Steve Favale has a number of 25-ton cranes on his layout, and the hooks swing around when he runs them. He’s wondering how he should secure the hooks. Hal Miller shares some photos that may hold the answer! […]
Securing crane hooks
Section: Ask Trains
Ask MR: What freight cars would a GP18 or SD45 pull?
Q: I have some BNSF General Electric Dash-9 and GEVO units that pull my double-stack and trailer-on-flatcar (TOFC) trains as well as a BNSF Executive train. My question is, what sort of freight cars would be used with GP18s and SD45s in the mid- to late 1960s? – Jim Rohrbach A: If you’re running Dash-9s and GEVOs, […]
How many locomotives can an engineer run?
Lee Ramsburg wants to know what’s the most number of engines an engineer can operate in a train. Steve Sweeney is in the studio with the answer. […]
What’s in Amtrak’s new baggage cars?
Jim Harward writes in to ask what Amtrak carries in its new baggage cars. He also wants to know if employees ride in them and who loads and unloads them. Steve Sweeney did some research, so tune in to learn the answer! […]
Ask MR: Can roadbed material reduce track noise?
Q: Would a subroadbed made of foam board be quieter than plywood? My previous HO scale layout used ½” plywood, and the noise coming from the wheels was so high it interfered with my enjoyment of the sound decoders. Would foam board make that wheel noise less intrusive or is there something else I should […]
Where to find guidelines about consolidated stencils
Chris Roehl writes in to ask where he can find guidelines on where to a place a consolidated stencil on his rail cars? Cody Grivno is in the studio to answer. […]
What’s the purpose of this building
Scott Snuverink from Eli, Kentucky, photographed a building and wants to know what purpose it serves. Cody Grivno takes a look and provides an answer. […]
Ask MR: Building and powering a garden railroad
Q: I am building a garden railroad in Colorado. Any suggestions as to how I should build and lay my track? – Dennis Dvorak, Colorado Springs, Colo. A: Our sister magazine, Garden Railways, published a whole lot of information about how to build a garden railroad. Model Railroader’s Rene Schweitzer, who comes from GR-land, says that many […]
Where to find automatic crossing bars and signals
Zach wants to know where he can find good quality automatic crossing bars for his layout, as well as some signals for his “rip” track. Cody Grivno is in the studio with some suggestions. […]
Where to find automatic crossing bars and signals
Zach wants to know where he can find good quality automatic crossing bars for his layout, as well as some signals for his “rip” track. Cody Grivno is in the studio with some suggestions. […]
What are the functions of different pieces of scrap metal?
Tobia Keseman is writing in because he came across some abandoned pieces of scrap metal while exploring, and now he wants to know what are the pieces, and what are their functions? Check out the submitted photos with Cody Grivno and he tries to reveal their purpose! […]
Ask MR: What’s available to model a newspaper building?
Q: As an old newspaperman, I’ve been looking for a newspaper structure kit to add to my layout, but there doesn’t seem to be much available. I know there used to be newspaper office buildings available in HO, but there don’t seem to be any on the market now. Any ideas? – Marc Silvestrini A: […]
