Track laying techniques are not tricky

A superelevation ramp made of cardstock and masking tape strips is taped to the outside of a curve of cork roadbed

Q: I’m an HO scale modeler and struggling with track laying techniques. I would appreciate guidance on measuring, cutting, and installing flextrack on curves. I’m always disengaging the rails from the ties, and thus having trouble connecting to the next track. Also, when superelevating curves, is it better to attach the risers under the outer rail […]

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Recreate a prototype photo on your garden railway

Garden railway scene with a steam locomotive, depot, and several figures in a sepia tone

Recreate a prototype photo: If you are a history nut like me, authenticity is important on your layout. I model the Kansas Central narrow gauge line that tried to build across Kansas in the 1870s to connect with the Denver & Rio Grande in Colorado. It met with competition from the standard gauge Kansas Pacific […]

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Administrative issues led to Sacramento light-rail crash, report says (updated)

Diagram showing location of collision of two Sacramento light rail trains

WASHINGTON — “Weak administrative controls” that allowed a supervisor to authorize a high-speed test without knowing another train was on the same track led to the collision of two light rail trains in Sacramento, Calif., in August 2019, according to a National Transportation Safety Board report. The Aug. 22, 2019, collision occurred at 9:39 p.m. […]

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VIA’s struggle for relevance at the root of CEO’s resignation: Analysis

Stainless steel dome-lounge-observation car on train stopped at station

MONTREAL — When a passenger operator is forced to survive on a budget insufficient to provide service capable of satisfying its country’s travel needs, while on-time reliability remains hamstrung by host railroads, it is almost impossible for the person in charge to make a difference. The abrupt departure of VIA Rail Canada CEO Cynthia Garneau […]

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Amtrak invites press to inspect new-generation Acela

High speed trainset at station platform

PHILADELPHIA — Amtrak opened a second-generation Acela high-speed trainset for press inspection Monday at 30th Street Station, giving a look at the interiors of the first-class, business-class, and café cars that will make up 28 160-mph trainsets projected to enter service between Boston, New York, and Washington late next year. Parked at an underground boarding […]

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Driver killed, passenger injured in Metra grade-crossing accident

Metra logo

HAINESWORTH, Ill. — The driver of the truck was killed and a passenger was injured Monday morning when a Metra train struck a dump truck at a private railroad crossing near Grayslake, Ill. The cab car of the inbound Milwaukee District North train derailed as a result of the collision about 7 a.m. The injured […]

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LA Metro board to consider $8.8 billion budget

LA Metro logo

LOS ANGELES — The board of directors of transit agency LA Metro will consider an $8.8 billion budget on Thursday, a fiscal plan including $2.3 billion for ongoing expansion projects as well as funds to begin operation on two new rail lines. Metro’s in-house blog, The Source, reports the expansion funding includes ongoing work on […]

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WalthersMainline General Steel Castings 53-foot bulkhead flatcar

red flatcar

WalthersMainline General Steel Castings 53-foot bulkhead flatcar Senior Editor Cody Grivno reviews the HO scale General Steel Castings 53-foot bulkhead flatcar from Wm. K. Walthers Inc. The model, part of the WalthersMainline, has a newly tooled die-cast metal body and is offered in six paint schemes (and undecorated). The model is based on full-size cars […]

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WalthersMainline General Steel Castings 53-foot bulkhead flatcar

red flatcar

WalthersMainline General Steel Castings 53-foot bulkhead flatcar Senior Editor Cody Grivno reviews the HO scale General Steel Castings 53-foot bulkhead flatcar from Wm. K. Walthers Inc. The model, part of the WalthersMainline, has a newly tooled die-cast metal body and is offered in six paint schemes (and undecorated). The model is based on full-size cars […]

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Tangent Scale Models HO scale 86-foot quad-door high-cube boxcar

red and maroon box cars

Tangent Scale Models HO scale 86-foot quad-door high-cube boxcar Watch as Editor Eric White reviews these new 86-foot quad-door high-cube boxcars from Tangent Scale Models. Eric goes over the underbody details and checks the trucks, couplers, and car weight on this new model. Get a closeup look at all of the separately applied detail and […]

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Tangent Scale Models HO scale 86-foot quad-door high-cube boxcar

red and maroon box cars

Tangent Scale Models HO scale 86-foot quad-door high-cube boxcar Watch as Editor Eric White reviews these new 86-foot quad-door high-cube boxcars from Tangent Scale Models. Eric goes over the underbody details and checks the trucks, couplers, and car weight on this new model. Get a closeup look at all of the separately applied detail and […]

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Athearn Genesis 2.0 Electro-Motive Diesel SD70M-2

Florida East Coast paint scheme on a locomotive

Athearn Genesis 2.0 Electro-Motive Diesel SD70M-2 Bring the modern era to your HO scale model railroad with the Athearn Genesis 2.0 Electro-Motive Diesel SD70M-2. Senior Editor Cody Grivno reviews this HO scale model. See (and hear) the features on the model and watch it lead a train on Model Railroader’s Milwaukee, Racine & Troy staff […]

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