Locomotives and rolling stock are pretty durable in the O and S gauge hobby, but even the best performers in your fleet will benefit from regular inspection, cleaning, and oiling. Here are seven of our most essential maintenance basics. Most of these tips are one-evening projects, and some take even less time. Give them a […]
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O gauge F59PHI from Williams by Bachmann
O gauge F59PHI from Williams by Bachmann Price: $529.95 (No. 23403) Min Curve: O-31 Speed range: 14.9 smph to 62.9 smph Drawbar pull: 2 lb., 3 oz. Features: Two can-style motors, TruBlast sound, smoke, illuminated cab, directional lighting, operating couplers Current-production road names: Amtrak Pacific Surfliner, Amtrak California, Amtrak Cascades For more information: www.BachmannTrains.com. Further […]
Small town depot from Menards
Small town depot from Menards Price: $79.99 (No. 279-4437) Features: Rural train station with interior lighting, external detail pieces, and nine figures, sights-to-see billboard, cargo boxes, and luggage with hand truck. Power supply sold separately. Order online at www.Menards.com/Trains Every kid’s parents probably told him or her, “Good things come in small packages.” Of course, […]
How to build floating shelf benchwork for a model railroad
Without any legs, brackets, or other visible means of support, floating benchwork keeps all attention focused on the model railroad. Follow along as author Lance Mindheim shows how to build these lightweight, yet sturdy shelves. Lance designed his benchwork for a 16″ shelf width. Use as many benchwork segments (shown above) as needed to match […]
Why long hood vs. short?
Although this CNJ RS3 had dual engineer controls, the “F” defines the leading end for hand or radio signals. Bert Pennypacker Q When diesels replaced steam locomotives, early cab units had snub noses with good front visibility for the engineer. When hood units appeared, some railroads set them up to run short hood forward and […]
PTC timeline: How did we get here?
Metra commuter and Norfolk Southern freight trains meet at tower A2 northwest of Union Station. Steve Sweeney Trains tracks the evolution of positive train control technology from the 1980s to present! August 1985 – Burlington Northern executives approve testing a PTC prototype system, ARES, in Minnesota’s Iron Range. May 1, 2007 – U.S. Rep. James […]
Adventures of a rookie brakeman
An old GE doodlebug provided passenger services on the Apalachicola Northern in the 1940s. Classic Trains coll. I’m clutching the grab iron on the back of a steam locomotive cab, my feet on the apron between the engine and tender. I’m vibrating head to toe, with the heat from the boiler all over me. How […]
Modeling realistic roads with decals
Surfaces with complicated textures and colors, like roads, can be difficult to reproduce convincingly on a layout. Lance Mindheim used a digital camera, photo-editing software, and blank decal paper to transfer images of real roads to streets on his layout. Fig. 1 Patchwork pavement. Years of weather, use, and repairs transform roads into a crazy […]
How to model realistic modern-era structures
Adding mundane and non-revenue structures to your layout can enhance the authenticity of a scene, as demonstrated in these two scenes from the author’s Miami-based HO scale CSX Downtown Spur layout. The gray and salmon structure at the center of the top photo is 10th Avenue Tires in Miami. Structure building is one of the […]
John Allen’s Gorre & Daphetid Online Extras
The Port yard had its own control panel and box for car cards and waybills. Click on the links to get the online extras. John Allen’s HO scale Gorre & Daphetid remains one of the hobby’s most influential model railroads. Check out this collection of online extras about this model railroading pioneer and his layout. […]
HO scale NY Harbor – Lehigh Valley, Part 1 Overview
This is the first video in a seven-part series about Michael Collins’ HO scale NY Harbor – Lehigh Valley model railroad. […]
Operations at Guadalupe Yard
Santa Maria Valley 203 brings a cut of interchange cars into Guadalupe yard, as SP 2581 departs back to San Luis Obispo with the returning Guadalupe local on September 17, 1954. Video by Brian Moore. […]