 million units of freight carried by U.S. railroads last year, more than four times higher than coal, the next largest commodity. Odds are that intermodal train will mostly have railcars owned by TTX, a […]
Model railroad track codes Breaking the Code Model railroad track is sold in rail height variations called “codes.” This indicates the height of the rail in thousandths of an inch. Common sizes in HO scale: Code 100 (.100″) Code 83 (.083″) Code 70 (.070″) Common sizes in N scale: Code 80 (.080″) Code 55 (.055″) […]
If you’re planning on building a model railroad, preparing a train room should be your first step. You might be eager to get to work building benchwork and laying track, but basics like wiring and lighting your layout space and making it comfortable for your operators are a lot easier to do before there’s a […]
Q: In your “Ask MR” column “Speed matching DCC locomotives for better consisting”, you suggest to turn off the locomotives’ momentum, because momentum will interfere with accurately measuring the locomotives’ speed. My question is: How do I know if the ESU decoders that came with my locomotives are programed with momentum? I am using an […]
Lionel Catalog Volume 1 for 2024 is filled with plenty of treasures. What’s there? How about fantastic locomotives loaded with tons of special effects and realistic details as well as lots of superb pieces of scale rolling stock and entertaining operating cars of all sorts? And plenty of spectacular and enjoyable train sets for modelers […]
Q: I am looking for suggestions for industries for an Idaho model railroad in the 1940s. I’m working on building an HO scale 10 x 11-foot around-the-walls model railroad. I have decided to model a small town in rural Idaho along the Union Pacific in 1942. I am looking for a few plausible industries to […]
Q: I always thought N gauge track was the go-to gauge for narrow gauge HO operating equipment. I found out yesterday that is not true. I got a model kit for an HOn3 locomotive. Everything was going smoothly until I discovered the wheels and trucks supplied with the kit are spaced too far apart for N gauge […]
Q: I recently added a Faller carousel to my HO scale model railroad. It is lighted and motorized. Now I would like to add a sound module to the layout to play carousel sounds. Any suggestions where I might find one? — Larry Gaiardelli A: I couldn’t find a sound module pre-recorded with carousel sounds, […]
Five forgotten locomotives no one wanted: Producing a locomotive is a massive endeavor. From design to testing to production, each model is the summation of thousands of hours of labor from dedicated engineers, builders, and everyone in between. However, in spite of the scale of this undertaking, sometimes it just doesn’t work out. Maybe the […]
Backdrops are an important part of any model railroad. Whether you use drywall, tempered hardboard, or some other material, backdrops help operators and visitors focus on the layout and not other distractions in the room. If you’re looking for something beyond basic sky blue, and painting isn’t your game, then this backdrop round-up is for […]
Q: Do you know of any software for producing a timetable for a model railroad? I would like to create a timetable that uses the same fonts and formats as prototype documents once used by the Milwaukee Road and Chicago & North Western. — Cully Kowal, Fond du Lac, Wis. A: Java Model Railroad Interface (JMRI), […]
