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AC&Y’s Spur 4 – A N Scale 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 30 7 1,004 1773598574
Why aren't American passenger trains high speed?

Started by jeffshultz in Prototype railroading: Perhaps the most reasonable and even handed article I have read on the subject (it is kind of long) : https://americanaffairsjournal.org/2026/02/why-are-american-passenger-trains-slow/...
Prototype railroading 147 18 1,324 1773598412
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 285 10 13,035 1773598206
Light bulbs for small layouts.

Started by Pennsy_Nut in General discussion: Yes, I know this has been beat to death. But I was looking for data on the amperage of the old fashioned simple 1156 and 1157 bulbs. Got totally confused online. One web site said: A 1156 bulb draws...
General discussion 0 0 0 1773598065
Let's See A Model Of.... March, 2026 Edition

Started by Kevin Parson in General discussion: 📷
General discussion 100 4 1,907 1773597913
Weekly Photo Fun - Mar 15-21, 2026

Started by JC Shall in General discussion Photos: It's another week . . . post 'em if you got 'em. Last week started out strong, but virtually shut down for most of the week. So break out the camera and show us what ya got!
General discussion Photos 2 0 107 1773597579
What's on your workbench? March 2026

Started by Eric Hansmann in General discussion Workbench: It’s the month we begin to thaw out from the long Winter. Maybe it’s time to wrap up a project or two. Thanks to all who contributed February workbench progress and layout tasks. We jump into a...
General discussion Workbench 94 5 4,303 1773597156
Rick's Diner - March, 2026 Edition

Started by Kevin Parson in General discussion: 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷
General discussion 107 4 1,933 1773595132
Re-powering questions

Started by Hamms in Locos and rolling stock: I have some older custom BB locos that I want to repower. Goal is to have gentle starts/stops and smooth low rpms; loco's will not be going very fast around the layout (30smph tops). I've read lots...
Locos and rolling stock 19 1 506 1773594522
Pathway to expansion in model railroad business

Started by Anton Dyak in General discussion: I am currently struggling to startup a business of producing model railroad wheelsets, some reasons are beyond my control, some - results of past mistakes taking time to correct and accumulate next...
General discussion 25 1 918 1773593691
Storing Pan Pastels

Started by blhs569 in General discussion: So a couple of years ago, I bought a starter set of about 10 pan pastels that came screwed together like a silo with only one lid. I found this annoying (could never unscrew the section for the color...
General discussion 6 0 178 1773592448
Advice on weathering freight cars

Started by Ben in Locos and rolling stock Freight Cars Weathering: A few years ago I built and weathered an Accurail covered hopper. I wasn't pleased with the results. I've just built another, and I'm looking to improve. Can anyone recommend any tutorials for...
Locos and rolling stock Freight Cars Weathering 111 6 3,252 1773591316
Help Identifying Tank Cars

Started by Ben in Locos and rolling stock Tank Cars: I'm modeling the 1990s in Vermont. There are several different kinds of tank cars I see in prototype photos and I'm hoping someone can help me identify them and help me figure out what...
Locos and rolling stock Tank Cars 16 3 314 1773591097
Limited Modeler: Ballville layout build progress

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 85 14 1,847 1773589977
Track test car

Started by eastwind in Track and electrical/DCC: In another thread Mike Tondee talked about using the horn on a locomotive to detect spots where the rail was dirty. I had the thought that what would be better was not something that went silent when...
Track and electrical/DCC 22 6 693 1773587798
March MRH later today, RE tomorrow

Started by joef in General discussion: On time this month, yay!
General discussion 2 9 89 1773587361
Office switching layout - using a 2018 HO module

Started by Eugene Griffin in Journals/Blogs HO scale Switching Layout: This BLOG focuses on the development of an unused HO scale module created in 2018. (story here:...
Journals/Blogs HO scale Switching Layout 34 3 3,101 1773585025
Cheap solder…no-go

Started by DaleMierzwik in Track and electrical/DCC: I made the mistake of buying some solder off of amazon and going for the lowest price. The stuff is made in China and it is horrible. Full of impurities, I can’t get it to flow at all. I tried...
Track and electrical/DCC 25 5 738 1773582046
Static grass "balls"

Started by Denny99 in Scenery and structures static grass: I recently purchased a few types of static grass from WWScenics in the UK. Very nice products, especially the 2mm length. However, the 4mm version in the 100g pack, tends to clump into balls...
Scenery and structures static grass 5 0 197 1773581190
Resurrection of the streamline era - scratchbuilt locos

Started by aerotrain in Journals/Blogs: Maybe my studies and job - both dealing mainly with aerodynamics, streamlining etc. - caused my interest in streamlined rolling stock. So I scratchbuilt several prototypes of the 30's to late 50's...
Journals/Blogs 83 7 19,759 1773572497
Portal Bridge Special

Started by peter-f in Prototype railroading: At Newark, preparing the special run to NYC for new Portal bridge (on return trip) 📷
Prototype railroading 14 8 404 1773569923
Fold down writing surface / desk

Started by remhed in Operation and maintenance: I would like to have some places on the layout where a crew could have a spot to set some paperwork and write things down or check off on their switch lists. I have been to some layouts in...
Operation and maintenance 16 2 380 1773547665
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 27 1 750 1773547583
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 53 3 4,729 1773544626
Big Boy 4014 Coast to Coast tour - Western leg

Started by barr_ceo in Prototype railroading 4014 Big Boy 2026 tour: Here we go! UP has posted the schedule for the western leg of the semiquicentennial ("half of 500th") coast to coast tour. Given the number of entries for the west side, I'm hoping the East...
Prototype railroading 4014 Big Boy 2026 tour 4 1 117 1773544336
Weekly Photo Fun - Mar 8-14, 2026

Started by JC Shall in General discussion Photos: It's another week . . . post 'em if you got 'em. There was a late-comer in last week's post . Check it out, then come back here afterward.
General discussion Photos 11 2 560 1773531335
A Year of Travelling

Started by NorthBrit in Journals/Blogs: I know that I post sometimes on various threads ---- This is my last post for some time as we are to travel the world. Trains across part of Europe to Italy to see friends Travel by ship to...
Journals/Blogs 119 15 2,928 1773529958
SP Burbank Branch in N scale

Started by Denny99 in Journals/Blogs: In November 2024, I started building a small switching shelf layout based on the Southern Pacific Burbank Branch in San Fernando Valley, California, set in the 1970s. The layout is focused on...
Journals/Blogs 39 13 2,101 1773527725
The genesis of the 1062 in Scale 1.

Started by Weaver in Locos and rolling stock Scratchbuilding: I already reported about our project, with my friend we are building two 1062 electric locomotives of the Austrian Railways ÖBB. This was a small shunting engine on main electrified yards in Austria...
Locos and rolling stock Scratchbuilding 19 9 603 1773518065
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 323 32 14,440 1773515677
RailWhale, whalebelly tank cars

Started by railandsail in Locos and rolling stock: I thought I would start a new thread on these cars with a recognizable title. This other subject thread that covered much of the info about these cars needed re-titling , but it was no longer...
Locos and rolling stock 0 4 95 1773512296
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 157 8 5,222 1773505051
Cincinnati West-B&O/PC 1975

Started by RSeiler in Journals/Blogs: Welcome to the Cincinnati West thread! Thanks for stopping by. The photos are hosted here on MRH, so this thread will remain intact as long as MRH exists. Click on 'Read More' for an index with...
Journals/Blogs 4,505 28 524,452 1773499070
Looking for N scale prototypes / chassis for some EMDs

Started by Anders_W in Locos and rolling stock Prototype EMD converters Diesels: Greetings! I am working on an N scale layout focused on Swedish rails from the post-WWII years until today. Sweden actually have a lot of EMD-derived heavy diesel locomotives, but none...
Locos and rolling stock Prototype EMD converters Diesels 5 2 155 1773496823
PFM Sound System to DCC Conversion

Started by Philip R Selinger in Track and electrical/DCC: For those of us remembering the PFM sound system! I passed on my PFM sound system long ago, but have a locomotive that still has the LTM, cam and speaker installed. (The only one I got around to...
Track and electrical/DCC 10 3 270 1773491865
Buffalo Creek & Gauley 2-8-0 #13, modeled using LEGO

Started by Emperor of the North in Journals/Blogs: Hello friends and modelers. This is my first post on MRH. My name is Glenn Holland, I'm a young mechanical engineer in the rail industry, and my modeling efforts are done with Lego bricks. I've...
Journals/Blogs 26 14 3,797 1773491602
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 217 26 13,125 1773455725
Second MRC PFE reefer car kit project

Started by Deemiorgos in Locos and rolling stock: I used to have a model like this, but it got damaged and is long gone. I was very lucky to find another kit at a local hobby shop. I am going to do this with one using a different approach...
Locos and rolling stock 82 7 1,629 1773454965
19th Century Prototype Operations Resources?

Started by Gideon Greenwood in Prototype railroading: Are there any books or good resources on prototype railroad operations in the 19th century? I'm concentrated on the 1860s and 1870s in the Midwest, but I'm not picky when it comes to what seems to be...
Prototype railroading 8 2 161 1773452500
Paint Suggestions for Skin Tones on Figures

Started by JerryRGS in General discussion: I need paint suggestions for skin tones for figures? White, Asian, Black
General discussion 51 1 1,142 1773448987
Fascia Height

Started by Ray Hamilton in Benchwork and roadbed: I've decided my next construction effort will be the fascia. I was looking at a mock-up of two different heights of fascia. The deeper fascia has the bottom level with the bottom of the L-girders....
Benchwork and roadbed 16 4 350 1773447882
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 380 21 14,699 1773446552
Small/Miniature Layout Track Plan Database(16 sq. ft. or less)

Started by Wendell1976 in MRH magazine help: I am putting together a small or miniature track plan database for layouts that are 16 square feet(1.4864 square meters) or less. Sixteen square feet is equivalent to half the size of a 4 foot by 8...
MRH magazine help 117 2 66,958 1773438074
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 455 13 32,097 1773437204
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 172 9 5,296 1773428724
#4 Turnouts in engine service area?

Started by Rigby in General discussion: Good morning, all. TLDR: for a layout that will run only four axle diesel power, are #4 turnouts in an engine service area a bad idea. I am working my way toward a new...
General discussion 28 2 675 1773426248
Rebar load for Scale Trains finger rack car

Started by blhs569 in Locos and rolling stock: I recently acquired a Scale Trains finger rack flat car designed to carry steel rebar rods. (Also, picked one up from Home Shops as well.) As I don't wish to use it empty all the time, I'm planning...
Locos and rolling stock 11 3 459 1773426141
When the manufacturers go freelance...

Started by jeffshultz in Locos and rolling stock Freelance: So... Rapido has been putting out some cars with the ROLX (Railroad of Lies) reporting mark lately, and in today's drop of announcements from Athearn I saw ATHX as a Primed for Grime FMC 4700. The...
Locos and rolling stock Freelance 60 7 1,531 1773425738
Interesting Prototype Trackwork - Post Your Favorites

Started by porthos in General discussion: I had forgotten that I had stored away this interesting bit of trackwork when I was browsing the Denver Public Library Western History Collection. Its a street trackage scene with both trolly and...
General discussion 86 12 2,071 1773418883
Paint to represent denim

Started by Rick Beatty in General discussion: I realize many shades of blue will work for painting jeans on figures. All I have to do is look in my closet. Even when jeans start out as one color they change over time. Having said that,...
General discussion 7 0 256 1773417920

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