The layout at a glance Name: Stockton & Copperopolis RR Layout designer: Don Ball Scale: HO (1:87) Size: 37′-0″ x 40′-3″ Prototype: Stockton & Copperopolis RR Locale: California Era: 1895 Style: linear walkaround Mainline run: 240 feet Branchline run: 100 feet Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 2 percent Train length: […]
Scale: HO Scale
A model railroad that turns the clock back to 1895
Why would anyone model the Stockton & Copperopolis, an obscure short line with a name that sounds made up? Or model this little-known prototype in the 1890s? Most importantly, would it be practical to build it as a large, prototypically faithful model railroad capable of realistic operation and equip it with authentic locomotives and rolling […]
Operating a small switching model train layout
In this video, I show how I set up operations on my small switching layouts, including making car cards, building car-card racks, and running through a short operating session. Video by Steven Strum […]
Operating a small switching model train layout
In this video, I show how I set up operations on my small switching layouts, including making car cards, building car-card racks, and running through a short operating session. Video by Steven Strum […]
2020 Railroad Hobby Show report
The 2020 Amherst Railway Society Railroad Hobby Show is being held Jan. 25 and 26 at The Eastern States Exposition Fairgrounds in West Springfield, Mass. The two-day show, now in its 52nd year, features model railroad manufacturers, railroad historical societies, vendors, and clinics. Athearn Genesis 2.0 HO scale EMD SD80MAC diesel locomotive HO scale locomotives […]
Menards exclusive Bachmann HO scale Rocket Freight train set
Menards exclusive Rocket Freight train set is led by a Bachmann HO scale GP40-2R diesel. Many of us got our start in the hobby with a train set like the new Bachmann HO scale Rocket Freight set, with its sturdy diesel locomotive, colorful cars, and oval of snap-together track. This set includes everything a new […]
Athearn Genesis HO scale Canadian National GP9 diesel locomotives
Athearn HO scale CN GP9 diesel Our review sample included a SoundTraxx Tsunami2 decoder mounted above the Athearn Genesis mechanism. The model also features all-wheel drive and pickup. Both of our CN review samples feature roadname- and roadnumber-specfic details and accurate paint schemes. Superdetailed Electro-Motive GP9 diesel locomotives return to the Athearn Genesis series in […]
ExactRail HO scale Berwick 7440 boxcar
ExactRail HO scale Berwick 7440 boxcar The model also features a detailed underbody. The Berwick Forge & Fabricating 7,440-cubic-foot-capacity boxcar is the latest addition to Exact Rail’s HO scale Platinum line. The plastic model features a one-piece body with separate roof, factory-applied details, and wire uncoupling levers. The model. Our sample is decorated as Penn […]
Computer desktop wallpaper from the March 2020 Model Railroader
Click on the links at left to download this image sized appropriately for your computer screen. The prominent sign of the beverage store at Thomasville Crossing is a prominent scene on Brian Wolfe’s HO scale Western Maryland Ry. Blue Ridge Division model train layout. The image is also this month’s featured desktop wallpaper download. Click […]
Video: Athearn Genesis HO scale Canadian National GP9 diesel
Roadname- and roadnumber-specific details abound on this pair of Canadian National GP9 diesel locomotives Both also come factory-equipped with SoundTraxx Tsunami2 Digital Command Control (DCC) sound decoders. Watch senior editor Dana Kawala use the Geeps to work some freight along the Model Railroader staff layout, the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy. […]
Video: Athearn Genesis HO scale Canadian National GP9 diesel
Roadname- and roadnumber-specific details abound on this pair of Canadian National GP9 diesel locomotives Both also come factory-equipped with SoundTraxx Tsunami2 Digital Command Control (DCC) sound decoders. Watch senior editor Dana Kawala use the Geeps to work some freight along the Model Railroader staff layout, the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy. […]
HO scale St. Louis Junction RR Co.
The layout at a glance Name: St. Louis Junction Layout designer: John Schindler Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 30 x 60 feet Prototype: BNSF Ry., CSX, Norfolk Southern, Terminal RR Association of St. Louis, and Union Pacific Locale: St. Louis area Era: 2010 Style: multi-deck walk-in Mainline run: 275 feet Minimum radius: 32″ Minimum turnout: no. […]