How to build a garden railroad

garden tracks

Click here to download a PDF version of this article. Don’t miss the other parts to this series! June 2010: Preliminary construction August 2010: Choosing track October 2010: Laying track and ballasting December 2010: Accessories, structures, and lighting […]

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Tricky toy train terms

The toy train hobby, like any other, has its own language. We at Classic Toy Trains try to avoid using confusing jargon wherever possible, but we know there are some terms we use that may confuse new readers. Even if you’ve enjoyed trains for years, you may still run across terms that aren’t clear, or […]

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Black Stag Lumber Co. RR

Name: Black Stag Lumber Co. RR Layout owner: Allen Hare Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 20 x 22 feet Prototype: Mann’s Creek Ry. Locale: West Virginia Era: 1930s Style: walk-in Mainline run: 140 feet Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: 5 percent Originally appeared in the May 2010 issue of Model Railroader. Click […]

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Lost Island Bluffs Ry.

Name: Lost Island Bluffs Ry. Layout designer: Robert P. Foster Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 9 x 11 feet Prototype: freelanced, inspired by the Philadelphia & Long Branch RR and the Island Heights Branch of the Pennsylvania RR Locale: Barnegat Bay shorelinein central New Jersey Era: 1884 to 1934 Style: walkaround Mainline run: 50 feet Minimum […]

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Roanoke & Southern

Name: Roanoke & Southern Layout owner: Jeff Kraker Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 9′-31/2″ x 22′-6″ Theme: freelanced Eastern coal hauler Locale: southwest Virginia Era: 1953-1960 Style: walk-in Mainline run: 78 feet Minimum radius: 22″ Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: 4 percent Originally appeared in the May 2010 issue of Model Railroader. Click on the […]

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Building the N scale Salt Lake Route part 4

Dick Christiansen next to layout

Layout builder Dick Christianson shows you a couple of ways to install feeder wires with the N scale Kato Unitrack track system. He’ll also show you how he wired the layout’s power bus using terminal strips and you’ll see how he stores the Digitrax Digital Command Control (DCC) command station on this Model Railroader project […]

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The N scale Salt Lake Route project layout part 5

Scene of Salt Lake layout

Learn some of the techniques used to build the desert scenery on the N scale Salt Lake Route. Layout builder Dick Christianson shows you tips for using extruded foam insulation board, rock castings, and more. You’ll also see some prototype photos that Dick used as inspiration for this N scale model railroad. […]

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Building the N scale Salt Lake Route part 4

Dick Christiansen next to layout

Layout builder Dick Christianson shows you a couple of ways to install feeder wires with the N scale Kato Unitrack track system. He’ll also show you how he wired the layout’s power bus using terminal strips and you’ll see how he stores the Digitrax Digital Command Control (DCC) command station on this Model Railroader project […]

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The N scale Salt Lake Route project layout part 5

Scene of Salt Lake layout

Learn some of the techniques used to build the desert scenery on the N scale Salt Lake Route. Layout builder Dick Christianson shows you tips for using extruded foam insulation board, rock castings, and more. You’ll also see some prototype photos that Dick used as inspiration for this N scale model railroad. […]

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History according to Hediger 10

Office interior in black and white

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Model Railroader Senior Editor Jim Hediger shares a vintage story about a practical joke involving former Associate Editor Gordy Odegard, former Editor and Publisher Russ Larson, and a rather complicated oscilloscope kit. You’ll also see photos of the staff and the Model Railroader […]

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