7 reasons to use DCC on your new layout

A collection of Digital Command Control system components on a white background

Digital Command Control (DCC) or direct current (DC)? That is the question. If you’re preparing to build a new model railroad or are just starting out in the hobby, you may be pondering the reasons to use DCC instead of an old-fashioned power pack to run your trains. Here are seven reasons to use DCC, […]

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Small rural station with freight house

model of station and freight house

Sometime ago I decided to build a combination small rural station with a freight house. I often use pieces of several kits (or sometimes broken items) to make my projects. For this one, I started with a Korber station and used part of an Aristo-Craft platform to add waiting platform with roof. I wanted the […]

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September 2023

The September 2023 cover of Model Railroader

Also in this issue: ON TRAINS.COM, pg. 6 The latest features on our website FROM THE EDITOR, pg. 8 Play with your trains NEWS AND PRODUCTS, pg. 10 HO scale EMD SD40 by Broadway Limited reviewed, plus the latest new products ASK MR, pg. 18 Does foam benchwork pose any difficulties? STEP BY STEP, pg. 24 […]

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Meet Actor Michael Gross | Trains.com EXCLUSIVE Interview

Meet actor and model railroader Michael Gross. While he was in Milwaukee, Wisc., for Trainfest 2022, he carved out some time to talk with us about his family’s storied history in railroading and how he became a modeler. Michael also shares with us how Trains.com features like the magazine archive and video streaming have provided […]

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Preview September and October 2023 Trains content

Steam engine next to SW1500 switcher

Preview Trains  September/October 2023 content below. We’re always adding new content to our website! Here’s a sneak peek at a few items coming up these next few months. Five mind-blowing facts — Cabooses The caboose was not just the last car on the train. This railroad icon played many roles including passenger car, auto carrier, […]

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HO scale locomotives with smoke units

Color photo of HO scale steam locomotive on scenic base with black background.

To our younger readers, HO scale locomotives with smoke units may seem like a recent development. In reality, the feature dates back to the end of World War II when American Flyer began producing 1:87.1 steam locomotives with smoke. Since that time, companies have continued to offer HO locomotives with smoke units. Admittedly, some manufacturers […]

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Preview September and October 2023 Garden Railways 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 you have a story suggestion, email editor@gardenrailways.com Diesel […]

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Preview September and October 2023 CTT content

tower light partially disassembled

We’re always adding new content to our website. Here are some recent items you may have missed. A look at Menards 2023 Halloween village items Halloween village items are on the shelves at Menards. What might work for your layout this year? The return of the MTH RS11 Chris Montagna reviews the return of the […]

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To upgrade to DCC, or not to upgrade, that is the question

A man holds a model train throttle in front of two blue model locomotives.

Digital Command Control, or DCC, is one of two ways most modelers control their trains. Instead of sending current directly to the rails, and making any train that’s receiving that current move, DCC sends packets of information through the rails and to individual locomotives to tell them what to do. For a DCC system to […]

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