Design “elemental” layouts in large scale

Scene on a large-scale railway built of wooden blocks

  When I was young, I had an American Flyer train and a set of American Plastic Bricks (interlocking toy bricks made in the 1960s). I liked running the train, but I was particularly drawn to the bricks. I could easily build something, tear it down, and build something else. Years later, I built an […]

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News & Products for the week of June 24, 2021

PIKO America Chessie System two-bay hopper with exterior posts no. 150355

Large scale freight cars  Two-bay hopper with exterior posts. Chessie System (black and yellow with Chesapeake & Ohio reporting marks) and Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (Mineral Red with circle-cross herald in square and “Santa Fe” billboard lettering). One number per scheme. Removable coal load, plastic wheels, and hook-and-loop couplers. $73.99. PIKO America, 619-280-2800, piko-america.com […]

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Build a large-scale, wooden freight car

A large-scale flatcar project

It’s been common practice for railroads to modify antiquated rolling stock to suit a particular need for Maintenance of Way (MOW) equipment. An old flatcar no longer of use for main line service often became an asset for work trains. The flatcar could be repaired, lightly modified, and put into service looking much like it […]

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Visit a garden-railway display at a nature center

A family watches a large-scale train display

For many years I have been a volunteer at our local nature center (Sandy Creek Nature Center of Athens-Clarke Co., GA). It occurred to me that their circular flower and nature gardens would be a perfect setting for a garden railroad. I approached personnel at the center, and they were enthusiastic, as it would create […]

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Model railroad locomotive, freight car, structure, detail, tool, and book announcements for May 27, 2021

Refrigerator car

Product news  Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. Here are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of May 27, 2021. HO scale locomotives  Electro-Motive Division SD40-2 diesel locomotive. Atchison, […]

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Thimble cactus

Thimble cactus in a garden railroad

Common name: Thimble cactus Latin name: Mammillaria gracilis fragilis Plant type: Perennial USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11 Cultural needs: Gravelly or sandy well-drained, neutral or slightly acidic soil; full sun Plant size: 1″ high, spreading to 6-12″ As might be expected, this miniature mammillaria cactus hails from south of the border in Central or Eastern Mexico, […]

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M.T.H. will continue to make trains

Open garage door with moving truck

  Some good news for toy train hobbyists: Mike Wolf might be retiring, but his former company isn’t. A year after M.T.H. Electric Trains’ owner announced his plan to depart the industry, a significant portion of the company is relocating from its Columbia, Md. facility to a new one in Elkridge, Md., while another part […]

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