Whether you want to know how to keep your garden railway switches free of debris or a simple method to catch tiny track screws, this booklet contains a wealth of information. Some of the tips inside include: an easy way to simulate old, rusting enamel signs how to make translucent “glass” what to use for […]
Magazine: Garden Railways
Where diesels go to the doctor
Home for the heaviest rebuild, repair, and repaint work on the Norfolk Southern system is the sprawling former Pennsylvania Railroad Juniata Shops in Altoona, Pa. The backshop is the heart of this operation in the Keystone State. Alex Mayes Diesel locomotives are amazing. They are built to withstand the rigors of service, running 24 hours […]
Scott Gould’s concrete roadbed
Scott Gould Scott Gould Cape Elizabeth, Maine, Zone 5 Concrete strong Sixteen years ago or so I built a layout that loops atop a mound of rock in the center of our backyard. I was agile then, but still had difficulty reaching tracks above a pond. Now, with my 75th birthday rapidly approaching, only my […]
Build an industrial-railway flatcar
Thomas A. Yorke Thomas Yorke starts the first of three scratchbuilt projects in the April 2018 issue. Download these full-size drawings of his flatcar and follow his instructions in the magazine. […]
Rails in New England woods
Rails in New England: I lived in New England for 40 years. On a recent trip back to the northeast corner of the USA, I visited garden railways, mostly on the coast where trees often grow up to the shore. I also chanced upon some full-scale historic railways, which seemed to crop up everywhere. Predating […]
Blue star juniper
Nancy Norris Common name: Blue Star juniper Latin name: Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’ Plant type: Dwarf conifer USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9 Cultural needs: Moist, well drained, neutral or slightly acidic soil; sun or part shade Plant size: 2′ x 3′, spreading Blue Star juniper is a selection from Asian parentage, the Himalayan juniper. A plant […]
Alscad Design push-cart kit
Kevin Strong 1:20.3 scale, push-cart kit Alscad Design Allen Pomeroy III PO Box 52 Winchester NH 03470 Price: $19.85 + s&h Laser-cut wood, metal, and styrene kit for small track-worker’s push cart. Dimensions: 4 3/4″ long over the handles, with the bed measuring 4 1/8 ” x 3″ Pros: Well detailed; easy-to-follow instructions Cons: Cast […]
MyLocoSound “Blue” steam sound system
Kevin Strong MyLocoSound Available in the US from: G Scale Graphics 4118 Clayton Ct. Ft. Collins CO 80525 Price: $79 Website: www.mylocosound.com MyLocoSound “Blue” sound system; economical system; provides a variety of typical steam-engine sounds; can be run with track power or battery R/C; not DCC compatible. Dimensions: 2 1/4″ x 1 3/8″ x 1/2″ […]
NorthWest Short Line replacement wheels
Marc Horovitz Replacement wheels for Aristo-Craft diesels NorthWest Short Line PO Box 1349 Hamilton MT 59840 Price: $49.95/8 wheels Website: www.nwsl.com Solid nickel-silver wheels (#2609-6) to replace plated wheels on Aristo-Craft diesels; direct replacement for factory wheels; will fit Dash 9, SD-45, GP-40, and other locomotives with tapered-axles. Dimensions: 1.379″ over tread; .214″ tread width; […]
Soundtraxx Tsunami 2
Kevin Strong Four-amp DCC sound/motor decoder Soundtraxx 141 Burnett Drive Durango CO 81301 Price: $179.95 Website: www.soundtraxx.com Soundtraxx Tsunami2 TSU-4400; many sounds to chose from; diesel, steam, and electric boards available; many control variables. Dimensions: 2 3⁄4″ x 1 3⁄16″ x 5⁄8″ Pros: Good sound fidelity; multiple options for various sounds programmed on the board; […]
Garden Railways, February 2018
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Scale conversion chart for large-scale modelers
Use this handy chart to convert your drawings to another scale. Download our PDF and start building! […]