Track ballasting made easy

An image of a cream colored model hopper car on track

Track ballasting made easy: Model railroading is fun, right? Well, most of the time it is, but there are some aspects of this hobby that make us shudder. And judging by the questions we receive, one thing many of us don’t enjoy is ballasting. However, adding ballast (the rocks between the ties and along the […]

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Roadbeds made easy with foam

Foam roadbed panels

Roadbeds made easy with foam: Plywood has been the primary material for model railroad bench tops for many years. In many situations, though, I’ve found that extruded-foam insulation board is a viable alternative for bench tops built on either flat surfaces or open grids. With proper support, the rigid foam can easily hold anything a […]

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Preview August and September 2023 Trains content

A black steam locomotive pulls passenger cars down a single-track line under a blue sky

Preview Trains August and September 2023 content We’re always adding new content to our website! Here’s a sneak peek at a few items coming up this August/September … Five mind-blowing facts — Fast trains Don’t blink. How fast was that train going? Read about the five mind-blowing facts regarding speed and trains from Bob Lettenberger’s […]

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Trains Magazine sponsoring two-day vintage diesel photo charter

Maroon and gold vintage diesel locomotive at yellow station with semaphor signals.

OSCEOLA, Wis. — Trains Magazine is sponsoring a two-day photo charter in September featuring vintage diesel locomotives from the Minnesota Transportation Museum (MTM) collection. Trains will run Sept.11-12 out of Osceola on MTM’s Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway, which operates over Canadian National’s 25-mile former Soo Line Dresser Subdivision. Trains will be pulled by […]

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Spaces open up on 2023 Trains Magazine tour of Switzerland

Train with red passenger cars on curving stone bridge leading to tunnel

WAUKESHA, Wis. — Late cancellations mean a few spaces have opened up on Trains Magazine’s Majestic Switzerland 2023 tour, set for Sept. 14-25, and limited to a maximum of 30 participants. The 2024 edition of the tour, organized by Trains’ partners at Special Interest Tours, is also now available. Join one of Trains’ staff members […]

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HO scale freight car kit roundup

Color image of three HO scale freight cars on kit boxes.

When I got into model railroading as a kid in the 1980s, factory-decorated HO scale freight car kits were the industry norm. I remember staring in awe at the shelves at McGiffin’s in Grand Forks, N.D., and Bader’s in Moorhead, Minn., two of the larger shops near my hometown, which were lined high and wide […]

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How do I get back into model railroading?

A track plan for a compact HO scale around-the-walls layout

Q: I would value your feedback on how to approach creating a new HO scale layout. I’m approaching retirement, so I will have the time to get back into model railroading, which I’ve not pursued in more than 40 years. So much has changed that it’s overwhelming. I have a lot of track and rolling stock […]

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July 2023

The July 2023 Model Railroader cover

Also in this issue: ON TRAINS.COM, pg. 6 The latest features on our website FROM THE EDITOR, pg. 8 Whither the contributors of yore? NEWS AND PRODUCTS, pg. 10 Bowser HO scale EMD SD30C-ECO diesel reviewed, plus the latest new products ASK MR, pg. 18 Which diesels should pull a 1950s coal train? STEP BY STEP, […]

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Preview July and August 2023 Garden Railways content

model blue truck with load of wood pallets in front of model structure

Preview Garden Railways July and August 2023 content While we may no longer be printing Garden Railways magazine, we’re adding new content to Trains.com every week! Here’s a few recent items, and a preview of what’s coming in the next month. Become a Trains.com member so you don’t miss any of this great content! If […]

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