A Special Wish garden railway project

Special note: All photos courtesy of Aileen Elizabeth Photography For many, garden railways are a unique hobby, but for Jack, a garden railway was a “special wish.” A Special Wish Foundation, North Central Ohio Chapter (“Special Wish”), is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to granting the wishes of children under the age of twenty-one who […]

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Creative ideas for your garden railroad

Photo 1 This plunging waterfall is on the author’s Hoot ’n’ Holler Railroad in northern Ohio. It is “pondless,” with an underground pump reservoir beneath the mill. Don Parker Photo 2 The waterwheel from the mill in photo 1 is built around a section of 4″ plastic drain pipe. Don Parker Photo 3 This telltale […]

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Trainfest 2016 show report

Athearn Trains HO scale General Electric ES44DC HO scale locomotives General Electric ES44DC. BNSF Ry. (Heritage II and III schemes), CSX (primer gray and as-delivered schemes), Norfolk Southern (primer gray and horsehead silhouette). Four road numbers per scheme (primer gray in two numbers each). Detailed cab interior, illuminated ditch lights, and railroad-specific cab detail. Direct-current […]

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How to model a greenhouse in your railroad garden

1. Working late. Lake Phillips’ traveling terrarium was commissioned by the author for her 7/8″-scale agricultural railway. The greenhouse element is a Tumdee (see “Sources” sidebar) kit, glued and pin-nailed onto a scratchbuilt flatcar, including custom LED lighting. Air plants (Tillandsia sp., Zones 9-11) inside and in the boxes bring it to life. When not […]

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O gauge B1 electric locomotive from MTH

O gauge BB1 electric locomotive from MTH Price: $749.95 (no. 20-5679-1) Min Curve: O-31 Cmd Low: 4.4 smph Cnv Low: 5.1 smph High: 57.2 smph Drawbar pull: 1 lb., 6 oz. Features: Die-cast metal construction, two can-style motors, coil couplers, ProtoSound 3.0 sound and command system Current production road names: Pennsylvania RR (two paint variations), […]

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The Train Department gauge-1 wheelsets

Marc Horovitz 1:20.3 scale, gauge-1 wheelsets The Train Department 26 Coral Drive Hazlet NJ 07730 Price: $9.50 per axle Website: www.thetraindepartment.com Cast metal, gauge-1 wheelsets; stainless-steel axles; raised letters on face and back of wheels; raised fins on inside of wheels; coned tread; long or short journals available (see text); wheels insulated at hub. Dimensions: […]

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The Gauge 1 Model Railway Co British passsenger cars

Marc Horovitz 1:32-scale British Mk. I coaches The Gauge 1 Model Railway Co. PO Box 509 Chatham, Kent ME5 7XE UK Available in the US from: Accucraft 33268 Central Ave. Union City CA 94587 Price: $1,276/four-car set Website: www.accucraft.com Gauge 1, 1:32 scale, British Mk. I coaches; plastic bodies; full interiors; Kadee couplers; sprung buffers; […]

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New large-scale products for February 2014

Bachmann boxcar Ozark Miniatures Inc. boxcar kit DeAgostini and ModelSpace locomotive Locomotives & rolling stock Bachmann Trains, 1400 East Erie Avenue, Philadelphia PA 19124, is offering Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey rolling stock for separate sale, as follows: Jackson & Sharp Coach #73 ($135); Water Tanker ($110); a choice of two Tableau Wagons on […]

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How to landscape around your buildings

What do your buildings have to say for themselves? Each structure evokes a feeling for its purpose, the folks who might live or work there, and a bit about the history that transpired on the premises, as shown in photo 1. How the structure was built and maintained is “written on the walls.” All of […]

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The 3 principles of great railway station photos

FULL SCREEN Todd Halamka Victoria Station, Mumbai, India FULL SCREEN Todd Halamka Victoria Station, Mumbai, India FULL SCREEN Todd Halamka Dadar Station, India FULL SCREEN Todd Halamka Haydarpasa Station, Istanbul FULL SCREEN Todd Halamka Munich Station, Germany FULL SCREEN Todd Halamka Munich Station, Germany FULL SCREEN Todd Halamka Augsburg Station, Germany FULL SCREEN Todd Halamka […]

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Empire Rail Works elevated railway system

Kevin Strong Steel and mahogany modular elevated railway system Empire Rail Works1532 E. St. Mark’s Ct.Salt Lake City UT 84124See website for pricingWebsite: www.empirerailworks.com Laser-cut steel and mahogany Chicago “L”-style elevated railway platform; suitable for suspending from ceiling Pros: Clean, sturdy construction, simple assembly, neat overall appearanceCons: None Kevin Strong If you’re modeling an urban […]

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MTH O gauge TRAXX F14 Electric

Let’s face it. Electrified mainline railway operations in the United States have been small potatoes on the world scene. Sure, the Pennsylvania, New Haven, and Virginian lines were neat and functional, but the rest of the globe embraced electric traction far more extensively than did the United States. Innovation in the realm of electrics belongs […]

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