Ideas for raising your railroad

Raising your garden railroad from toe level to something approximating eye level can be quite a bit of work, but it is worth the effort. Imagine yourself saying to your friends “Just lie down on your stomach here on the ground and see how realistic the train looks coming around the bend.” You can guess […]

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DCC for Large Scale: A Beginner’s Guide

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Thank you for signing up for your FREE download and Garden Railways’ FREE twice-monthly e-newsletter.  Click on the link here to instantly download your free gift. To view the PDF package, you will need to have the latest Adobe Acrobat® Reader installed on your computer. Feel free to click on the link to install the […]

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Remembering Pacific Electric Railway freight service

Three freight motors haul a freight train over a trestle.

All this month — October 2020 — Classic Trains editors are celebrating the heritage, history, and images of the Pacific Electric Railway. Please enjoy this photo gallery of images from the David P. Morgan Library archives at Kalmbach Media that include PE electric-, diesel-, and steam-powered freight trains through time. You might also enjoy this […]

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How-to Library: Building a turntable, Part 6 – A-frames, gallows, and truss rods

Building a turntable, Part 6 - A-frames, gallows, and truss rods

David’s pile of parts is much smaller, as he works to complete the O scale laser-cut wood turntable kit. In this episode, he’ll share his insights for working with basswood stock and bending metal rods. Next and final steps? Adding the finishing details! […]

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How-to Library: Building a turntable, Part 5 – Wheels and track installation

Building a turntable, Part 5 - Wheels and track installation

The bridge assembly is well underway, so David can now focus on building and installing the wheels that put his O scale laser-cut wood turntable kit into motion. If that’s not enough, he even gets the rails placed on bridge deck and takes a locomotive for a spin! […]

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How-to Library: Building a turntable, Part 5 – Wheels and track installation

Building a turntable, Part 5 - Wheels and track installation

The bridge assembly is well underway, so David can now focus on building and installing the wheels that put his O scale laser-cut wood turntable kit into motion. If that’s not enough, he even gets the rails placed on bridge deck and takes a locomotive for a spin! […]

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How-to Library: Building a turntable, Part 3 – Installing the motor mechanism

Building a turntable, Part 3 - Installing the motor mechanism

David has now arrived at the stage where it’s time to install the drive mechanism into his assembled O scale laser-cut wood turntable kit. Follow along as he shares his process for fitting the 3-volt can motor and reduction gear used to put the structure into motion. […]

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How-to Library: Building a turntable, Part 3 – Installing the motor mechanism

Building a turntable, Part 3 - Installing the motor mechanism

David has now arrived at the stage where it’s time to install the drive mechanism into his assembled O scale laser-cut wood turntable kit. Follow along as he shares his process for fitting the 3-volt can motor and reduction gear used to put the structure into motion. […]

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The Hills Line with James McNab: Harnessing electrons and wiring electronic devices, Episode 6

The Hills Line with James McNab

In this episode of The Hills Line, host James McNab crawls under his emerging HO scale layout to walk and talk you through wiring techniques. His focus on harnessing electrons and connecting electronic devices promises to make the model railroad action especially interesting atop the benchwork! […]

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Remembering Pacific Electric passenger service

Lighted streetcar train moving over a city street in darkness.

  All through October 2020, Classic Trains editors are celebrating the history, grit, and grandeur of the Pacific Electric Railway. Please enjoy this Pacific Electric Railway passenger train photo gallery, originally published in February 2015. If you like this gallery, please take a look at an article on the history of the Pacific Electric, here. […]

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