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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 214 20 4,047 1792639115
What’s on your workbench? October 2026

Started by Eric Hansmann in General discussion Workbench project sharing forum thread: Many thanks to so many of you who take time to post photos and descriptions of your hobby projects. The last few months this thread has been overflowing with fabulous work. I hope the shared...
General discussion Workbench project sharing forum thread 200 7 6,663 1792638880
Your First Loco

Started by Pennsy_Nut in Locos and rolling stock Locomotive Nostalgia: Just for curiosity. What was your first loco? And do you still have it? Does it run to the best of your knowledge? To start. Mine was a Penn Line H10 Consolidation, bought as best I can recall...
Locos and rolling stock Locomotive Nostalgia 30 4 428 1792637638
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 62 6 1,629 1792636096
Electrical Puzzle

Started by Ken Meade in Track and electrical/DCC decoders electrical DCC conversion: OK, installing a decoder in another loco. The loco has a light board in it for simple forward a rear lights when it was run on DC. Only two wires coming out of it for power input. The lights are 1...
Track and electrical/DCC decoders electrical DCC conversion 15 0 181 1792635245
Boxcar Gulch - Module

Started by Dan Bachman in Journals/Blogs Free-mo model railroad layout construction: When I was 7, my father introduced me to model railroading when he brought home an HO engine and a few boxcars. I was hooked and over the next 5 years we built a layout in our basement. Then my...
Journals/Blogs Free-mo model railroad layout construction 14 21 672 1792635095
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 4,450 28 423,814 1792631870
Block Signal Design, Pere Marquette & Chesapeake 291021

Started by GT Mills in Track and electrical/DCC Signals Pere Marquette PM&C: Now that I've got the LED brightness balancing figured out I can move ahead with automated block signaling. This is what I've come up with. To keep the diagram simple and uncluttered only the outer...
Track and electrical/DCC Signals Pere Marquette PM&C 0 1 23 1792629105
Things learned about laying N-scale track as a complete newbie

Started by JimGnitecki in Benchwork and roadbed beginner N-scale track laying: This is my very first model railway so I am a complete newbie at laying foam roadbed and Peco track & turnouts! It's been very educational, and I have learned a lot of tings, some of them rather...
Benchwork and roadbed beginner N-scale track laying 8 2 70 1792628635
Let's See A Model Of... October, 2026 Edition

Started by Kevin Parson in General discussion: 📷
General discussion 99 2 2,714 1792628351
Things learned about laying N-scale track as a complete newbie

Started by JimGnitecki in Track and electrical/DCC track laying: This is my very first model railway so I am a complete newbie at laying foam roadbed and Peco track & turnouts! It's been very educational, and I have learned a lot of tings, some of them rather...
Track and electrical/DCC track laying 0 0 9 1792627370
thick coupler lid

Started by greg ciurpita in General discussion Rolling Stock couplers kadee: wanted to replace a non-kadee coupler (mchenry?) because a car was uncoupling often. However, the kadee wouldn't swing freely when the coupler screw was tightened enough to prevent the coupler...
General discussion Rolling Stock couplers kadee 0 2 42 1792626765
Tichy in Intermountain boxes?

Started by PM Railfan in General discussion: Everyday there is something new, or maybe even old that is apparently new to me. Came across this just paddling thru the 'Bay' and thought there was something just a tad odd about it...... ...
General discussion 8 0 197 1792624460
Track Layout - Grain Complex - Inputs Requested

Started by Jolly Roger in Benchwork and roadbed Operations layout design track laying: So my grain complex itself will take up at least 6' of length. For a complex this large, the appearance of a certain amount of shipping capacity, i.e. railcars, is necessary. Figure mid 80's to turn...
Benchwork and roadbed Operations layout design track laying 15 3 344 1792622062
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 446 21 17,687 1792621390
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 165 5 4,516 1792620851
Locomotive shorts DCC booster only when drive engaged

Started by Rigby in Locos and rolling stock DCC sound decoder: TLDR: Locomotive shorts the track circuit only when drive engaged, but sometimes it runs away at high speed instead. Help! I purchased an Atlas MP15 recently. Its old enough to have the QSI...
Locos and rolling stock DCC sound decoder 3 1 58 1792620486
How often is prototype operation disrupted?

Started by CandOfan in General discussion Prototype Operations AMTRAK: I constantly see Amtrak having to do a mechanical assessment (ie some equipment malfunctioned), or some freight shows up on a curfew number instead of its own (probably crew timed out) or some single...
General discussion Prototype Operations AMTRAK 16 2 367 1792620405
Need LED resistors help - SIGNALS

Started by GT Mills in Track and electrical/DCC Signals: Been struggling with resistors to get my signal LEDs balanced and dim enough to look right. For now, until I get them right, using two SPDT toggles (to be replaced with photonic detectors after...
Track and electrical/DCC Signals 40 1 715 1792618935
Camera Recommendations

Started by soo.line.steve in General discussion photography Cameras: I’m looking to upgrade from my iPhone 17 to a dedicated camera setup for shooting both my modeling projects and for railfanning. I’ve been reading about mirrorless cameras compared to DSLR’s...
General discussion photography Cameras 33 1 475 1792615748
What's new on your layout?...

Started by blhs569 in General discussion Workbench Layout project sharing: Gonna try a familiar topic with a twist... I noticed it is quite common for folks to post photos of something they added to their layout in the "Workbench" thread. It seems to me those...
General discussion Workbench Layout project sharing 13 8 318 1792615146
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 304 20 8,711 1792611408
Walthers Turnout Throwbar Issue

Started by JON RUEHLE in Track and electrical/DCC Track Walthers Turnouts: Attached are photos of a code 83 HO scale right hand turnout number four 948-83014. The plate that is on the throw bar , between the points, is sticking up on the left side. I have...
Track and electrical/DCC Track Walthers Turnouts 5 2 104 1792609961
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 351 6 14,832 1792609559
Hobby Shop Customer Service

Started by KennyInNC in General discussion: To Hobby Shop Owners and Employees People still expect proper customer service. Was out of town and hit 5 shops, two of which had owners/employees that totally ignored me yet spoke to other...
General discussion 27 8 973 1792608993
Interchange: giving our railroads a world to operate in—what would you want included?

Started by Rigby in Dream and design Operations ops planning op session paperwork: TLDR: There has been a lot of discussion about operating systems recently. I am working on a project grounded in some of our threads about economic engines. It works - but before I...
Dream and design Operations ops planning op session paperwork 18 3 381 1792606041
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 767 10 20,657 1792604213
Rick's Diner - October, 2026 Edition

Started by Kevin Parson in General discussion: 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷
General discussion 181 5 3,633 1792603807
Limited Modeler: Putting new life into the new 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 3 9 146 1792602739
Achievable? 28-ton Narrow Gauge Climax

Started by RyanAK in Journals/Blogs Narrow Gauge Scratchbuilding climax proto-freelance: Some here may remember that I have a long interest in the short lines and logging railroads of my native Pennsylvania. Particularly, the White Deer & Loganton has had a firm grip on me for...
Journals/Blogs Narrow Gauge Scratchbuilding climax proto-freelance 67 5 1,060 1792601564
Tricks for taming the turnout frog

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 9 281 1792601119
3D Printed Thresher Model

Started by Benny in Journals/Blogs: About a year ago I got an inkling for a thresher. 📷 At one point, threshers were owned by threshing companies that would move about the midwest threshing wheat for hire. ...
Journals/Blogs 63 0 11,547 1792600494
Dutch Country Railroads

Started by Mitchell Schuessler in Journals/Blogs Operations Planning Penn Central Reading Company: 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 Operations Planning Penn Central Reading Company 353 20 14,445 1792598376
Looking north on model railroads is completely arbitrary

Started by Alex Wood in Dream and design Track Planning Layout Dream and Design: Continuation of discussion from this thread: https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/looking-for-opinions-on-my-track-plan-13882149?trail=50 So my original post I was responding to was...
Dream and design Track Planning Layout Dream and Design 77 0 1,190 1792596040
Electrical pickup on all wheels??

Started by PaPa Bill in Locos and rolling stock Bachmann electrical: After many months of debating to purchase a Bachman Prairie locomotive I finally decided to take a chance and purchase one. IMO, I thought it had great possibilities. It appeared to run quite nicely...
Locos and rolling stock Bachmann electrical 13 2 241 1792594459
Digitrax DB150 Non-Stop Beeping

Started by Ken Meade in Track and electrical/DCC DCC Digitrax: While running a train around the layout, it stopped at a thrown turnout. Since that incident, the DB150 Booster for that section has been beeping non-stop. I disconnected the track from it but it...
Track and electrical/DCC DCC Digitrax 9 1 108 1792591328
What If? models of something that might have existed!

Started by mpwjohn in Dream and design: Has anyone had fun with trying to make/design models of items that might have been on the real railroads? Many modelers have built some what if type of models. I had tried to make a DD30, using...
Dream and design 105 8 4,026 1792589810
My SP/SSW freight car roster quest

Started by SPSHASTAROUTE in Journals/Blogs Prototype Freelancing: My favorite part of the hobby is prototype modeling of locos and cars. After a move a few years back, I lost my basement layout and kinda lost interest in trains. Our current home is...
Journals/Blogs Prototype Freelancing 4 2 108 1792586848
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 154 13 4,322 1792583202
Sherline is Maybe Not Closing its Doors

Started by Glenn Butcher in In Memoriam: https://www.sherline.com/an-important-message-to-our-sherline-customers/ This makes me quite sad. I've discussed them as an example of what a US company can do; maybe that can't be done,...
In Memoriam 39 7 1,519 1792554975
Walthers HO Turntable 933-2849 IR LED

Started by Mark Pruitt in Track and electrical/DCC LED Walthers turntable: I just bought a "new" subject turntable off ebay. Apparently the LED in the bridge used for calibration is dead. It doesn't glow at all (and my cellphone camera shows them with a faint...
Track and electrical/DCC LED Walthers turntable 6 1 88 1792554331
New insights into some electrical issues from LogicTech rail (maker of Light EFX board), Miller signs and electrical theory in general

Started by DavidJones in Track and electrical/DCC DCC electrical: I had a one track mind. V=I x R where V is voltage, I is current and R is resistance. This is what I'm thinking now. I hope its...
Track and electrical/DCC DCC electrical 6 0 188 1792551496
Modern switch stands

Started by keystonefarm in Operation and maintenance Turnouts: For years I have been using Caboose Industries 218's for hand thrown turnouts. When I go to the Springfield show in West Springfield Mass. in late January the past 4-5 years I ask the people at...
Operation and maintenance Turnouts 2 2 106 1792551171
Promoting Proto:87

Started by ednadolski in General discussion CORPM project sharing: I will be displaying some of my models at the upcoming CORPM in a few weeks, and in addition to some of my N scale stuff I figured this was a good opportunity to share some of the Proto:87 models...
General discussion CORPM project sharing 25 9 912 1792547575
Homasote, or foam?

Started by GeorgiaTrains in Benchwork and roadbed: In this modern day what makes the best roadbed - I am sure this has been asked before, I would like a current update.
Benchwork and roadbed 55 1 832 1792546179
Barchester, Pennsylvania

Started by Robert (Robin) Mountenay in Journals/Blogs: I haven’t been a regular poster here, though I have shared pictures of several of the layouts I’ve built, including my latest, Barchester. This layout depicted a central Pennsylvania...
Journals/Blogs 937 48 46,968 1792546029
O scale Dough Hill Layout

Started by TrucTrain55 in Journals/Blogs: I started this O scale layout back in 2015 and still adding and replacing some of the patterns I’ve had on here. This layout has no particular Road name running on it just what I feel like running...
Journals/Blogs 30 10 1,125 1792542974
Weekly Photo Fun - Oct 18-24, 2026

Started by JC Shall in General discussion photography model railroad photography: 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. Please avoid posting photos manipulated or created...
General discussion photography model railroad photography 15 2 631 1792542794
Old magazine question

Started by keystonefarm in General discussion: Have been reducing what seems to be my second hobby after model railroading collecting train related magazines !! I've found homes for a bunch of my historical group issues for the PRR, RDG,PC and...
General discussion 39 3 972 1792538762
BEGIN OXCART BLOCK

Started by AzBaja in Journals/Blogs: Detergente lavandería brillante - Makes laundry detergent crystals. Detergente lavandería brillante is known for their boxed laundry detergent under the name brand Cristales...
Journals/Blogs 28 8 1,596 1792533786

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