Although pencil and paper still reigns as king of the ways to plan a model railroad layout, computer-aided design (CAD) track planning software is increasingly popular as model railroaders become more comfortable using computers. This is a roundup of current (as of 2023) track planning software designed to give you a good idea of the […]
How to build a plywood train table: The train table is a means to an end. We want to build it carefully and well, but we also want to move on fairly quickly to running some trains. Good, straight, knot-free dimensional lumber (1 x 3s or 2 x 4s) has become expensive and difficult to […]
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Q: What is HOn3 scale? If it uses HO scale track (1:87 gauge), it seems the rolling stock must be scaled wider and taller. Conversely, if I modify an HO scale/gauge locomotive for narrow gauge, I’ll need to build new, narrower track. Help me understand this. – Mark Dice A: Hi, Mark. Your second guess is the […]
One of the most important decisions facing any model railroader is choosing an era to model. Choosing what railroad to model is arguably easier. You may choose to model the railroad that ran through your hometown when you were young and impressionable, or perhaps a railroad you often see today. But in either case, that […]
News & Products for the week of October 16th 2023 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 16th […]
Rapido Trains hosted a dealer open house at the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023 in Essex, Conn. During the event, the manufacturer unveiled several new HO scale products. Here’s a rundown of some of the items announced. Locomotives Electro-Motive Division SD7, SD9, and SD10 diesel locomotives were among the six […]
Q: I’m planning on making steel slab, H-column, and I-beam loads for my run through freight trains. What is the width, length, thickness and height of the load for these structural steel loads? – James Shepard A: Hi, James. You asked a similar question not long ago, which I answered in my January 2023 “Ask […]
The Pullman-Standard (PS) 40-foot PS-1 boxcar, a staple on prototype railroads from the late 1940s through the 1980s, is now available as an easy-to-build HO scale kit from ScaleTrains. The injection-molded plastic model, which uses former MTH Electric Trains tooling, features a one-piece body, various modeler-installed parts, and a freestanding brake system. Prototype history Pullman-Standard […]
When you think of Burlington Northern, passenger service may not be the first thing that comes to mind. But from March 2, 1970 (Burlington Northern’s first day) to April 30, 1971 (the day before Amtrak started operations), the railroad offered passenger service. Among the name trains were the Empire Builder, Mainstreeter, North Coast Limited, and […]
Railroads have been around for almost 200 years, so there’s a lot of history we can choose from to model our favorite eras. While it can be hard to focus on just one era, we may find we gravitate to one favorite. For many modelers, it’s the era we experienced when we were first exposed […]
Samples of the newly tooled Rapido Trains HO General Electric U25B diesel locomotive recently arrived at the Model Railroader offices. Join senior editor Cody Grivno as he points out features on the road units, demonstrates some of the sound and light functions, and operates a short freight train. We received samples decorated for Atchison, Topeka […]
