Q: Is there a relatively simple answer to the question as to why you find the wheel flanges on the inside rather than the outside of the rail on railroad engines and cars? – Gerald Roberts A: Who knows what thought went into that decision way back when. The real answer might come down to “because […]
Tag: Beginners
What is the minimum lettering information that’s required on a boxcar?
Cody offers several tips on how to re-create plain leased boxcars in this video of Ask Trains. Do you have questions about painting and lettering freight cars? Or do you want to learn more about prototype trains? Send us an email at: AskTrains@trains.com ………………………………… Ask Trains is a regular video feature of Trains.com for magazine subscribers […]
Adding track on the cheap
There is an astonishing (and confusing) variety of track available, and you may wish to “mix and match” brands. For example, you may want to use an operating section for triggering a dump car, but it isn’t available in your track brand. You can transition to tubular track, insert a traditional activation section, and transition […]
US Government helium car served military airships, NASA rockets
Q: I’ve always liked unusual rail cars — the more unusual, the better. I wonder how many readers might be stumped by the identity of the rail car in this photo? Hint: It’s pretty heavy; otherwise, it might just float away. – Greg Hodges, Powhatan, Va. A: That car’s not so mysterious; its unique appearance […]
How to build a track cleaning car
How to build a simple track cleaning car – MR contributor Gerry Leone shares instructions for making your own rolling innovation for cleaning the rails of your model railroad! From Gerry’s workbench, you’ll see the tools, materials, and simple techniques needed to shape a railcar and a small patch of Masonite (hardboard) into an unrelenting […]
What causes an HO scale Proto 2000 GP30 model to make a weird noise?
Cody offers several tips and ideas for locating the problem in this video of Ask Trains. Do you need help repairing your model trains, or would you like to learn more about full-sized railroading? Send us an email at: AskTrains@trains.com ………………………………… Ask Trains is a regular video feature of Trains.com for magazine subscribers and Trains.com members, where […]
How do you create the flickering effect of a campfire on your model railroad?
Cody explains where to find a control/module to simulate a fire on a layout in this video of Ask Trains. Do you have questions about detail parts for your layout, or would you like to learn more about prototype trains? Send us an email at: AskTrains@trains.com ………………………………… Ask Trains is a regular video feature of Trains.com for […]
Ways to turn a train
Unless you’re content with watching your trains go around and around a simple loop, eventually you’re going to be looking for ways to turn a train. Don’t get me wrong, it’s entirely possible to go through your entire train-operating career and never have to turn a train; maybe you always play the yardmaster, or your […]
Preview the July August 2022 issue of Classic Toy Trains
Editor Hal Miller previews the July August 2022 issue of Classic Toy Trains! We’ll visit a large club layout in Nassau, N.Y., learn about Lionel’s no. 9141 Burlington Northern gondolas, solve a mystery behind a Marx set, and visit an S gauge layout owned by Tom Barker. Plus, the latest new products, and reviews of […]
Which manufacturer currently makes an N scale Shay steam locomotive?
Cody explains where to find an N scale Shay steam locomotive in this video of Ask Trains. Do you need help finding locomotive models, or would you like to learn more about full-size trains? Send us an email at: AskTrains@trains.com ………………………………… Ask Trains is a regular video feature of Trains.com for magazine subscribers and Trains.com members, where […]
Railfan and train-watching safety
Railfan and train-watching safety is key to any successful train-watching trip, whether it be a block away from home or a continent away. One must have situational awareness. Taking the time to know your surroundings, what looks right, what doesn’t look right is essential to ensure you have a great trackside experience. Historically speaking, rail […]
Why do Vanderbilt tenders have round tanks?
Q: Why do Vanderbilt tenders have round tanks? It seems to me that with the same principal dimensions, a Vanderbilt tender would contain less water than a rectangular tank. – Chuck Moore A: The answer is hydrodynamics. Vanderbilt tenders have round tanks because they have to hold a lot of water. The radial bands of […]
