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Dumb Question From Kevin - 44 Ton Locomotives And Carfloats

Started by Kevin Parson in General discussion: Everything I have ever read about carfloat operations says that idler flats had to be used because locomotives were too heavy to go onto the carfloat and apron. But... a loaded 40-foot...
General discussion 23 3 609 1778494883
Athearn Genesis Handrails,...pieces of crap

Started by railandsail in Locos and rolling stock Genesis Handrails: i thought the Genesis line was suppose to be their premium line ?? I just spent many hours sorting out problems with their derailing trucks on the CD70/75 Mac models. Then I tried to...
Locos and rolling stock Genesis Handrails 16 1 319 1778491774
March Train Talk is finally here

Started by xdford in Journals/Blogs: Hi All, Ted is getting through the back log and it is a tribute that he puts this out month after month as fully as he does single handedly! ...
Journals/Blogs 0 0 8 1778489393
Chicago Switching Layout

Started by Windswept Rails in Dream and design Switching Layout chicago street running industrial: Hi everyone, this is my first post (and a long one sorry!), but I have seen posts on here as a non-member and it's been invaluable for my research. I'm based in Scotland, so I can only use...
Dream and design Switching Layout chicago street running industrial 273 9 9,412 1778484702
Good Industries for Small Switching Layouts

Started by ArborRails in Dream and design Shelf Layout Operations Switching Layout Industry: Hey all, In my free time, I like to research and theory-craft interesting industries that are well suited for small switching layouts. I thought I would share some of the ones I've compiled...
Dream and design Shelf Layout Operations Switching Layout Industry 196 36 5,319 1778481321
Cricut Cutter building plans

Started by Roy K. in TMTV support: Miles, I am a fairly new member on MRRH and have been really interested in your videos on the Cricut Cutter for building scale buildings from scratch using balsa and chip board and paper...
TMTV support 10 1 6,299 1778475519
What's on your workbench? April 2026

Started by Eric Hansmann in General discussion Workbench: Last month many of you brought your workbench and layout projects to the table with 200+ posts on the thread. Thank you for sharing! We begin anew for April and I am looking forward to seeing more of...
General discussion Workbench 166 5 6,267 1778473616
Establishing Time and Place with Graffiti

Started by Ben in General discussion: My wife grew up watching trains in Oakland and remembers different slogans and tags appearing on cars at different times, many of them relevant to political events. While I've seen modern era...
General discussion 58 5 1,173 1778469689
Manufacturers and "The News"

Started by jeffshultz in Journals/Blogs: As I put the news together each month, one thought that always occurs to me is "What might I be missing?" I know I don't have every manufacturer in my list. I am adding more every month. I...
Journals/Blogs 49 9 1,596 1778467113
Let's see a model of... May, 2026 Edition

Started by Kevin Parson in General discussion: 📷
General discussion 57 2 1,492 1778465017
LED light strips along a curve?

Started by David Emery in Track and electrical/DCC LIghting: Anyone have suggestions on how to run those thin LED light 'tape' strips around a curve? They don't seem to want to bend that way. I guess I could cut them along the marked joints and...
Track and electrical/DCC LIghting 4 2 143 1778463379
T-D Feeds Mill Construction Build Log

Started by Craig Townsend in Scenery and structures Prototype Redmond WA 1:29 scale ( 2 ga ): Seeing some interest in my teaser photo in the December workbench projects thread , I figured I should share some other information about the project. The main industry on my layout is focused...
Scenery and structures Prototype Redmond WA 1:29 scale ( 2 ga ) 156 10 6,108 1778463082
Train Ride over 8 1/2 HO scale Miles of Modular layout

Started by Ken Meade in Modular and TOMA modeling: My club participated in a Scout show in Woodbridge, VA this past weekend. We combined four clubs to build this 130 module layout with Digitrax control. Enjoy the ride. Train Ride
Modular and TOMA modeling 14 14 562 1778462645
momentum vs BEMF (or lack of it)

Started by greg ciurpita in Track and electrical/DCC: modelers seem interested in momentum or more accurately aceleration/decelation for more "realistic" behavior. But the intertial effects vary with the # of cars (as well as grade) and...
Track and electrical/DCC 87 2 829 1778462621
Dipping my toe in the hobby - Need advice on dismantling a 30’ x 13’ layout

Started by Ted Canaday in Getting started: I was scrolling online auctions. This looked cool! I was the winning bidder. What do I do now? Actually, a little more thought went into this. I decided to get back into the...
Getting started 37 4 998 1778462161
Track joins in curves (HO scale)

Started by GerardW in Getting started: Newbie here. I'm planning an eventual layout that will include some 24 inch radius curves. Math tells me I'll need a minimum of 37.6 inches for a 90 degree arc and it seems flex-track comes in...
Getting started 9 0 172 1778462090
Southern Pacific's Ventura Subdivision in Los Angeles

Started by Ray Hamilton in Journals/Blogs Southern Pacific Northridge GEMCO Raymer: My layout planning thread was in Dream and Design. http://forum.mrhmag.com/post/southern-pacifics-ventura-subdivision-in-los-angeles-12675291?pid=1335516651 After much delay, we...
Journals/Blogs Southern Pacific Northridge GEMCO Raymer 235 26 14,230 1778461009
Bellows Falls Subdivision build

Started by skiwiggy in Journals/Blogs: This Journal/Blog will showcase the construction and scratchbuilding of structures along the Rutland Bellows Falls Subdivision. Various Scenes starting in Bellows Falls Vermont, heading...
Journals/Blogs 695 20 29,051 1778455091
What's on your workbench? May 2026

Started by Eric Hansmann in General discussion Workbench: Onward into another month and more of your workbench and layout projects! The projects shared last month looked great! Thank you for sharing! I’m sure we will kick off May in fine form. I am...
General discussion Workbench 64 4 2,464 1778453395
MRH DCC columnist retiring

Started by joef in MRH magazine help: It's not April Fools -- Bruce Petrarca, the MRH DCC Columnist, is retiring as of the August 2018 issue. Bruce is also doing a DCC book for MRH, which we will publish. But that's it for Bruce....
MRH magazine help 27 1 3,101 1778452349
Tune Up.... Fix Up , 6 Proto 2000 E-units

Started by railandsail in Locos and rolling stock: Quite a number of years ago I was cruising ebay, and found this offer for sound factory equipped sound & dcc chassis that would fit E6, E7, E8 locos. I bought 6 of them and put them away in...
Locos and rolling stock 70 2 1,929 1778449623
Prototype Photographs 2026

Started by Nick Santo in Prototype railroading Photos: Hello! I enjoyed all your photographs from 2025 and before! Thank You for posting them!!! Please feel free to add photos when you have them! I’m sure I’ll have more to add this...
Prototype railroading Photos 195 5 6,605 1778447701
Layout help

Started by Stephen in General discussion: Hey everyone I am very new to model railroading and trying to plan my layout. The first section is a double loop on a board approximately 54x108 inches. I know a double loop, groan. I know...
General discussion 10 3 428 1778445756
Building and Detailing a CMR Roundhouse

Started by Analogbeatmaker in Scenery and structures: Hello all! I recently finished the roundhouse floor and have started on the structure itself. I decided to buy a NOS roundhouse kit manufactured by CMR as opposed to the readily available Walthers...
Scenery and structures 37 18 1,183 1778442304
BN 8th Sub (Issaquah Branch) 1/29 Scale (Outdoors)

Started by Craig Townsend in Journals/Blogs: I've never taken the time to draw up a track plan for the layout, but I finally sat down and drew up a track plan of the layout I'm building. Details to follow in next post to keep the lead post...
Journals/Blogs 167 6 10,645 1778441003
BN "DARE" locomotive & caboose

Started by Craig Townsend in Prototype railroading: Over the past year or so I have stumbled across two interesting photos from the early 90's when the DARE program was in full force. The first was this Ed Weiss photo of a BN caboose with a...
Prototype railroading 21 6 637 1778439704
ET&WNC Stoney Creek branch

Started by p51 in Journals/Blogs: I'm modeling the East Tennessee & Western North Carolina in On30 (yes, using Bachmann locomotives). Knowing I'd never be able to do true justice to the real railroad, I 'protolanced' a fictional...
Journals/Blogs 797 12 96,936 1778436125
Union Pacific's Big Boy No. 4014 Eastern Leg

Started by Rick Beatty in Prototype railroading: The schedule for the trip east has been released. Major display stops are: May 30 – Omaha, Nebraska (near the Union Pacific's historic Milepost 0) June 3 – West Chicago, Illinois June...
Prototype railroading 87 5 1,331 1778434231
Wiring a crossover for DCC

Started by Earl Gilmore in Track and electrical/DCC: I am working on some modules to take to shows. They are double main tracks. I am thinking that I want to put in a crossover. I know I will need to put in an auto reverser. They're wired...
Track and electrical/DCC 14 1 251 1778432582
Its the Pits

Started by Lone Geep in Scenery and structures: Section by Section, I've been piecing my track together on my module sections. With my main line, yard lead and passing track switches located, I now have to turn my attention to my engine service...
Scenery and structures 5 1 301 1778432188
Weekly Photo Fun - May 10-16, 2026

Started by JC Shall in General discussion Photos: It's another week . . . post 'em if you got 'em. There was a late-comer in last week's post . Check it out, then come back here afterward.
General discussion Photos 5 1 195 1778427435
Lever connectors

Started by Rick Beatty in Track and electrical/DCC: I was searching for crimp spade connectors for 28 AWG wire and found lever connectors, including Wago. They look interesting but I'm not seeing how you mount them. Two sided tape?
Track and electrical/DCC 7 1 238 1778422447
Wago knockoffs

Started by Rick Beatty in Track and electrical/DCC: I need to make a connection between a detection unit and LEDs on a control panel. I will probably use 24 AWG wire on the LEDs while the ribbon cable from the detection unit has 28 AWG wires....
Track and electrical/DCC 13 2 353 1778420560
Rio Grande - Tennessee Pass ‘78

Started by ezlyamuzd66 in Journals/Blogs: 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷 I thought I’d start this blog to keep a record of my slow but consistent progress on my layout I’ve attached my initial layout design but have already...
Journals/Blogs 404 21 15,589 1778402066
SMA23 – A New DCC & DC Car & Loco Detector – Differential Absolute Position Detector (DAPD)

Started by Geoff Bunza in Journals/Blogs: Every so often one needs an absolute position detector, rather than a block detector. The best I’ve used employ their own light source, but older designs use Cadmium Sulphide (CdS) photocells and...
Journals/Blogs 140 2 49,197 1778384776
Red Caboose GP-9

Started by dperry in Locos and rolling stock O scale: I recently acquired a Red Caboose GP-9 (O scale) locomotive kit. I don't know when it was manufactured but it has a Pittman 12 VDC motor, model 8414F723, with a date stamp of 11-6-91....
Locos and rolling stock O scale 20 4 581 1778383088
Cutting flex track with Dremel

Started by Rick Beatty in Track and electrical/DCC: When cutting gaps in flex track what’s the best combination to use so that you don’t melt the plastic? High speed on the Dremel and slow cut, low speed and fast cut, etc.
Track and electrical/DCC 11 2 299 1778382039
The Ruphe & Tumbelle Railway Company, What's New

Started by On30guy in Journals/Blogs: Hello all. 📷 I've been posting here for a few years now and have decided that instead of starting separate little blogs for every little idea I have I should consolidate things a...
Journals/Blogs 4,322 23 417,840 1778379048
IR Power & Rolling Stock fall 1979

Started by Vince P in Locos and rolling stock: Here's a P2K SW8 I've been working on for a while that stalled out after a move so this will be IR SW8 #99 one of a small handful of SW8-SW900m units Proto pic I'm working from is BN #99...
Locos and rolling stock 315 13 8,028 1778373206
Meet The KC&G: Mainline To The Gulf

Started by laming in Journals/Blogs: Hi All: This will be a thread dedicated to the dreams n' schemes concerning my HO scale Kansas City & Gulf proto/free lance theme, which will (eventually) include two separate layouts. One...
Journals/Blogs 4,156 28 85,452 1778371911
Decoder Identification

Started by Sauced07 in Track and electrical/DCC: Found this stashed away, anyone know what type of decoder this is? If it comes down to it I suppose I could wire it up and let JMRI sort it out but I figured someone here would recognize it....
Track and electrical/DCC 11 1 182 1778371778
HO Van Hobbies / Samhongsa Brass Alco S4 Driveline fix, DCC sound and CPR Paint

Started by MikeHughes in Locos and rolling stock: I ought to know better because these things take time and money, but I spied this old (~1983) Van Hobbies / Samhongsa CP S4 at the LHS while picking up a new Rapido S9 that had come in. Hard...
Locos and rolling stock 19 6 382 1778371179
Limited Modeler: Building the Ballville/Fremont layout

Started by MRH in Magazine feedback: 📷 Buy this issue! Share this: 📷 📷 📷 📷 Please post any comments or questions you have below. ◄ Back to issue home page 📷 Want more articles like this one?...
Magazine feedback 10 16 487 1778371093
How to Make an EASY stone wall diorama

Started by Watawna in Scenery and structures: This is an interesting video about making a stone wall. 🎬
Scenery and structures 3 3 203 1778361306
What's New To You - May, 2026 Edition

Started by Kevin Parson in Getting started: I actually got something NEW! My brand-new Highlners A Unit kit arrived today. 📷 📷 📷 -Photographs by Kevin Parson I am almost ready to start the EMD F1...
Getting started 2 6 147 1778360712
USPS shipping (non) tracking

Started by David Emery in General discussion shipping: I ordered some stuff from Woodland Scenics. They said "Free Shipping, USPS, delivery 4-6 days" and provided me with a tracking number. By Friday, I was getting concerned that...
General discussion shipping 13 3 231 1778360586
Weekly Photo Fun - May 3-9, 2026

Started by JC Shall in General discussion Photos: It's another week . . . post 'em if you got 'em. There were a few late-comers in last week's post . Check them out, then come back here afterward.
General discussion Photos 22 4 1,160 1778359039
Railroad Co. Going Away

Started by Ken Meade in Dream and design: I've been using the Railroad Co. Train Controller Silver on my empire for over 10 years now. When I first found it, I thought it was pretty good. I soon found that support from the owner of the...
Dream and design 8 3 527 1778356600
Advice needed for Weathering a Black Freight Car

Started by pauldouglaskessler in Locos and rolling stock: I have this black Roundhouse MDC Canadian Pacific covered hopper that I plan to utilize for cement service. The build date is 1962 which is at the beginning of my era (1963 to 1972) so I don't want...
Locos and rolling stock 29 4 566 1778356009
HO Wheels and Trucks

Started by laming in Locos and rolling stock: Hi All. First: Getting ready to order some wheelsets to replace ALL plastic wheels on the rolling stock I have on hand, and would like to have a good mix of ribbed vs smooth back wheels. I...
Locos and rolling stock 106 2 6,818 1778355310

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