Basic Operation: Running the River Job

freight waybill

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Learn the basics of switchlists, car cards, station numbers and more as David Popp and Ben Lake take you with them to work the River Job. This is a local freight that works the industries along the Naugatuck River on David’s N scale […]

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Basic Training: Checking and adjusting coupler height

Hand pointing at model train coupler

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Couplers are what hold the cars together on a model railroad. They can also cause problems if they are not set properly. Cody Grivno shows you how to check to make sure your couplers are in good working order, and what to do […]

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FasTrack on a tabletop

drawing of square track plan

Layout designer: Terry Thompson Scale: O Layout size: 12 x 12 feet Track type: Lionel FasTrack Minimum curve: O-36 Originally appeared in the July 2013 issue of Classic Toy Trains. FasTrack on a tabletop FasTrack on a tabletop schematic FasTrack on a tabletop components […]

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How to model water with resin

Cody Grivno next to a layout

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Model Railroader associate editor Cody Grivno shows you how to model a water scene using a two-part resin called Magic Water by Unreal Details. […]

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Build a small firehouse in 1:29 scale

Build a small firehouse in 1:29 scale

This 150-year-old fire house is still standing today in Galena, Illinois. It was the home of the Galena Volunteer Fire Co., which was organized on February 1, 1830. Today it is not in use as a fire house but has been converted to a museum. Download the PDF of this project here. This PDF is […]

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How to use sedum in your railroad garden

adobe houses on garden railroad

Got a brown thumb? Need low, rugged groundcover? Here’s a botanical group of succulents with more than 400 varieties—sedums. Common names include “live forever” and “stonecrop” but most gardeners call them sedum (rhymes with “can’t beat ’em”). In this column you’ll see foliage colors that range like a rainbow, from red to purple and even […]

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