Solutions for train storage

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1. Behind a raised Colorado railway, a magnificent 20′ train barn doubles as a street scene of local Leadville storefronts, circa 1890. All three pictured trains fit inside, along with spare rolling stock. Also notice the red running shed over the portal on Bob Ferrero’s Red Cliff Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. Bob Ferrero 2. […]

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Building a concrete car barn

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Gary likes the durability of concrete buildings. Scratchbuilding means that one can add features like diamond panes and automatic doors, as well as copy plans from the prototype. Gary Condry Gary Condry Wooster, Ohio, Zone 6 Concrete I modeled Cleveland Railway’s Wooster Office and Interurban Car Barn. I used QUIKRETE Vinyl Concrete Patcher, which I […]

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Building a Lionel enginehouse

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The local paper ran a story on Trevor’s FC&W. Here, two of the 300 guests inspect the trains and Lionel-kit engine shed built by Trevor. Also notice the plastic clerestory-roofed industrial building, which could house an engine. Nancy Norris Trevor Park Trevor Park Trevor Park Trevor Park Trevor Park Trevor Park Trevor Park Trevor Park […]

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Building a recycled metal enginehouse

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Craig actually works in a railroad shop, which he modeled when scratchbuilding his scale metal engine house. The roof came from a fluorescent light fixture. Nancy Norris Craig Lund Craig Lund Craig Lund Craig Lund Craig Lund Craig Lund Craig Lund Craig Lund Denver, Colorado Recycled metal I like to use “used” items in my […]

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Building an acrylic train shed

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Tucked behind Ray’s Mystic Mountain Railroad, a weatherproof train shed houses his long coal train, which is ready to go at a moment’s notice. Ray likes working with acrylic, which should last a long time. Ray Turner Ray Turner Ray Turner Ray Turner Ray Turner Ray Turner Ray Turner San Jose, California Wooden box and […]

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Building an enginehouse out of wood

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After many months of build time in his garage, Bob emerged with a practical car barn, so trains are ready to roll anytime. Gas struts help with raising the three separate overhead doors. Bob Ferraro Bob Ferraro Bob Ferraro Bob Ferraro Bob Ferraro Bob Ferrero Leadville, Colorado Scratchbuilt wood The engine house still looks great […]

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How to build a scale tipi

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Patrick Friedmann In the April 2016 issue, Patrick Friedmann describes how to build an authentic tipi for your garden railroad. Registered users of our website can download full-size drawings to build a tipi. […]

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Bachmann animated cattle cars

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Marc Horovitz 1:22.5 scale, gauge 1, animated cattle cars Bachmann Industries 1400 East Erie Avenue Philadelphia PA 19124 Price: $129 Website: www.bachmanntrains.com Cattle car with openings through which horse or cow heads appear; opening doors; plastic construction; plastic arch-bar trucks; metal wheelsets; working, truck-mounted knuckle couplers installed; hook-and-loop couplers also supplied; two road names available […]

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Kadee Barber S-2 freight car trucks

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Marc Horovitz 1:29 scale, gauge-1 trucks Kadee Quality Products Co. 673 Avenue C White City OR 97503 Price: $49.99/pair Website: www.kadee.com 1:29 scale, gauge 1, Barber S-2, roller bearing, freight-car trucks; cast-metal side frames; metal wheels and axles; plastic brake detail; equalized Pros: Mostly-metal construction; weight of trucks will lower the car’s center of gravity; […]

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MTH F7 locomotive

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Kevin Strong 1:32 scale, gauge 1, A-A diesel locomotives MTH Electric Trains 7020 Columbia Gateway Drive Columbia MD 21046 Price $999.95 Website: www.mthtrains.com 1:32 scale, gauge 1, plastic-and-metal A-A set of EMD F7 locomotives; ProtoSound3; smoke; analog DC, AC, DCC, and MTH DCS-compatible control Pros: Accurate scale/gauge combination; well detailed with good fidelity to the […]

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