the MRH Forum

Categories
- All CategoriesCategories
  - General discussion
  - Getting started
  - Dream and design
  - Benchwork and roadbed
  - Track and electrical/DCC
  - Scenery and structures
  - Locos and rolling stock
  - Operation and maintenance
  - Modular and TOMA modeling
  - Prototype railroading
  - Journals/Blogs
  - In Memoriam
  - MRH
  - MRH magazine help
  - MRH product support
  - MRH forum help
  - TMTV
  - TMTV general discussion
  - TMTV support
  - TMTV video segments
  - Special
  - Magazine feedback
  - Advertiser promotion
  - Hobby event notices
  - Members only
  - Moderators Only
  - MRH Staging
Topics

*** WELCOME TO THE MRH FORUM!*** View as categories instead
CURRENT MRH magazine: MRH March 2026
CURRENT RUNNING EXTRA: RE March 2026

Forum posting guidelines: MRH Forum Policies
Forum tips and tricks: MRH Forum tips and tricks

Looking for something? Try a search ...

If you're having a problem: mrhmag.com/contact_us (select: Make a request /get help)
MRH home: https://mrhmag.com … MRH Back issues: https://mrhmag.com/magazine/back-issues

New Topic

All Tags

Stepping into O scale

Started by dperry in Journals/Blogs O scale: I am a long-time HO modeler with a garage layout in progress. Glacial progress. I have been thinking about O for a number of years and a while back I finally did something about it: I...
Journals/Blogs O scale 87 9 3,808 1775670481
Let's See A Model Of... April, 2026 Edition

Started by Kevin Parson in General discussion: 📷
General discussion 34 4 1,005 1775670376
What is a good source for undec passenger cars

Started by JeffBulman in Locos and rolling stock: Where is a good source for undec passenger cars. I just picked up the BLI F units in my home road the Aberdeen Carolina and Western and I need some undec passenger cars to paint and decal as...
Locos and rolling stock 13 1 313 1775668047
Rick's Diner... April, 2026 Edition

Started by Kevin Parson in General discussion: 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷
General discussion 48 6 935 1775667727
Broadway RSD-15 locomotive problems

Started by railandsail in Locos and rolling stock: I have a number of Broadway RSD-15's with the low long nose. I liked the looks of them. The first ones I got were 'bluelines, and subsequently then one QSI equipped one, and then 2...
Locos and rolling stock 29 1 842 1775667151
Modeling pulpwood cars

Started by Danno164 in Locos and rolling stock: Does Athearn still put out their 40ft pulpwood cars, cant find any, anywhere...?
Locos and rolling stock 35 0 1,836 1775667117
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 399 21 15,255 1775666501
DCC & Sound Installation in Proto 1K locos, and specifically the DL-109

Started by railandsail in Journals/Blogs: I have a number of these Proto 1000 locomotives that I intend to use in several combinations. They are very heavy engines with great pulling power and smooth operation. Their weight is the result of...
Journals/Blogs 27 1 1,004 1775665485
How many modelers here feel that a frequent "hand from the sky" should be part of normal operations of a model railroad

Started by Andy Reichert in General discussion Scenery Operations: For my own curiosity, I've decided to offer this poll to see the relative interest of "Hands Free" operating versus "Hand from the Sky" operating and running trains.
General discussion Scenery Operations 55 3 1,055 1775664703
CP Rail's Newport & Lyndonville Subdivision

Started by CP Rail Vermont in Journals/Blogs HO scale Weathering Scenery: About a year ago I started a Facebook Group dedicated to construction of my layout and sharing photos as I went, but unfortunately I haven't been posting much on the MRH forum. I'd like to...
Journals/Blogs HO scale Weathering Scenery 1,898 32 136,517 1775663253
Hello, I 'm new here

Started by K Hill Railways in General discussion: Hello and thank you for letting me into your group! Ken Hill here and I'm retired at 63 for health reason. I decided to restart my n scale hobby that I use to have in my 20s. Collection of parts...
General discussion 7 13 274 1775661170
Japanese model trains

Started by ABMinOR in Locos and rolling stock: Greetings, My wife and I just returned from a trip to Japan (our first) and I thought I'd start a thread to discuss Japanese railway modeling. No, I'm not planning to abandon my North...
Locos and rolling stock 15 6 325 1775659115
Tom Johnson's Cass County Railroad

Started by TomJohnson in Journals/Blogs: 📷 Hello! It has been a long time since I have posted anything here. I had a blog (journal) going several years ago under the L&IN and INRAIL theme that had a big following. That...
Journals/Blogs 1,190 69 97,907 1775658021
Rocky Mountain Train Show

Started by DaleMierzwik in General discussion: I was curious if anyone was planning on attending the Rocky Mountain Train Show in Denver this weekend?. I plan on heading down on Saturday morning. It’s about an hour drive for me from Northern...
General discussion 5 1 72 1775655981
Timonium Train Show This Weekend

Started by Ken Meade in Hobby event notices: The Great Scale Model Train Show will be at Timonium this weekend, 11 and 12 April. My club, the PWMRC will be in the south hall this time with about 50 modules or so with the blue skirting. We...
Hobby event notices 2 2 117 1775655629
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 125 1 48,684 1775650136
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 244 9 8,282 1775644228
Long Road to a Layout

Started by Ben in Journals/Blogs beginner: I think having a blog here will help me track progress as I prep for building a layout. The layout I'd like to build is detailed in this thread:...
Journals/Blogs beginner 207 9 6,271 1775625238
Water works

Started by Earl Gilmore in General discussion: All model railroad activity is halted for now. A water leak is dripping down on the layout. I found a leaking flange on the toilet upstairs and replaced that, but I still have a drip, so more...
General discussion 1 4 177 1775620984
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 642 20 27,087 1775617121
Show me your M.T. Arms Hotel by Woodland Scenics

Started by dcforbes in Scenery and structures: I am building a Woodland Scenics DPM kit of the M.T. Arms Hotel. I would love to see some finished hotels so I might find some inspiration in painting it. If you have one finished, would...
Scenery and structures 14 1 1,173 1775615439
Railbox boxcars

Started by dingy in Locos and rolling stock: Did Railbox have turquoise-colored boxcars at one time? I know they had yellow ones ( I have four) but I seem to vaguely remember seeing turquoise-colord boxcars when...
Locos and rolling stock 98 3 5,920 1775614501
Charismatic prototype: Salmon Bay Sand & Gravel Co and the Ballard Terminal RR

Started by Ken Rice in Prototype railroading: Youtube railfanning this evening turned up a video of the Ballard Terminal RR switching the Salmon Bay Sand & Gravel Co, running to their interchange with BNSF with empties, bringing back loads,...
Prototype railroading 0 4 84 1775613498
Dutch Country Conrail

Started by Mitchell Schuessler in Journals/Blogs Reading Railroad Operations Pennsylvania Design drawing & 1 more: 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 Pennsylvania Design drawing & 1 more 115 15 3,487 1775612022
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 222 26 13,383 1775610930
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 310 13 7,848 1775609943
is DCC jam up/delay a real thing

Started by DavidJones in Track and electrical/DCC: that people have encountered in real (model) life? Its one of the rationale for LCC proposed- basically getting too much info going through the DCC system that commands (like slow down) get...
Track and electrical/DCC 28 1 509 1775604157
Publisher’s Welcome: Making SMD LED headlight lenses

Started by MRH in Magazine feedback: 📷 Buy this issue! Share this: 📷 📷 📷 📷 ARTICLE SHOPPING LIST 1/32" (0.8mm) clear plastic rods, 10 pcs, $10, Amazon Prime: ($1.00 ea.) https://amzn.to/4bnXmiJ...
Magazine feedback 4 14 332 1775604091
Encanto: Alpha-Beta

Started by AzBaja in Scenery and structures: Encanto: Alpha-Beta All the parts that make up Alpha-Beta are now completely glued into an actual building shape. Next steps will be primer and sanding and more primer than color Bombs. You...
Scenery and structures 12 16 662 1775602341
BRIDGE STRIPPERS

Started by blackz28 in General discussion: So , I bought another house here in Cape coral 🪸 FLA. as I was cleaning out my old house and curbing everything I threw out a double tracked test bridge with code 100 flex track on it .Here in fla...
General discussion 23 5 780 1775597596
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 64 1 3,785 1775595723
Using AI to make custom photo quality backdrop scenes

Started by Tim VanMersbergen in Dream and design: I have always appreciated photo backdrop scenes but as a modeler of 1969, it’s very difficult to find or take and edit the pictures I really need. I’ve found usable scenes but they are...
Dream and design 46 31 2,100 1775591425
The CB&Q in Wyoming, Version 5

Started by Mark Pruitt in Journals/Blogs: Well, we've moved into our new home in Casper, Wyoming, and development of Version 5 of The CB&Q in Wyoming is underway! Today I posted the first monthly update on the new layout to my YouTube...
Journals/Blogs 458 13 32,226 1775589820
Life Like RDC replacement drive shaft?

Started by Robert Grossfeld in Locos and rolling stock: Hope you all had a great weekend. I was working on one of the RDC's here from Life Like, that had a binding drive shaft. When I went to put it back together, I broke it in half ;-( I am...
Locos and rolling stock 5 3 342 1775580966
Weathering brick buildings

Started by Rick Beatty in Scenery and structures: I found this image: 📷 What technique would you use to put the dark areas on the brick?
Scenery and structures 35 2 1,043 1775580652
I am curious as to how many of you out there hand lay your track…….

Started by herronp in Track and electrical/DCC: ……as "misery loves company" LOL. If you do what scale and method do you use. Thanking you in advance……. Peter
Track and electrical/DCC 120 2 1,829 1775578018
Crossing Signal Selection (HO Scale)

Started by Ben in Track and electrical/DCC Signals: I'm going to need a set of crossing signals on my layout. No bell, no gates, activated with a switch (I don't have the space before or after the crossing for a detection circuit). It appears that...
Track and electrical/DCC Signals 22 0 700 1775576844
Excel Railcar -- a 36"x90" Carshop Switching Layout

Started by CN/IC Isaac in Journals/Blogs: Having now torn down the old Heyworth Spur, moved and settled into the new house (see my last thread here:...
Journals/Blogs 18 11 597 1775575593
Siskiyou Line 2 layout update

Started by MRH in Magazine feedback: 📷 Buy this issue! Share this: 📷 📷 📷 📷 Please post any comments or questions you have here. Want more articles like this one? Give us a like on the lower right 📷...
Magazine feedback 18 25 1,046 1775575531
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 51 4 1,527 1775573850
Scratchbuilding, AI & Inspiration

Started by o2bwln in Scenery and structures: I'm working on a fictious town in Maine during the early 1900's and was experimenting with Midjourney to get some inspiration on styles and environments. It gave me some great images to draw from to...
Scenery and structures 13 8 897 1775571691
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 718 47 35,078 1775570860
Weekly Photo Fun - Apr 5-11, 2026

Started by JC Shall in General discussion Photos: It's another week . . . post 'em if you got 'em. We had a page full of late-hour postings in last week's post . Check them out, then come back here afterward.
General discussion Photos 12 1 600 1775570111
The Winchester Branch V2

Started by Nate in Journals/Blogs: After much thought, I have decided to go in a very different direction with my layout. I had always worried about the pinch points at the widest part of the mountain climbing turnback curve, also...
Journals/Blogs 291 10 13,422 1775555258
how do you mount your DCC command-station/booster on your layout?

Started by greg ciurpita in Track and electrical/DCC: i'm trying to figure out where to locate and how to mount a command -station. Doesn't look like it has screw holes to hand on board. looks like it and the power supply need to sit on a...
Track and electrical/DCC 46 1 1,204 1775554824
Soundtraxx Economi and Braking Issues

Started by JackM in Locos and rolling stock: I have a Bachmann Alco S4 with a Soundtraxx Economi decoder. Bachmann did a nice job, runs well and sound is pretty good. I am pretty knowledgeable programming Soundtraxx decoders. I set the braking...
Locos and rolling stock 5 2 179 1775540595
A HA soldering iron …..

Started by Lirrlirr in TMTV general discussion: Joe has an “A-HA moment” video in TMTV about a small cordless soldering iron for DCC work. I have a brand new Athearn Genesis loco with loose connections… under warranty, but the vendor blew...
TMTV general discussion 12 1 399 1775540312
42" HO Locomotive Roof Fan Grills

Started by Ken Meade in Locos and rolling stock: I have several diesels with missing roof fan grills. I've been looking on line for a source and there's nothing I can find. I thought I had several from Details West from decades ago. They were...
Locos and rolling stock 9 2 238 1775539621
SMA20 Low Cost 17 Channel DCC Decoders Ver 6.01 with Sound,Triggered Sound,Stepper,Dual Motor,LED and Servo Control

Started by Geoff Bunza in Journals/Blogs: This is the next evolution of the original $5 Mobile/Accessory/Multifunction 17 Channel Configurable DCC Decoder. This edition: 1.expands major functionality to drive a stepper motor , d ual...
Journals/Blogs 805 2 188,006 1775538861
Does anyone here use AI and/or Photoshop/Affinity or GImp as a modelling tool?

Started by xdford in Dream and design: Hi All, I have just edited an article using DeepAI (deepai.org) for planning out a model scene and have discovered Canva Affinity to manipulate photos. All very well, but are any of...
Dream and design 27 3 606 1775528996

>> Refresh page

Note: Your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Many features may not work properly without it. Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.