Joliet Union Station ticket counter

Joliet Union Station

A man and woman stand at the center window of the ticket counter at Joliet (Ill.) Union Station in fall 1951. Note the stylized ALTON, SANTA FE, ROCK ISLAND lettering across the top, four years after the Alton was absorbed into the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio. Wallace W. Abbey photo […]

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Quick Look: The TrainMaster HO scale yard bunkhouse kit

The Trainmaster HO scale yard bunkhouse kit

The Trainmaster HO scale yard bunkhouse kit The kit includes wood parts that fit together well with minimal sanding. Price: $25 Manufacturer The TrainMaster LLC 2830 Fort Island Dr. Fairlawn, OH 44333 www.thetrainmaster.com Era: 1900 to 1960 Comments: A yard bunkhouse is the latest addition to The TrainMaster HO scale QuicKit line. The kit features […]

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IC’s Central Station, Chicago

Illinois Central Railroad Central Station

Illinois Central opened its Central Station on Chicago’s lakefront in April 1893. This 1950s view shows the grand arched waiting room, which was marred in 1962 by the installation of a false ceiling. Demolition came in 1974. IC photo […]

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Off The Rails: Episode 18

Off the Rails with Gerry Leone Episode 18

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page All filler, zero fluff in this episode of Off The Rails! This month, host Gerry Leone devoted an entire show to discussing how to fill those unsightly cracks, gaps, and seams on our assembled kits and models. As usual, you’ll be surprised where […]

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Off The Rails: Episode 18

Off the Rails with Gerry Leone Episode 18

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page All filler, zero fluff in this episode of Off The Rails! This month, host Gerry Leone devoted an entire show to discussing how to fill those unsightly cracks, gaps, and seams on our assembled kits and models. As usual, you’ll be surprised where […]

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Make your own shipping containers for a station scene

makeyourownshippingcarton

These shipping cartons make an interesting addition to a model train station scene. Click on the image to download a PDF of the shipping cartons that you can print out and fold. Shipping cartons are an easy to add detail to model railroad passenger station scenes. Click on the link to download shipping cartons in […]

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Super-Power citadel

Lima Locomotive Works plant

The Lima Locomotive Works plant in Lima, Ohio, birthplace of hundreds of advanced “Super-Power” steam locomotives, occupied a triangular site on the city’s south side between B&O and Nickel Plate lines. Classic Trains coll. […]

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Plans for an octagonal blacksmith shop

HOscaleblacksmithplans

Click on the image to download the plans. Model railroader Raymond Howard scratchbuilt an HO scale model of a blacksmith shop in Alloway, N.Y. The prototype was built in 1832 with cobblestone walls in an octagonal configuration. You can read about how Raymond cast plaster walls for his model in the October 2017 issue of […]

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Off The Rails: Episode 16

Off the Rails with Gerry Leone Episode 16

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In this new episode of Off The Rails, our host goes out of his way to prove that “one modeler’s junk is another modeler’s treasure”! This time, Gerry Leone makes good use of coffee creamer packaging, potato chip canisters, and even discarded computer […]

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Off The Rails: Episode 16

Off the Rails with Gerry Leone Episode 16

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In this new episode of Off The Rails, our host goes out of his way to prove that “one modeler’s junk is another modeler’s treasure”! This time, Gerry Leone makes good use of coffee creamer packaging, potato chip canisters, and even discarded computer […]

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