Building a concrete car barn

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Gary likes the durability of concrete buildings. Scratchbuilding means that one can add features like diamond panes and automatic doors, as well as copy plans from the prototype. Gary Condry Gary Condry Wooster, Ohio, Zone 6 Concrete I modeled Cleveland Railway’s Wooster Office and Interurban Car Barn. I used QUIKRETE Vinyl Concrete Patcher, which I […]

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Building a Lionel enginehouse

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The local paper ran a story on Trevor’s FC&W. Here, two of the 300 guests inspect the trains and Lionel-kit engine shed built by Trevor. Also notice the plastic clerestory-roofed industrial building, which could house an engine. Nancy Norris Trevor Park Trevor Park Trevor Park Trevor Park Trevor Park Trevor Park Trevor Park Trevor Park […]

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Building a recycled metal enginehouse

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Craig actually works in a railroad shop, which he modeled when scratchbuilding his scale metal engine house. The roof came from a fluorescent light fixture. Nancy Norris Craig Lund Craig Lund Craig Lund Craig Lund Craig Lund Craig Lund Craig Lund Craig Lund Denver, Colorado Recycled metal I like to use “used” items in my […]

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Building an acrylic train shed

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Tucked behind Ray’s Mystic Mountain Railroad, a weatherproof train shed houses his long coal train, which is ready to go at a moment’s notice. Ray likes working with acrylic, which should last a long time. Ray Turner Ray Turner Ray Turner Ray Turner Ray Turner Ray Turner Ray Turner San Jose, California Wooden box and […]

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Building an enginehouse out of wood

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After many months of build time in his garage, Bob emerged with a practical car barn, so trains are ready to roll anytime. Gas struts help with raising the three separate overhead doors. Bob Ferraro Bob Ferraro Bob Ferraro Bob Ferraro Bob Ferraro Bob Ferrero Leadville, Colorado Scratchbuilt wood The engine house still looks great […]

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How to build a scale tipi

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Patrick Friedmann In the April 2016 issue, Patrick Friedmann describes how to build an authentic tipi for your garden railroad. Registered users of our website can download full-size drawings to build a tipi. […]

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Clearing the snow on the Smoke & Oak RR

Yellow garden-scale railroad snowplow cleaves through snow on an outdoor layout.

Name:    Charlie Zimmerman Railroad Name:    Smoke and Oak RR Location:    Central Pennsylvania Scale:    1:29 Theme:    Reading Railroad Description:    Three Reading GPs work a snow plow around the mainline so that freight and passenger service can be restored. […]

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Tour the Fern Creek and Western Railroad

Tour the Fern Creek and Western Railroad

Name:    Trevor Park Railroad Name:    Fern Creek and Western Railroad Location:    Santa Cruz, CA Scale:    1:20.3 with some 1:22.5 mixed in. Theme:    Logging, mining and short line freight and passenger operations. Description:    Come join us for a layout tour of my Fern Creek and Western Garden Railroad that I built with my friends. This video […]

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How to model a greenhouse in your railroad garden

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1. Working late. Lake Phillips’ traveling terrarium was commissioned by the author for her 7/8″-scale agricultural railway. The greenhouse element is a Tumdee (see “Sources” sidebar) kit, glued and pin-nailed onto a scratchbuilt flatcar, including custom LED lighting. Air plants (Tillandsia sp., Zones 9-11) inside and in the boxes bring it to life. When not […]

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Visit the Poppleton Nursery Railway

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Poppleton Community Railway Nursery. Tour de France livered train passes the Nursery. Bob Brook A general view of half the Nursery, the 2’ gauge track far left and right with the main line to Harrogate far right. Bob Brook It only just fits! David Dawson Car park yard with the main line signal box in […]

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Visit the Morning Glow Railroad

Visit the Morning Glow Railroad

Name: Morning Glow Railroad Size: Irregular L-shaped 100′ x 150′ Scale: 1:29 Gauge: Nº 1 (45mm) Era: 1960 to present—all diesel Theme: Southern Pacific—Donner Pass to Tehachapi Age: 3 years Motive power: All battery Length of mainline:  1,101′ Maximum gradient: 3 % Track: Code-250 stainless steel; #10 pneumatic turnouts Minimum radius: 7′ Water features: 500-gallon […]

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Sanders Blue dwarf Alberta spruce

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Nancy Norris Common name: Sanders Blue dwarf Alberta spruce Latin name: Picea glauca ‘Sanders Blue’ aka P.g. ‘Sanderi’ Plant type: Dwarf conifer USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9 (winter protection in Zones 3-5) Cultural needs: Moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil, sun or part shade Plant size: 4-6′ high by 2-3′ wide in 10 years, if not pruned […]

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