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uncoupling options - hands off the layout

Started by Frolin in Track and electrical/DCC: Looking for options for uncoupling Kadee's with a hands off, hands out of the layout, approach... (other than permanent track magnets) . Have looked at the Kadee electro-magnet option. It's kinda big...
Track and electrical/DCC 24 1 588 1790630428
How cut perfect 45 degree angles on Woodland Scenics foam trackbed on TURNOUTS?

Started by JimGnitecki in Benchwork and roadbed track laying: I am a newbie to model railway construction. I am about to start cutting and installing Woodland Scenics N SCALE foam trackbed. The straight runs seem easy enough once I realized that beyond a marked...
Benchwork and roadbed track laying 7 0 103 1790630371
Connecticut early diesel subjects?

Started by RyanAK in Dream and design Prototype Shortline Industry ALCO diesel: Hi, gang. I just completed a move to Connecticut from Pennsylvania and this is completely new territory for me in a lot of ways. Including railroad history. I have a lovely bit of space in our new...
Dream and design Prototype Shortline Industry ALCO diesel 21 4 350 1790630311
Phone, Tablet & WiFi Throttles for DC...

Started by Sumner in Track and electrical/DCC WiFi DCC-EX Smart Phone Throttle: So as to not muddy up Ken's great post on why DC is the right choice for him I thought I'd start a new thread in response to....... The following video shows how easy it is to...
Track and electrical/DCC WiFi DCC-EX Smart Phone Throttle 10 4 197 1790630183
Peco or walthers code 70 flex???

Started by Danno164 in Track and electrical/DCC: Seeking input..peco or walthers code 70 ...not using any roadbed...laying top of foam..
Track and electrical/DCC 9 0 142 1790629791
Next 18 decoder on a motherboard with stay alive in a SW1

Started by Nick Santo in Track and electrical/DCC DCC: Here's a shout out for one of the prototype N18+s that I sent out. Tom Austin added a SoundTraxx TSU-N18 to a prototype NixTrainz N18+ Decoder Buddy and installed it into a Walthers SW1. Tom gets...
Track and electrical/DCC DCC 27 18 739 1790629691
Building Riverbend

Started by thewizard1 in Scenery and structures: After leaving Beaver Falls heading north through the mountain you come to the town of Riverbend. After crossing the Emerson river is the town of Moosehead. It has taken me awhile to decide...
Scenery and structures 56 19 1,174 1790629470
Reset, repair, or replace decoder?

Started by Omaha53 in Track and electrical/DCC HO scale BLI DCC decoder: I have a HO scale BLI 2-8-2 Mikado with a Paragon 3 decoder. I got it out of the box recently and was testing it on the new layout I'm building. It ran very on the new trackage in both directions for...
Track and electrical/DCC HO scale BLI DCC decoder 11 1 157 1790629142
Riding the Hoisington to Horace turn

Started by cduckworth in Prototype railroading photography: In 1978 I rode the local between Hoisington and Horace, Kansas. Took my Canon camera and shot a roll of black and white film. Here’s a couple shots; the one of the two GP38-2 switching...
Prototype railroading photography 1 12 62 1790628938
Digitrax Decoder Manual

Started by hoffertg in Track and electrical/DCC DCC Digitrax: I recently upgraded my DCC operating system with the Digitrax Zephyr Express DCS52 command station. After unpacking I noticed that they weren’t including the Decoder manual as they once did, but...
Track and electrical/DCC DCC Digitrax 8 1 139 1790626786
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 321 18 12,941 1790625464
The Kingstone Model Works Shop

Started by Bernd in Journals/Blogs Kingstone Model Works: This is not the name of a business. It's the name of the shop I do my model railroading hobby in. The name Kingstone is the translation of a town in then East Germany called Königstein. That's where...
Journals/Blogs Kingstone Model Works 363 34 16,397 1790625317
Do you use roadbed under the tracks in classification yards?

Started by JimGnitecki in Benchwork and roadbed Track Yard: Being a newbie to model railway construction, I have to ask: Do you use roadbed under the tracks in classification yards? I'm asking because it seems to me that having a...
Benchwork and roadbed Track Yard 13 0 209 1790622914
Delta Pine Products Plant, Covington, LA

Started by Matthew W Hardey in Journals/Blogs: I have just completed the power house that supplies the pine oil mill with steam. The mill process consisted of several large steam-heated kettles in which pine stumps were boiled to extract the sap...
Journals/Blogs 5 10 100 1790622306
Pokey 3.0 - Scenery

Started by pldvdk in Scenery and structures: With the completion of the fascia on my layout, it's time to start a new chapter in the ongoing saga of the Pokey 3.0! This thread will follow the scenery work (and other odds and ends) that...
Scenery and structures 751 10 19,880 1790621958
The far from ideal but usable "oversize mining equipment vehicles" for my N scale layout

Started by JimGnitecki in Scenery and structures N Scale: My fictitious futuristic Year 2050 N scale model railway assumes a far norther British Columbia Canada rapidly growing city spawned by discovery and mining of rare earth minerals in the regio....
Scenery and structures N Scale 9 2 137 1790621551
Nicholas & Ashley Creek Railway - v2.0

Started by anteaum2666 in Journals/Blogs Layout: I officially "broke ground" on version 2.0 of the Nicholas & Ashley Creek Railway on February 19, 2026. It's been about 7 months since our move and I'm excited to get back in the game!...
Journals/Blogs Layout 87 11 3,567 1790621155
The Metaline Falls Branch

Started by Matt Forcum in Journals/Blogs Milwaukee Road: Welcome to the Milwaukee Road’s Metaline Falls Branch. My model railroad depicts a small branchline located in the dramatic and remote landscape of northeastern Washington state during the last...
Journals/Blogs Milwaukee Road 13 7 767 1790620938
looking for Broadway Limited sw1500 decoder info.

Started by Nelsonb111563 in Locos and rolling stock DCC decoder BLI decoder SW1500: Just a quick question from the masses as you have helped before! I have a BLI OEM decoder that I removed from a SW1500 back a ways to install a TSU 2 decoder. What I am looking for is, does anyone...
Locos and rolling stock DCC decoder BLI decoder SW1500 0 0 14 1790620755
Weakly AI Foto Phun - September 28 - October 4, 2026

Started by jeffshultz in General discussion AI photorealistic SD40T-2: I doubt I'm ever going to remember opening a new thread on Sunday, so this one is going to go Monday to Sunday. Here's ChatGPT's weekly contribution to the thread - I asked it to create a...
General discussion AI photorealistic SD40T-2 1 2 40 1790620006
Juanfran's huge, massive freight trains

Started by Juanfran in Locos and rolling stock: One day, when I was a teenager, I discovered an illustrated book about American trains at the local library in Paris/France, where I grew up. I remember the pics of very colorful locomotives and...
Locos and rolling stock 34 5 1,013 1790619926
What’s on your workbench? September 2026

Started by Eric Hansmann in General discussion Workbench: Here we are in the last few weeks of summer! I’ll bet there are several layout and workbench projects that are nearing completion. A big thanks go out to everyone who has been contributing to this...
General discussion Workbench 178 4 6,949 1790618357
Something changed, black on dark grey is NOT readable!

Started by David Emery in MRH forum help: A change to CSS, maybe? ANyway, I can't read this. 📷 dave
MRH forum help 18 0 293 1790617760
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 177 8 6,404 1790617066
Limited Modeler: Building Ballville layout update ...

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 37 12 806 1790616051
Rick's Diner - September, 2026 Edition

Started by Kevin Parson in General discussion: 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷
General discussion 114 2 3,134 1790615535
Abrasive track cleaner... Would you use it ?

Started by Kirk W in Track and electrical/DCC: Y'all know me... They are all trainshow finds. All, except for the CMX clean machine. I bought the CMX clean machine brand new back when they were ridiculously priced at $100.00. I did find...
Track and electrical/DCC 26 3 823 1790614661
How many finescalers are left?

Started by 1471SirFrederickBanbury in General discussion: Its seems the more and more I go around, the more in a vacuum of my micro-niche. While most places I happen to be in have few people who enjoy a good model train (just my luck I guess), of the people...
General discussion 105 6 1,669 1790614404
UglyK5 Layout v5.0 Blog

Started by UglyK5 in Journals/Blogs: I’ve started building the fifth iteration of my model railroad, and will blog about it here. We moved three times in the last three years. I had hoped to reuse the many modules that I had...
Journals/Blogs 97 9 4,258 1790614327
HOn30 Ocotillo & Lost Mesa RR

Started by ezlyamuzd66 in Journals/Blogs HOn30: 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷
Journals/Blogs HOn30 89 28 3,030 1790608688
Models are on the list of 77 items for reduced tariffs from China

Started by Steve Raque in General discussion: On the list announced yesterday of 77 items from China that will have tariffs reduced to most-favored-nation rates is the following: "reduced-scale ("scale") models and similar...
General discussion 0 2 104 1790603470
Looking for recommendations for an electric pin vice

Started by dperry in Benchwork and roadbed O scale Handlaying: I need to make a lot of tiny holes (sad story included) and a manual pin vice is not going to cut it. When I say tiny, I mean about a #78 drill bit and by a lot I mean several hundred. I am...
Benchwork and roadbed O scale Handlaying 19 3 466 1790603107
Spectrum (Bachman Industries) EMC Gas Electric Doodlebug

Started by Bernd in Locos and rolling stock: Just finished fixing the split gears on both of my Doodlebug's. The first set were split to the point it was easy to see the crack while mounted on the axle. The second one it was very hard to see...
Locos and rolling stock 31 3 7,309 1790602965
Weekly Photo Fun - Sep 20-26, 2026

Started by JC Shall in General discussion Photos: It's another week . . . post 'em if you got 'em. There were several late-comers in last week's post . Check them out, then come back here afterward. Please avoid posting photos manipulated or created...
General discussion Photos 15 2 756 1790600346
Train Songs

Started by eastwind in General discussion: Lets have a thread with people's favorite train songs. Post a video link if possible. edit: Songs about trains, not just videos with trains and music in them.
General discussion 149 3 2,788 1790598764
Interesting video about rust weathering

Started by Watawna in Locos and rolling stock: I found this an interesting video about rust weathering. 🎬
Locos and rolling stock 2 4 190 1790593469
Help! Missing parts on brand new C-50-8 Southern Pacific caboose from Athearn Genesis

Started by Juanfran in Locos and rolling stock: I could use your help I just purchased a brand new C-50-8 caboose from Athearn Genesis in Southern Pacific paint scheme. Concretely reference G63038, caboose # 4683 I purchased it...
Locos and rolling stock 30 2 672 1790587732
Sierra Western - HO scale SP / D&RGW themed wraparound office/shelf layout

Started by Smoothinto2nd in Journals/Blogs Shelf Layout HO scale layout construction Freelance: Hello everyone. I've started construction on my layout which a bunch of you gave some great feed back on over in Dream and design , and I figured I'd start a journal on how it develops over here....
Journals/Blogs Shelf Layout HO scale layout construction Freelance 20 8 488 1790578510
AC&Y’s Spur 4 – A Prototype Modeling Adventure

Started by AC&Y Guy Steve in Journals/Blogs N Scale: Welcome to my N scale prototype modeling adventure. I'll begin with an Index page as Joe suggests. The Prototype I'm Prototype Modeling
Journals/Blogs N Scale 103 8 5,216 1790576512
Kilauea Sugar Mill and Railroad

Started by Clauer in Journals/Blogs: This will be my journey in building my freelance version of the Kilauea Sugar Mill and Railroad in On30 My next post will give some history of the real Railroad and my track plan as a " One...
Journals/Blogs 24 14 1,224 1790571175
Should I try to recess the screws & large plastic washers on 2" thick XPS foam fastened to steel frame?

Started by JimGnitecki in Benchwork and roadbed construction: I am building an N scale layout using 2" thick XPS (Foamular) foam as a platform, fastened to a galvanized steel frame via a combination of Gorilla HD Construction Adhesive, and 3" long...
Benchwork and roadbed construction 10 0 139 1790564246
Weekly Photo Fun - Sep 27 - Oct 3, 2026

Started by JC Shall in General discussion Photos: It's another week . . . post 'em if you got 'em. Please avoid posting photos manipulated or created with AI -- there is another thread for those.
General discussion Photos 13 1 447 1790562014
My Fictional Southern Railway Line

Started by Sauced07 in Journals/Blogs: I don't think I have posted a drawing or plan of my layout. I'm not an artist or computer person so this is all I have. I have spoken about my layout elsewhere but figured I would keep some...
Journals/Blogs 263 19 7,330 1790561149
Modeling a Rail to Marine Coal Transfer Pier In the back woods.

Started by Michael Tondee in Journals/Blogs 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 Scenery Structures Freelance 116 12 3,196 1790559546
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 4,424 25 422,722 1790551519
Girder and Panel Building sets

Started by Kirk W in Scenery and structures Styrene Refinery steel frame building: Gang, Has anyone ever used the old Kenner girder and panel kits for making an HO steel frame building? I am looking for structures to put around process vessels at my refinery and I am torn...
Scenery and structures Styrene Refinery steel frame building 4 2 212 1790551150
I bought a laser cutter

Started by David Emery in General discussion laser cutter laser cutting: Today I pulled the trigger on a laser cutter and some associated stuff. So I'll start a narration here about the experience. For lower cost lasers, there are 2 basic choices: C02...
General discussion laser cutter laser cutting 127 11 3,115 1790537989
How much gap should I leave between 36" pieces of Peco Code 55 flextrack when temperature varies by up to 32 degrees F?

Started by JimGnitecki in Track and electrical/DCC flex track: I am building my N scale layout involuntarily inside a well insulated but non-air conditoned and only moderately heated detached garage that is used ONLY as a model railway and workshop...
Track and electrical/DCC flex track 8 0 121 1790534733
Walthers code 70 flex track

Started by Danno164 in Track and electrical/DCC Walthers flex track: Does anyone find walthers flex track too delicate (harder plastic) too low of tie profile and a smidgen louder with metal wheels etc..also the rail does not look 100 percent nickle silver..looks as...
Track and electrical/DCC Walthers flex track 0 0 77 1790529508
Source for HO scale wood/coal burning cooking/heating stoves?

Started by ChuckS in Scenery and structures HO scale: Does anyone know where I can get an HO scale wood/coal burning heating/cooking stove similar to either of these? It can be a ready made 3d printed part. Or preferably the link to the 3d print file...
Scenery and structures HO scale 3 0 107 1790526572

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