New type of virtual model train show will be held in April

Yellow-black World's Greatest Hobby logo featuring an illustrated steam locomotive and caboose.

 The first virtual model train show to replicate the in-person train show experience, an event dubbed World’s Greatest Hobby Online, will take place on April 17th. The event is sponsored by the World’s Greatest Hobby, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. It will feature digital exhibits and keynote addresses from some of the best-known model train […]

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Layout Visit: Ted Pamperin’s C&O Hinton Division in HO scale

A Chesapeake & Ohio steam locomotive pulls a train of freight cars along on Ted Pamperin's HO scale C&O Hinton Division model railroad

Layout builder Ted Pamperin hosts an exclusive video tour of his HO scale (1:87) layout capturing Chesapeake & Ohio Railway’s steam and diesel-powered Appalachian operations during the early days of winter in 1951. Even in this unique scenery motif, you’ll find Ted’s depiction of West Virginia’s New River Gorge is quite impressive. […]

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Layout Visit: Ted Pamperin’s C&O Hinton Division in HO scale

A Chesapeake & Ohio steam locomotive pulls a train of freight cars along on Ted Pamperin's HO scale C&O Hinton Division model railroad

Layout builder Ted Pamperin hosts an exclusive video tour of his HO scale (1:87) layout capturing Chesapeake & Ohio Railway’s steam and diesel-powered Appalachian operations during the early days of winter in 1951. Even in this unique scenery motif, you’ll find Ted’s depiction of West Virginia’s New River Gorge is quite impressive. […]

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Kitbashing a yard office, Episode 44

Cody Grivno sitting at his workbench in the opening shot of Cody's Workshop Episode 44

In this episode of Cody’s Workshop, our host has returned with a clear focus on custom-building a small trackside structure for Model Railroader magazine’s MR&T HO scale layout – The Jones Island project. Cody tackles the effort by combining three of the same styrene kits into one unique yard building. Examine his planning, prep, and […]

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Kitbashing a yard office, Episode 44

Cody Grivno sitting at his workbench in the opening shot of Cody's Workshop Episode 44

In this episode of Cody’s Workshop, our host has returned with a clear focus on custom-building a small trackside structure for Model Railroader magazine’s MR&T HO scale layout – The Jones Island project. Cody tackles the effort by combining three of the same styrene kits into one unique yard building. Examine his planning, prep, and […]

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Model railroad locomotive, freight car, vehicle, and decal announcements for April 1, 2021

Double door boxcar

Product news 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. Here are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of April 1, 2021. HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division GP38-2 diesel locomotive. New […]

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Eagle River Lines

The layout at a glance Name: Eagle River Lines Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 17 x 17 feet Prototype: freelanced Locale: Detroit area Era: 1950s Style: around-the-walls Mainline run: 55 feet Minimum radius: 36” (main), 24” (branch) Minimum turnout: no. 8 (main), no. 6 (spurs and branch) Maximum grade: 2 percent Benchwork: sectional Height: 42”-46” Roadbed: […]

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Adjusting coupler height on passenger cars

The height of a knuckle coupler on an HO scale passenger car is checked with a Kadee gauge.

It’s important to mount couplers at the correct height and to do so consistently on all cars. Because of their length, passenger cars magnify the chance for unwanted uncouplings when track isn’t perfectly level. Of course, having made the car height accurate, I don’t want to change that, so to adjust coupler height I move […]

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Model railroad locomotive, freight car, structure, decal, and accessory announcements for March 25, 2021

Ten cabooses in different color schemes

Product news 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. Here are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of March 25, 2021 HO scale freight cars Pullman-Standard PS-2 two-bay covered hopper. […]

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Rapido Trains HO scale MLW M420 diesel locomotive

Red, black, and white Rapido HO scale Montreal Locomotive Works M420 diesel locomotive shown on scenicked track facing right

Rapido Trains is bringing the comfort, Canadian style. We recently received a sample of the company’s new Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW) M420 locomotive, and it’s a beauty, eh?   The prototype When Alco locomotive production ceased in Schenectady, N.Y., in 1969, locomotives continued to be built in Canada by former subsidiary Montreal Locomotive Works until […]

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