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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 734 10 19,486 1790371685
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 92 9 4,050 1790371624
N&AC 2.0 Track Planning

Started by anteaum2666 in Dream and design Track Planning layout design Benchwork: Welcome to my Blog! After 10 years of fun I had to take down the Nicholas & Ashley Creek RY for a move to a new home. I saved most of the major scenes and have started planning for the new space....
Dream and design Track Planning layout design Benchwork 218 14 4,539 1790371415
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 49 5 728 1790371319
Connecticut early diesel branchline examples?

Started by RyanAK in Prototype railroading Prototype diesel: Hi, gang. I posted this in “dream” but thought this might be a better place… I just completed a move to Connecticut from Pennsylvania and this is completely new territory for me in a lot of...
Prototype railroading Prototype diesel 1 0 2 1790371147
Switching a Wye. Yeah.

Started by RyanAK in Dream and design Prototype Wye: Hi, friends. I’ve recently moved my family to CT from Pennsylvania for a better school situation for my autistic son. While there are upsides and some (significant) downsides to this move, one...
Dream and design Prototype Wye 13 5 253 1790370709
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 112 12 3,058 1790370625
Switch Choice Inquiry

Started by anteaum2666 in Track and electrical/DCC Fast Tracks peco micro engineering: I'm looking for advice and experience here. I've been building my own Fast Tracks switches for over a decade now. I love them, love the quality, enjoy building them, etc. I can't say enough good...
Track and electrical/DCC Fast Tracks peco micro engineering 29 0 444 1790368894
Pin or glue flex track

Started by glarson52 in Track and electrical/DCC: When laying flex track do you prefer pin or glue? Or some other method? Why?
Track and electrical/DCC 36 2 763 1790366321
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 6 3 129 1790365532
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 824 20 35,335 1790363664
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 316 18 12,762 1790363664
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 168 4 6,386 1790361949
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 28 2 7,138 1790361149
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 25 18 669 1790358192
What’s Neat: Tree modeling Ken Patterson style, …

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 1 115 1790358075
Slide Scanner

Started by soo.line.steve in General discussion: I'm looking into purchasing a scanner for mounted slides and 35mm film negatives to organize my rather large collection of slides specifically. I've spent hours on Google and the best I can...
General discussion 33 5 467 1790356906
TSU-2200 and Decoder Pro - No Locomotive Detected 301

Started by sanchomurphy in Locos and rolling stock DCC: I have a mystery. I have a brass steamer that is having issues with programming. I use a Pi-Sprog 3 for layout control with Decoder Pro. Decoder Pro is unfortunately not detecting the...
Locos and rolling stock DCC 4 1 70 1790354771
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 318 6 13,997 1790354064
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 32 12 610 1790354029
Rick's Diner - September, 2026 Edition

Started by Kevin Parson in General discussion: 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷
General discussion 109 2 2,898 1790349192
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 905 48 45,177 1790347871
Central Valley Model Works health?

Started by Oldiron in General discussion: I am thinking about using CVMW ties and switches on my new layout but in looking around to buy some, most suppliers are showing low or out of stock. The last Facebook post from CVMW in July is...
General discussion 11 1 599 1790347829
Let's See A Model Of... September, 2026 Edition

Started by Kevin Parson in General discussion: 📷
General discussion 132 2 3,638 1790347610
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 4,420 25 422,550 1790346549
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 0 5 31 1790342722
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 144 3 2,634 1790325185
Mercury.....really ?

Started by john holt in Track and electrical/DCC: I saw this on Pinterest. Somehow I just don't see this as a viable solution . 📷 John
Track and electrical/DCC 29 5 776 1790322478
RJ12 connector for NCE Power Cab

Started by Jerry SP 1950 in Track and electrical/DCC: Howdy, I need help with my NCE Power cab one of my connectors is broken I tried to replace it but the connector I chose is a RJ-11 (RJ-12) 6p6c. I did the white...
Track and electrical/DCC 6 1 232 1790315134
Buffalo Creek & Western

Started by Denny99 in Journals/Blogs: Buffalo Creek & Western is a freelanced HO scale model railroad layout set in Montana in 1985. Heavily inspired by Tom Johnson's Cass County track plan (and rural setting), the BC&W is an...
Journals/Blogs 38 20 1,979 1790315115
How to deflate your ego

Started by Rick Beatty in Scenery and structures: For me it is take some pictures of your work! For many years I only did buildings that had windows that were glued in. It was easy to paint them before installation. About 5 years ago I...
Scenery and structures 31 12 754 1790314255
A New Begining for the freelance Arcata & Mad River

Started by Arcata & Mad River R.R in Journals/Blogs: 📷 The Arcata & Mad River RR was one of the first railroads in California.. though the real railroad is now long abandoned, As the forests of Humboldt Cycle to maturity, The Simpson Timber...
Journals/Blogs 71 21 2,667 1790311321
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 4 0 168 1790309282
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 98 8 4,960 1790307977
Making homemade decals

Started by cduckworth in Scenery and structures: I had this in another thread but wanted to share it on a separate posting so it wasn’t buried. I’ve made multiple decals using this method. The only issues noted was spraying...
Scenery and structures 13 19 342 1790303734
What's the status of https://americantieandtimber.com/ - makers of Gap Master PCB ties?

Started by TrainFan in General discussion website: Anyone know if https://americantieandtimber.com/ is still in business? Their web site is up, but emails and phone calls have not gotten a response. I love their Gap Master ties for protecting the...
General discussion website 0 0 73 1790299863
PROTO:48 General Discussion

Started by Andy Reichert in General discussion PROTO:48: Since Proto:48 keeps popping up on topics of other scales, I though it would be good to start up a topic specific to PROTO:48 for those working on it, or even just interested. Andy
General discussion PROTO:48 117 4 3,032 1790297928
Compressing a large bridge (LA River, HO scale)

Started by Yannis in Scenery and structures: Hello everyone! I am composing a scene and trying to figure out compression or omission of specific elements for a prototype bridge scene that i have on my layout. It is the LA...
Scenery and structures 8 3 326 1790283956
Norfolk Southern - Morristown Airport Industrial District (MAID) in N Scale

Started by rjbokleman in Journals/Blogs: Introduction There exists a wide variety of Model Railroaders who often model railroads of some significance to them from some perspective. That perspective drives and inspires them...
Journals/Blogs 38 8 2,978 1790278494
Brass Stuff in Videos

Started by Ken Meade in Locos and rolling stock: I've posted a few videos recently of my new brass additions to my empire. It occurred to me, there are few to none videos by other modelers of their brass stuff. Why is that? I would think they...
Locos and rolling stock 10 3 276 1790277094
Sherline is 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 35 7 1,188 1790276193
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 14 3 360 1790274920
Tracking Shipments with Shop

Started by Ken Meade in General discussion: I placed an order with Model Train Stuff a couple weeks ago. Now I have a tracking notice but its with an agent called "Shop". It's a QR code that ya scan with your phone. In this case, it...
General discussion 53 3 953 1790273601
How to create a backdrop on a sloped wall?

Started by blhs569 in Scenery and structures: The room designated as the train room is in the half story potion of the house. That is the walls start to slope inward about half way up. Three walls of the room each has an access door to crawl...
Scenery and structures 8 5 180 1790271379
Marshfield. A developing story

Started by Railman284 in Scenery and structures early rail: Before we visit Marshfield let us visit Miller's Slough with a view of the Mill from the slough; 📷 and the community that developed around it. 📷 Following the tracks...
Scenery and structures early rail 86 27 3,404 1790270813
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 21 5 719 1790268240
A Branchline in the Rural South

Started by SouthlandModeler in Journals/Blogs: 📷 Hello everyone. I’ve decided to document my ongoing layout build in a blog. While I don’t know if any layout is ever complete this layout is very close to having its scenery done...
Journals/Blogs 348 67 20,718 1790265635
What's your model railroading tunes?

Started by BBQdave in General discussion: So as not to derail another thread, I'm starting a separate thread on music you listen to while at your workbench or running your trains. My layout is in the corner of the family room. My...
General discussion 76 5 1,091 1790265513
Indian Rock 6 axle road units

Started by Indian Rock in Locos and rolling stock: Heres where my 6 axle road power will be posted for my EMD, GE, and Alco power will be posted finish one then move on to the next Now to see which 6 axle road unit gets the first nod and on...
Locos and rolling stock 20 4 542 1790263777
The Iron Range: DSS&A and LS&I ore country in N scale

Started by Jonathan T Parsons in Journals/Blogs N Scale new layout Planning layout design: I've wanted to build this railroad since I was a kid, and this year the room for it finally exists — mostly. The garage is 21' × 19', ceiling just under 8'. Layout goes in as the room finishes, so...
Journals/Blogs N Scale new layout Planning layout design 1 4 98 1790262672

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