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
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 […]
Trains Magazine sponsoring two-day vintage diesel photo charter
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 […]
Spaces open up on 2023 Trains Magazine tour of Switzerland
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 […]
LEGO City 60197 Passenger Train: Setup and operation
Hosts Bryson and Rene have unboxed and constructed the LEGO City 60197 Passenger Train set. Now they’re ready to assembly the components into a working/running display — Ride along for the fun! Looking for more information on LEGO trains? Watch Bryson and Rene unbox a LEGO City trainset! […]
Trains announces photo charter with historic Minnesota Transportation Museum diesels
OSCEOLA, Wis. — Trains Magazine has announced an exclusive photo charter to be held Sept. 11-12 at the Minnesota Transportation Museum’s Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway featuring three historic diesels. The tentative schedule for the two-day event includes a Sept. 11 passenger train with freshly painted Great Northern SDP40 No. 325 and Great Northern […]
HO scale freight car kit roundup
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 […]
LEGO City 60197 Passenger Train – Part 2: Passenger Cars
They completed the locomotive, station platform, and signal in the previous video. Now it’s time for Bryson and Rene to build the two passenger cars. They finish the remaining books and bags in the set and finish it at the end of the video. Keep an eye out for Part 3: Running the train here […]
How do I get back into model railroading?
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 […]
July 2023
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, […]
Preview July and August 2023 Garden Railways content
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 […]
Preview July and August 2023 content for Model Railroader
Preview Model Railroader July and August 2023 content We’re always adding new content to our website! Here are some recent stories you may have missed, and a look at some items coming in August. Locomotive models in Bicentennial paint With Independence Day just around the corner, we thought it would be fun to take a […]