Trainz.com Founder and Chief Engineer Scott Griggs took time out of his busy schedule to remotely drop by for a Q&A interview with Trains.com Staff Writer Lucas Iverson. Through these inquiries is a behind-the-scenes look at the past, present, and future of this growing company. Watch the video of this interview on Trains.com Video Q: […]
The hobby of model railroading looked very different when Al Kalmbach launched The Model Railroader in 1934. Train sets were more toys than scale models, cars were made out of wood and cardboard, and practically everything had to be scratchbuilt or at least assembled. Different manufacturers’ trains ran on different electrical currents, there were several […]
Contrary to popular belief, modeling an urban scene doesn’t require a bunch of space. Want proof? Check out the Winston-Salem Southbound, our 2018 project layout, shown in the photo above. The 2’-9” x 8’-2” HO scale shelf layout depicted the railroad’s Tar Branch in Winston-Salem, N.C. It featured more than a half-dozen rail-served industries, as […]
The Motive Power Industries (MPI) MP36PH-3C, a modern four-axle commuter diesel locomotive, is now available from Atlas Model Railroad Co. The HO scale Master Line model, based on True Line Trains tooling, features injection-molded plastic and die-cast metal construction, light-emitting-diode lighting, and metal knuckle couplers. The prototype Our sample is decorated as Metra 403, part […]
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Q: Why are the flanges on model steam engine drive wheels so much larger than on the prototypes? Is it because the models don’t weigh very much? Or is it because they have to navigate tight curves? And do larger scales (like G scale and live-steam models) have flanges that are closer to the prototypes? […]
The 1970s were a time of change. Model railroading was no exception. Modelers tested new techniques and technologies, while the niches of different scales and styles grew into mainstays. During that pivotal decade, these Model Railroaders stood out as pioneers of the hobby and industry. Their contributions have helped shape the hobby we know and […]
News & Products for the week of October 14th 2024 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 October 14th […]
My HO scale Agawa Yard layout is set in a fictional suburb of Vancouver, British Columbia, in the spring of 1969. It’s part of a single-track main line that zig-zags through the suburbs and provides rail access to the area’s dwindling towns and industries. My layout is based on 1960s photos of the Canadian Pacific, […]
The General Electric Dash 8-40CM diesel locomotive is back in the Rapido Trains product lineup. The redesigned six-axle road locomotive features a newly tooled fuel tank, cab interior, and trucks; railroad-specific details; and full underbody details. Prototype history General Electric (GE) produced the Dash 8-40CM from February 1990 through March 1994. During the course of […]
It’s no secret that model railroading can be expensive. Big-ticket individual items, such as locomotives, can carry price tags which climb north of $500. For good reason, too; it’s all too easy to forget how far model locomotive technology has come in recent years, with detail better than ever thanks to simultaneous advances in scanning, […]
Benchwork is the foundation of a model railroad. Sturdy benchwork and you have a solid base for your layout’s life. But if you use subpar wood, problems will arise sooner or later. But what wood do you use to build sturdy benchwork? Where do you get it? This is everything you need to know about […]
