We continually search for ways to encourage children to interact with the trains on Train Days at the Children’s Museum of Sonoma County (California). While it’s wise to keep the kids and adults at a safe distance from the live steam exhibit, the museum’s large collection of Brio train parts, the ride-on train in the […]
Scale: Large Scale
Video 101: Along the line
We continually search for ways to encourage children to interact with the trains on Train Days at the Children’s Museum of Sonoma County (California). While it’s wise to keep the kids and adults at a safe distance from the live steam exhibit, the museum’s large collection of Brio train parts, the ride-on train in the […]
Review: Accucraft’s ‘Sabrina’ British outline 0-4-0t live steam locomotive
A right-front angled view of Accucraft’s Sabrina locomotive. Garden Railways file photo A version of this article appears in the Summer 2020 issue. Sabrina is one of a pair of new freelance live-steam locomotives from Accucraft. Our review sample is painted an attractive dark-green. The British-style engines are built to 1:19 scale (16mm to the […]
Book review: ’50 Beautiful Deer-Resistant Plants’
50 Beautiful Deer-Resistant Plants Garden Railways file image Was Elmer Fudd, Looney Tunes’ little rifle-toting hunter of Bugs Bunny fame, justified in shooting at Bugs Bunny? Remember how the “waskily wabbit” tunneled under Elmer’s garden yanking down one juicy carrot after another? In cartoons, we cheer for the bunny, but what if he had […]
Piko Mogul 2-6-0 track powered steam locomotive in 1:24 scale
A right-front angled view of Piko’s mogul steam locomotive. Garden Railways file photo OK, I have a confession to make before I start. One of my favorite types of steam en-gines is the 2-6-0, commonly called a Mogul. To me, it was one of the pivotal pieces in the evo-lution of railroad motive power. Produced […]
What are scale and gauge?
Marc Horovitz Marc Horovitz This 1:20.3-scale figure may look right for this 1:32-scale locomotive but if you tried to put him into the cab you’d quickly realize your error. Marc Horovitz These three models are all of similar prototypes—3′-narrow-gauge boxcars. In the foreground is an early Hartford Products car in 1:24 scale; in the middle […]
April new products from Garden Railways magazine
Engines & rolling stock PIKO America, 4610 Alvarado Canyon Rd., Ste. 5, San Diego, CA 92120 has several new products, including a “mini-Mogul” (#38208). This budget-friendly engine is capable of being upgraded with the no. 36221 Analog Sound Kit or the no. 36220 Digital Steam Sound Kit for full-featured sound on DC or DCC. Price: […]
Cooper’s ice plant
Common name: Trailing ice plant, Cooper’s ice plant Latin name: Delosperma cooperi USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 9 Cultural needs: Well-drained soil, sun or part shade Plant size: 3-inches high by 3-feet wide Sometimes called hardy ice plant or purple ice plant, this low succulent is not to be confused with the larger purple […]
Common scales of large scale trains
Common scales of large scale trains: Most of us have had this experience as we got started in garden railroading: You go to the hobby shop or look online, looking for equipment for your new railroad. It’s all large scale and it all looks good. But the more you look, the less comprehensible your choices […]
February 2020 new products from Garden Railways magazine
Accucraft Adams Radial Tank 4-4-2T Engines & rolling stock Accucraft, 3260 Central Ave, Union City CA 94587 has an Adams Radial Tank 4-4-2T in 1:32 scale. This live-steam engine is butane fired and available in both kit and ready-to-run versions, with a choice of several roadnames Price (kit): $1,945 or (RTR) $2,160. See the website […]
MRVP Insider: Amherst Railway Society Railroad Hobby Show 2020
What could you have seen at the annual (all scales) Railroad Hobby Show held in Springfield, Massachusetts, on January 25-26, 2020? Follow along as MR associate editor Eric White shares his walk-and-talk tour of the various buildings of the Eastern States Expo Fairgrounds, each housing all sorts of vendors, displays, layouts, and so much more! […]
Modeling the East Broad Top
East Broad Top Railroad combine No. 18 has long fascinated the author. The opportunity to walk through the still existing, circa 1876 railroad car prompted him to build this 1:20.3-scale model of the car. Kevin Strong EBT combine No. 18 waits in the Rockhill Furnace yards for its next trip south to the mines at […]