Spaces to Places IV | Town development, part 2

The new town of Westcott has moved from concept to construction. Watch as host Gerry Leone shares how he initiated the development by laying out the town on a sheet styrene template. Learn helpful tips for arranging city streets, structures, and even rail-served industries. Plus, you’ll also glean insights for working with styrene or similar […]

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Bowser HO scale SD30C-ECO

Screen shot of Bowser HO scale SD30C-ECO video.

Bowser HO scale SD30C-ECO. A modern-era diesel from Bowser Manufacturing Co. Inc. recently visited our HO scale Wisconsin & Southern project layout. Join Model Railroader editor Eric White and senior editor Cody Grivno as they talk about the features and operate the Canadian Pacific SD30C-ECO. The Bowser SD30C-ECO is decorated for Canadian Pacific in 12 […]

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Bowser HO scale SD30C-ECO

Screen shot of Bowser HO scale SD30C-ECO video.

Bowser HO scale SD30C-ECO. A modern-era diesel from Bowser Manufacturing Co. Inc. recently visited our HO scale Wisconsin & Southern project layout. Join Model Railroader editor Eric White and senior editor Cody Grivno as they talk about the features and operate the Canadian Pacific SD30C-ECO. The Bowser SD30C-ECO is decorated for Canadian Pacific in 12 […]

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News & Products for the week of April 3rd 2023

News & Products for the week of April 3rd 2023: An image of a model locomotive

News & Products for the week of April 3rd 2023 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. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of April 3rd 2023. […]

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My favorite caboose: MR staff picks

Model of a red caboose follows a yellow boxcar

My favorite caboose: The MR staff picks their favorite caboose model and explains why it’s their favorite. What’s your favorite caboose? Leave a comment and let us know!   Mitch Horner International Car Co. I-18 steel bay window caboose I’ve been enamored recently by Tangent’s Chessie System “’73+ Repaint Version 2” International Car Co. I-18 […]

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An HO Olympic logging layout in less than 64 square feet

At twilight, a black steam engine refills its tender from the water tank in front of a green and white depot

By Greg Privette Vacationing near the Olympic mountains of Washington state birthed a vision for my new HO scale layout. Logging was the industry and Shelton, Wash., was home to the last logging railroad in the United States. Old-growth timbers harvested near Camp 5 were delivered by the Simpson Railroad to Shelton starting around the […]

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Meet Jim Providenza

Man in plaid shirt stands near HO scale layout

Meet Jim Providenza What was your first train set (or locomotive)? Our family had a Lionel train set that we set up around the Christmas tree each year. At about age 10, it moved onto a sheet of plywood on the floor of the “playroom” on a semi-permanent basis. In 7th grade my parents agreed […]

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Model a grain door storage rack

Photo of grain door storage rack on white background.

Sometimes a discussion about prototype railroading can lead to a modeling project. A few years back I was talking with my longtime friend William Phalen in Crookston, Minn. During our conversation, I mentioned seeing a photo of a pile of grain doors by the Crookston Farmers Co-op Elevator. He said the doors were stored on […]

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Model modern Amtrak passenger train consists

A black model diesel locomotive pulls a modern passenger train down a grade

If you love traveling around the country on the rails like I do, you probably want to know how to model modern Amtrak passenger train consists. Amtrak’s consists vary between regions and train-by-train. For instance, there is a height limit in the New York City area so any train going in or out of New […]

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Gregg Condon’s Milwaukee Road in HO scale

Explore Gregg Condon’s HO scale (1:87.1) model railroad based on 1950s-era Milwaukee Road operations along the Shullsburg Branch in Wisconsin! You’ll enjoy following the action over the rails, plus all the realistic scenes, structures, and details modeled around and about the right-of-way. All of this is a pre-cursor to even more in-depth coverage of the […]

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Easy model train décor

Wooden steam train with caboose displayed on a white fireplace mantle and surrounded by yellow flowers

For many, particularly those with limited space, having model trains means that the trains will in some way intersect with everyday life. Obviously, if you live by yourself, this can look like whatever you want it to be. I’ve known single model railroaders who have taken train décor to the ultimate level, filling every available […]

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Gregg Condon’s Milwaukee Road in HO scale

Explore Gregg Condon’s HO scale (1:87.1) model railroad based on 1950s-era Milwaukee Road operations along the Shullsburg Branch in Wisconsin! You’ll enjoy following the action over the rails, plus all the realistic scenes, structures, and details modeled around and about the right-of-way. All of this is a pre-cursor to even more in-depth coverage of the […]

Read More…