Russ and Barb Larson’s garden railroad

Russ and Barb Larson's garden railroad

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In this video we visit Russ and Barb Larson’s large scale layout, the Pagosa Springs & Northern. Russ is a former MR publisher and editor, and he and his wife share their beautiful garden railroad, as well as offer some insight into what […]

Read More…

Thin Branch Series: Backdrops part 2B – The river

Jay Smith painting a river.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Painting backdrops involves trial and error, even for professional artists. In part 2B of our backdrop series, Jay Smith shows you how he painted the river from start to finish, including changing colors “midstream” several times to get the right look. […]

Read More…

Thin Branch Series: Backdrops part 1 – basic hills

Jay painting hills.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Need a painted backdrop for your model railroad? Learn the basics of painting with artist Jay Smith as he adds a backdrop to our Thin Branch project railroad. In part 1 of our series, Jay shows you how to work from photos to […]

Read More…

Frank Knautz’s realistic O gauge layout

Frank Knautz’s compact 11 x 11-foot O gauge railroad features realistic city scenes and landscaping that recreate events from the lives of his parents, blending elements of the past and present to create a realistic layout on which to run his vintage trains. […]

Read More…

Lou Palumbo’s O gauge layout

    In addition to writing “Views from the Underground,” a popular column in CTT, Lou Palumbo owns the Underground Railroad Shoppe in New Castle, Pennsylvania. Inside the shop dwells a 16 x 28-foot O gauge layout packed with trains, structures, and fun! The layout is open for public display between Thanksgiving and the end […]

Read More…

Thin Branch Series: Ballasting turnouts

Cody Grivno ballasting turnouts.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Ballasting turnouts can be tricky because there’s a lot of potential for the little stones and glue to interfere with the proper operation of the points. Cody Grivno shows you an easy technique for ballasting turnouts that keeps the points working just like […]

Read More…

Thin Branch Series: Powering turnout frogs

David installing turnouts.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page You can improve the operation on most any railroad by installing turnouts with powered frogs. David shows you how we set up the Thin Branch project railroad with turnout frogs powered through switch motor contacts. […]

Read More…

Layout visit: Kent Johnson’s O scale Canadian Pacific

Kent Johnson's O scale Canadian Pacific

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Model Railroader and Classic Toy Trains staff member Kent Johnson has a fabulous 3-rail O scale layout in his basement depicting the Canadian Pacific Railroad. Kent applies the same weathering and realism to his toy-train layout that one would to a scale railroad, […]

Read More…