A portal for a tree-stump tunnel

Tunnel through tree with locomotive on track

Why build a garden railroad tunnel portal Thanks to the invasion of the Emerald Ash Borer, several large ash trees had died and their falling limbs caused problems for the Blackstone RR Maintenance Dept., so I called in a professional. When the worker saw my trains, he offered to leave a 10-foot high, 40” diameter […]

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Model railroad locomotive, freight car, passenger car, structure, detail, and electronics announcements for July 8, 2021

General Electric Lehigh Valley U23B diesel locomotive.

Product news Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. Here are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of July 8, 2021. HO scale locomotives  General Electric U23B diesel locomotive. New […]

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News & Products for the week of July 1, 2021

Bachmann large scale Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe animated stockcar no. 27905.

Large scale freight cars  Animated stockcar. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (horse transport); Chicago & North Western (horse transport); Denver & Rio Grande Western (cattle transport); and North Pole & Southern (reindeer transport). One road number per scheme. Four animated animal heads, blackened metal wheels, and truck-mounted knuckle couplers. Runs on 45mm track. $152. Big […]

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Model railroad locomotive, freight car, detail, and electronics announcements for July 1, 2021

Bachmann HO scale Ambrose Wine Co. three-dome tank car no. 7501.

Product news Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. Here are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of July 1, 2021. HO scale locomotives Union Pacific class FEF-3 4-8-4 steam […]

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Design “elemental” layouts in large scale

Scene on a large-scale railway built of wooden blocks

  When I was young, I had an American Flyer train and a set of American Plastic Bricks (interlocking toy bricks made in the 1960s). I liked running the train, but I was particularly drawn to the bricks. I could easily build something, tear it down, and build something else. Years later, I built an […]

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News & Products for the week of June 24, 2021

PIKO America Chessie System two-bay hopper with exterior posts no. 150355

Large scale freight cars  Two-bay hopper with exterior posts. Chessie System (black and yellow with Chesapeake & Ohio reporting marks) and Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (Mineral Red with circle-cross herald in square and “Santa Fe” billboard lettering). One number per scheme. Removable coal load, plastic wheels, and hook-and-loop couplers. $73.99. PIKO America, 619-280-2800, piko-america.com […]

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Model railroad locomotive, freight car, structure, detail, and track announcements for June 24, 2021

Broadway Limited Imports N scale Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Electro-Motive Division F3 diesel locomotive no. 25.

Product news  Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. Here are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of June 24, 2021. HO scale freight cars  52-foot mill gondola. Rock Island […]

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Model railroad locomotive, freight car, structure, and detail announcements for June 17, 2021

Great Northern and Norfolk & Western International Car Co. cupola cabooses

Product news  Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. Here are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of June 17, 2021. HO scale freight cars  General American Tank Car welded […]

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Build a large-scale, wooden freight car

A large-scale flatcar project

It’s been common practice for railroads to modify antiquated rolling stock to suit a particular need for Maintenance of Way (MOW) equipment. An old flatcar no longer of use for main line service often became an asset for work trains. The flatcar could be repaired, lightly modified, and put into service looking much like it […]

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Visit a garden-railway display at a nature center

A family watches a large-scale train display

For many years I have been a volunteer at our local nature center (Sandy Creek Nature Center of Athens-Clarke Co., GA). It occurred to me that their circular flower and nature gardens would be a perfect setting for a garden railroad. I approached personnel at the center, and they were enthusiastic, as it would create […]

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