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What’s on your workbench? July 2026

Started by Eric Hansmann in General discussion Workbench: We have passed the halfway point of the year. Many thanks to all the modelers who contributed their photos and notes to this monthly discussion thread. I hope the works have inspired readers to move...
General discussion Workbench 191 6 7,608 1785268212
Let's See A Model Of... July, 2026 Edition

Started by Kevin Parson in General discussion: 📷
General discussion 147 2 3,856 1785267766
NMRA 2026: Chattanooga Day 1

Started by jeffshultz in General discussion: Day one started on Day 0 with a flight out of Portland to O'Hare and from O'Hare to Chattanooga. Happily we made the connection in Chicago with no issues and aside from a decorative thunderstorm to...
General discussion 10 5 243 1785267423
Control Design Notes D2mr02

Started by ME Smith in Journals/Blogs clubs Design: Control Design Notes...
Journals/Blogs clubs Design 0 0 10 1785266954
Good old-fashioned scratchbuilding - cardstock to rolling stock

Started by Elwood_Blues in Locos and rolling stock: 🎬 I thought this video (and others on his channel) would be of interest to many here. Japanese prototypes, 1/80 HO scale, but his techniques, methods, craftsmanship are applicable to any...
Locos and rolling stock 1 2 48 1785266555
DIY Frog Juicers? 🐸

Started by Oldiron in Track and electrical/DCC: Has anyone come up with a DIY frog juicer circuit? I 'm one of the strange ones who likes to make electronic gadgets to go with my trains. I don't have a clue how they work so the circuit design is...
Track and electrical/DCC 3 0 96 1785266342
Design of controls for a large club model railroad. D2mr01

Started by ME Smith in Journals/Blogs clubs Design: In the coming weeks, I will be posting the process by which the design for control of a large club layout was developed. The first posting will describe the overall philosophy behind the...
Journals/Blogs clubs Design 0 0 9 1785266304
Earliest date for a URTX 40' wood reefer to be in orange (not the as-built reefer yellow)?

Started by chepp in Locos and rolling stock: Here's a craftsman kit, probably from the 1950s, that someone skillfully assembled but needs additional painting. My research revealed very little about the prototype. Its number range is listed in...
Locos and rolling stock 0 0 8 1785266085
Controlling And Automation Of A Model Railway Using OpenLCB Series

Started by JohnmH in Track and electrical/DCC Arduino: I have decided to make a new series of videos to show the controlling and automation of a model railway using OpenLCB nodes. This will take a few months for me bring all this together and will share...
Track and electrical/DCC Arduino 0 0 6 1785265426
Running Extra master index?

Started by lgtindall in General discussion: Hi, All -- New Running Extra subscriber here, and loving it :-) I've started reading the back issues, and I'm really enjoying Jim Fix's Limited Modeler column, especially his look...
General discussion 1 0 69 1785265156
Who's Going to the Chattanooga Convention?

Started by maandg in General discussion: I'm super excited about the NMRA National Convention taking place in a few weeks! I know Joe F will be there as I have added one of his clinics to my itinerary (I'm not arriving until Thursday). How...
General discussion 21 3 689 1785265035
NMRA 2026: Chattanooga Day 2

Started by jeffshultz in General discussion: I spent the first couple of hours of today in a Modeling With the Masters clinic on figure painting, and I basically had one figure done, and another started, when I had to pack up and leave to go to...
General discussion 11 5 119 1785264511
Does anyone else here like Tyco/Mantuas?

Started by rp model railroads in Locos and rolling stock: Good morning Model Railroad Hobbyists- Just wondering, after scrolling through some of the latest posts under the "Locos" category, are there any other model railroaders here who...
Locos and rolling stock 170 5 11,672 1785263962
A District (DCC or DC) Control Panel....

Started by Sumner in Track and electrical/DCC: A District (DCC or DC) Control Panel .... . I'm using an 8 district DCC-EX command station (Districts A to H) that was under $200 to build. It allows any district to be DCC, DCC Program or DC at...
Track and electrical/DCC 0 0 16 1785262885
Union Pacific's N Scale Canyon Division...

Started by Sumner in Journals/Blogs: Scenery to Track Elevator – Part 1 ...... . Finally after months of CAD, 3D printing and Electronics projects I’m back actually doing something constructive on the layout. Before laying more...
Journals/Blogs 173 8 6,130 1785261981
Boley - Out of the Darkness / Estes trailer

Started by Kirk W in Scenery and structures: Gang! I need this trailer on my layout. Does anyone know where they are being sold? There is one on eBay, but I am not bidding $59 for it. 📷...
Scenery and structures 8 3 386 1785260159
Interstate Railroad (proto-freelance) - slow burn HO scale layout project.

Started by danielb in Journals/Blogs: 📷 Howdy folks, I've had a long planned layout project for the past few years that is finally starting to come to fruition. Updates will be sporadic as my time isn't always available to...
Journals/Blogs 31 19 1,282 1785260064
Possible new technology for model railroading

Started by CandOfan in General discussion Decals UV printer: I’ve recently been getting announcements and teasers for a new technology that may be of some benefit, specifically UV printing. This type of printing is capable of laying down white ink (and of...
General discussion Decals UV printer 31 9 755 1785259937
Much Easier LCC Configuration

Started by John Socha-Leialoha in Track and electrical/DCC: Back in February, I was working on a book about DIY LCC devices and programming them, when I realized that configuring a layout using LCC was way too complicated. I set out to implement an idea I had...
Track and electrical/DCC 16 4 224 1785259611
MDC Shay Handbook update ...

Started by Jeff Johnston in Locos and rolling stock: Greetings! I’m the author of The MDC Shay Handbook that was first released in 1997. Its first and second printings have been sold out for a long time. I’m working on a third edition that will...
Locos and rolling stock 37 22 2,013 1785259086
Getting Real: Scratchbuilding a signature structure

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 4 9 219 1785257984
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 277 26 15,782 1785257534
HO Scale Lumber

Started by remhed in Scenery and structures: I am looking for ideas and advice on how to model HO scale lumber. I have a lumber yard with the Walthers kit on my layout, and I want to fill the racks of the lumber sheds with various sizes of...
Scenery and structures 30 2 1,091 1785256412
twin-coil energy?

Started by greg ciurpita in Track and electrical/DCC: does anyone know how much energy (??) is needed to fully switch using a twin coil switch machine? if the coil is 4 Ω, it will draw 2A @8V, but can fully switch < 1sec. Could it...
Track and electrical/DCC 39 0 611 1785255238
Oregon Pacific Railway Co. -Western Oregon shelf layout

Started by WestoftheRockies in Journals/Blogs: I’m starting this thread to document the creation of my first major layout, the proto-freelance (modern era) Oregon Pacific Railway Co. It will be a 10 ft by 20” free standing shelf layout. My...
Journals/Blogs 13 16 969 1785253840
Here's a fun one... travel planning, RR museums and train shops along I-90?

Started by DIamondback in General discussion: I was just thinking on some things as I plan the relocation (Seattle, WA to Fort Wayne, IN), and found myself frustrated by the haze of forty years' memory on the kitschy tourist traps, diners that...
General discussion 37 4 504 1785253728
Maryland Midland 2.0

Started by Nevin W. Wilson in Journals/Blogs: My previous version of the Maryland Midland was build in the attic of a farm house. We recently moved to a new town home that fortunately has a 18x23 finished attic so it will soon hold the new...
Journals/Blogs 208 7 11,858 1785253289
Branchline Heavyweights

Started by CandOfan in Locos and rolling stock: Have I missed an announcement or something? It seems that Atlas has stopped producing these, as either RTR or kits. Or have they sold the line (as they bought it about ten years ago) and I am just...
Locos and rolling stock 44 0 3,196 1785250750
Dutch Country Conrail

Started by Mitchell Schuessler in Journals/Blogs Reading Railroad Operations Planning: I figured this would be a good place for a supplemental blog to my article “Dutch Country Conrail” in the April 2025 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman. I have a few threads floating...
Journals/Blogs Reading Railroad Operations Planning 282 16 10,762 1785249797
Vine Street branch build, part 1

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 5 11 263 1785248060
Cleaning steam loco wheels

Started by Ken Kaef in Locos and rolling stock: What is your preferred method of cleaning the wheels on steam locomotives? Our club, the Adelaide Model Railroaders inc, is looking at setting guidelines for cleaning the wheels on club...
Locos and rolling stock 23 0 617 1785245754
Let’s talk Ops: Getting started with car cards

Started by MRH in Magazine feedback: 📷 Read 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 1 6 155 1785236320
John H White, Jr

Started by DIamondback in In Memoriam: https://www.trains.com/trn/railroads/history/john-h-white-jr-dean-of-american-railroad-historians-dies-at-92/ We Are Diminished. 🙁
In Memoriam 0 2 111 1785221837
Has anyone ever tried Accurail "Unit couplers"?

Started by Michael Tondee in Locos and rolling stock: As I'm getting back into things with the layout, one of the first things I've chosen to work on is my Accurail USRA 55 ton coal hoppers. I have 23 of them and my original intention was to keep them...
Locos and rolling stock 16 1 518 1785217491
Yard Office inventory software

Started by Tony Van Bergen in General discussion: I used to use Yard Office but a few months ago when I wanted to open it all I got was "Yard Office cannot locate your data files" and the program won't open. I tried contacting the...
General discussion 0 0 93 1785210124
Modeling a Rail to Marine Coal Transfer In The Backwoods.

Started by Michael Tondee in Journals/Blogs HO scale Scenery Structures Freelance: What to do when you’re out of space? Find more. Easier said than done, right, but my Hargetts Hollow removable diorama that sits in front of a not often accessed closet door is one example of...
Journals/Blogs HO scale Scenery Structures Freelance 20 11 745 1785206672
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 773 20 32,673 1785205843
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 ) 177 11 6,722 1785205494
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 349 5 11,510 1785194297
The EL Dayton Branch 1964

Started by Jeff Youst in Journals/Blogs: Starting up a blog to chronicle my trials and tribulations for the build of the EL Dayton Branch 1964 has been a long time coming. The past 8 years or so have seen a few fits and starts and some...
Journals/Blogs 71 11 2,825 1785193112
Hello everyone

Started by JJ in Getting started: Hello from sunny UK (Its not usually as sunny as it is at the moment) I help my neighbour out with his set (Its OO scale). My jobs mostly involve painting set items such as figures and...
Getting started 24 18 1,049 1785191419
Caboose story. Caboose crews, this thread is yours!

Started by Juanfran in Prototype railroading: Searching with the keyword "caboose" revealed all kind of threads on the topic of cabooses, but (unless I did not look well) nothing struturally dedicated to them in operation and their...
Prototype railroading 23 2 799 1785186828
A really basic, unnoticed model railroading controversy, hiding in plain sight?

Started by Andy Reichert in Operation and maintenance: Which came first, model railroading "operations" or model box car manufacturers? Selling a model US passenger train is a typically a one off deal. But model box car sales...
Operation and maintenance 55 1 2,230 1785180475
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 4,363 23 420,063 1785179857
Tour of the Pennsylvania Dutch County

Started by Mitchell Schuessler in Journals/Blogs modular Pennsylvania 1970s layout design: Since I've wrapped up planning for these lines, I wanted to take a poll from the forum on which routes they would want to see in my layout plan. All these routes have been hand drawn, and a best...
Journals/Blogs modular Pennsylvania 1970s layout design 149 4 3,740 1785177630
Chateau Ste. Michelle Building

Started by Craig Townsend in Scenery and structures: Despite the fancy name of a winery, the actual warehouse building is pretty boring. Hopefully another quick building.
Scenery and structures 8 1 199 1785175691
A PCB Turnout Hack?

Started by Tim Bratcher in General discussion Scratchbuilding Turnouts: I just ordered a product from a custom PCB manufacturer (JLCPCB.com), and I am hoping it will be a real cost-saving alternative to PCB turnout ties for scratchbuilding turnouts. I won't go into here...
General discussion Scratchbuilding Turnouts 22 2 458 1785175375
POV video update on the PM&C

Started by GT Mills in General discussion: Picked up a NIB Polaroid Cube+, the battery lasts a full hour compared to the first one that dies after 7-8 minutes. Had some fun rolling around the rails this afternoon, added tunes and wanted...
General discussion 2 4 95 1785171840
Rick's Diner - July 2026 Edition

Started by Kevin Parson in General discussion: 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷
General discussion 159 2 3,325 1785171255
Playing with photos & ChatGPT AI

Started by Will_Annand in General discussion: Ken's video this month on AI got me to thinking. I decided to try "enhancing" & "colorizing" some old historic photos. 📷 The first command was...
General discussion 13 15 375 1785168429

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