News & Products for the week of April 21, 2022

Photo of steam locomotive painted gold, black, and silver.

Large scale locomotives 2-6-0 Mogul steam locomotive. Denver & Rio Grande Western (yellow and black) and Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (green and black with desert Southwest painting on tender). One road number per scheme. Dual-mode SoundTraxx sound decoder; separate, factory-applied tank piping, handrails, and ladders; and detailed cab interior with engineer figure. $699.99. June […]

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Meet the modeler: Ray Dunakin

Model diesel locomotive stopped at a depot

In a paragraph, how did you get started in the hobby? Meet Ray Dunakin: As a child, I had always been interested in trains and model railroads. When I was in junior high my dad gave me and my brothers a 4′ x 8′ plywood layout he had acquired from a friend. It came with […]

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News & Products for the week of April 14, 2022

Photo of engineer’s side of large scale Forney 0-4-4RT steam locomotive painted black with gold graphics on white background.

Large scale locomotives Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Ry. 0-4-4RT Forney steam locomotive. One road number. Features ball bearing Bühler motor, various light and sound functions, digitally controlled smoke unit, and mfx/Digital Command Control decoder. $779. Second quarter 2022. LGB (Märklin, Inc.), 800-321-8811, lgb.com   Large scale freight cars Union Pacific double-sheathed center-cupola caboose. Separate, factory-applied parts […]

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Moonlight extra on the snowy Jericho & Mt. Zion Railway

Snowy garden railway with lit train approaching

Name: Ray Wheeler Railroad Name: Jericho & Mt. Zion Railway Location: Lynnwood, WA Scale: G scale Theme: Tourist railroad with freight operations in the modern era. Description: Moonlight extra – Gas Electric M-2 “Sadiebug” runs an extra passenger service on the Jericho & Mt. Zion Railway on a cold and snowy evening. Music from Epidemic […]

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A rural farmhouse for your garden railroad

garden railroad farmhouse front

When I started my garden railroad, around 1994 or 1995, I built structures from drawings printed in old Model Railroader issues. At the time, I was looking for something to build for the contest at the National Garden Railway Convention in Orlando, Fla. (mid 1996). I found drawings in the January 1992 issue (p. 124)  […]

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News & products for the week of April 7, 2022

Photo of large scale streetcar painted yellow and blue with red pinstripe and gray roof on brass track with brown ties.

Large scale streetcars 1914 San Francisco Muni streetcar no. 130. Includes two Bühler motors and mfx/Digital Command Control decoder with various light and sound functions. Running sounds work in analog. $960. Third quarter 2022. LGB (Märklin, Inc.), 800-321-8811, lgb.com   Large scale sets Norfolk Southern Rescue Train. Three-piece set includes diesel locomotive, tank car, and […]

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Scratchbuild a coal company from plastic

front of a model coal company building

Scratchbuild a coal company: Before oil and electric became practical, coal was the fuel of choice for heating homes and businesses. Almost every city and town had one or more businesses that supplied coal. They received clean coal in large bulk, in various sizes, usually by railroad, and sold it in bags, buckets, and truck […]

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An extra freight train runs on a rainy March day

view of garden railroad from a caboose camera

Name: Ray Wheeler Railroad Name: Jericho & Mt Zion Railway Location: Lynnwood, WA Scale: G scale Theme: Tourist railroad with freight operations in the modern era. Description: The J&MtZ No. 20 runs an extra freight train for railfans on a rainy March day. Ride along on J&MtZ Caboose 02 as we tour the railroad. Watch […]

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Scout plans train meet as fundraiser for club

GFW Trainfair flyer

A northern Illinois model railroader is using his – and others – love of the hobby as a Boy Scout project to raise funds for a large-scale railroad group to expand its facilities. George Werderich, who appears on the toy-train oriented GFW Trains Channel on YouTube, is organizing GFW Trainfair as a community service project […]

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Scout plans train meet as fundraiser for club

GFW Trainfest flyer

A northern Illinois model railroader is using his – and others – love of the hobby as a Boy Scout project to raise funds for a large-scale railroad group to expand its facilities. George Werderich, who appears on the toy-train oriented GFW Trains Channel on YouTube, is organizing GFW Trainfest as a community service project […]

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The Fairplex Garden Railroad

View of the Fairplex Garden Railroad

  The Fairplex Garden Railroad in Pomona, California is located in the middle of the Los Angeles County fairgrounds. The 100′ x 300′ railway has occupied the same space since 1935 and has been a part of the annual fair every year except for the war years of 1942-1947. However, the fair’s train display is […]

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