Keeping your layout clean and operational

A black rectangular abrasive block and a dark red block near HO scale track

As modelers we take pride in our work, especially our layouts, whether they be a shelf layout, or a sprawling rail empire. One thing that we may not spend enough time doing, however, is taking care of said layout, especially cleaning it. We may run a track cleaning car around the mainline a few times […]

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Meet James Kottkamp

black and white photo of inside of model roundhouse

Meet James Kottkamp How did you get started in the hobby? My interest in model trains came from the real thing. After church on Sundays, Dad would park the car next to the Missouri Pacific Railroad tracks in Kirkwood, Mo.  Kirkwood was the crest of the hill; westbound from St. Louis and eastbound from Valley […]

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Garden Variety Railroad Show | Snow Week Special

One of the most appealing aspects of garden railroading is the fact it can be enjoyed year-round in the great outdoors! And with the proper equipment at hand, large scale trains can even run in a moderate accumulation of fresh, crystalize precipitation. In this video, you’ll see the efforts a few resilient railway owners made […]

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Build a small cottage for your railway

side of cottage structure

As soon as my railway was operational I began to teach myself how to build scale structures, including how to build a small cottage. While searching the internet, I came across images of English/French tudor cottages. I like the high-pitched roofs and the exposed half-timbers of this style, and I settled for one that had […]

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Garden railroading in the winter

snowy scene with model locomotive and station

Enjoy a selection of photos of garden railroading in the winter. If you run your railway in the snow and have photos or video, let us know at editor@gardenrailways.com. You could be featured in a future article! Richard Ormond Chester Valley Garden Railroad Richard Ormond owns the Chester Valley Garden Railroad in Malvern, Pa. He […]

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Split Jaw acquires stainless steel track product line

close up of track

Split Jaw Products has acquired the HR Trains line of stainless steel gauge-1, code 332 flex track. This corrosion-resistant track will match their existing line of stainless steel rail clamps. Split Jaw will initially offer code 332 stainless steel flex track kits in 5 foot and 10 foot kits. Each kit will include rail, stainless […]

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Garden Variety Railroad Show | Snow Week Special

One of the most appealing aspects of garden railroading is the fact it can be enjoyed year-round in the great outdoors! And with the proper equipment at hand, large scale trains can even run in a moderate accumulation of fresh, crystalize precipitation. In this video, you’ll see the efforts a few resilient railway owners made […]

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Trailing ice plant or Cooper’s ice plant

Trailing ice plant next to model locomotive

Trailing ice plant Common name:
 Trailing ice plant, Cooper’s ice plant Latin name: 
Delosperma cooperi USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 9 Cultural needs: Well-drained soil, sun or part shade Plant size: 3-inches high by 3-feet wide Sometimes called hardy ice plant or purple ice plant, this low succulent is not to be confused with the […]

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Exclusive Layout Visits Trailer

black and red model train model

You’ve seen amazing model railroads of all scales highlighted in the pages of Model Railroader magazine. Now Trains.com Unlimited members can see them in action! Join layout builders, owners, and operators on exclusive, up-close, guided walking tours of the sights and sounds that promise to thrill and inspire. […]

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Garden railroading in the snow

model diesel with load of logs on garden railway

I am a member of the Genesee G Gauge Railway Society and enjoy garden railroading in the snow. My Crow Haven line is in Springwater, NY and was built over the last five years. It is comprised of 300+ feet of track on three levels, three trestles, 72 buildings (each with solar lights), 24 diecast […]

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Locomotives we didn’t get for Christmas

A black and white photo of Soviet steam locomotive

Trains and Christmas go hand-in-hand, and many of us had some special railroad-related gifts on our wish list, but instead of a wish list, this is a list of the locomotives we didn’t get for Christmas. These models either have never been mass-produced in our preferred scale or have not been produced in a decade […]

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Garden railroading in Hawaii

Garden railroading in Hawaii: model sugar cane train

Garden railroading in Hawaii: In late 2013, my wife set in motion a scheme that eventually became the Oberammergau, Ogden & Olomana Railroad – the Triple O. A few books, a GR subscription, and a year of study later, and we broke ground on what has become a family project to bring a stylized piece […]

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