Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Lee Marsh’s HO scale Great Northern Ry. Cascade Division features stunning mountain scenery inspired by Stevens Pass in Washington State. In this short video, follow some of the superdetailed transition-era trains and they roll along the main line. […]
Section: Modeling
How-to Library: DCC Operation – JMRI with Pi
MRVP’s Ben Lake explains the essential components and process for establishing a digital means to control trains, turnouts, blocks, and even signals. His solution? JMRI interfaced with a Raspberry Pi computer. Follow along, and get up to speed on this cutting-edge DCC option for operating your model railroad! […]
How-to Library: DCC Operation – JMRI with Pi
MRVP’s Ben Lake explains the essential components and process for establishing a digital means to control trains, turnouts, blocks, and even signals. His solution? JMRI interfaced with a Raspberry Pi computer. Follow along, and get up to speed on this cutting-edge DCC option for operating your model railroad! […]
Methods to wiring your toy train layout
It isn’t an exaggeration to observe that the CTT staff is frequently asked basic questions such as “How do I connect my power and lockon to the track?” However, we get even more questions related to adding operational capability beyond running one train in a circle – taking a step beyond the starter outfit. Aside […]
Common scales of large scale trains
Common scales of large scale trains: Most of us have had this experience as we got started in garden railroading: You go to the hobby shop or look online, looking for equipment for your new railroad. It’s all large scale and it all looks good. But the more you look, the less comprehensible your choices […]
Video: Atlas HO Trainkids Acela Train Set
The Atlas Trainkids Acela Train Set has everything needed to get a youngster started in model railroading. Senior editor Dana Kawala shows you have to set up the track and get trains rolling. You can get the Atlas Trainkids Train Set and additional cars and track at KalmbachHobbyStore.com […]
What to do after you open a toy train starter set
First cataloged in the 2017 Lionel Christmas catalog, the no. 82982 LionChief Christmas Express train is a colorful and rugged modern starter set. Everything you need is included in the set box. Better yet, you can even operate this train from a smartphone! William Zuback A version of this article first appeared in the January […]
Boston & Maine transition-era, freight train photo gallery
Our sister magazine, Classic Trains, named Boston & Maine the railroad of the month for October 2019. Please enjoy this photo gallery of images from the David P. Morgan Library archives at Kalmbach Media that include B&M steam-powered freight trains through time. […]
Modeling an N scale Great Northern layout in less than 13 square feet
Although I’m really an HO scale modeler at heart, I’ve always been intrigued with N scale trains and have more than once thought how neat it would be to “have a few.” Being without any other outlet for modeling, those very thoughts soon translated into construction of the Havaphew Central, my first N scale layout. […]
How to use Z scale couplers to make N scale equipment more realistic
In N scale, oversized, truck-mounted couplers are still a de facto standard, but body-mounted scale-sized couplers aren’t exclusive to larger scales. Micro-Trains Line sells N scale freight cars with pads and mounting holes for easy installation of body-mounted couplers. For an even more in-scale appearance, I install Z scale couplers instead of N scale couplers. […]
How-To Library: Turning Spaces into Places II, Part 2 – Knocking the Blocks Off
Contributing Editor Gerry Leone continues to share his final project on the HO scale Bona Vista Rwy. This time you’ll see how to make sure Main Street, its sidewalks, and all of the surrounding structures maintain prototypical alignment and appearance. […]
Computer desktop wallpaper from the May 2020 Model Railroader
Click on the links at left to download this image sized appropriately for your computer screen. A Boston & Maine 4-8-2 Mountain-type steam locomotive rolls past Superior Bakery on Thomas Oxnard’s HO scale layout featured in the May 2020 Model Railroader. Click on the links below to download the image sized appropriately for use as […]