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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 17 9 282 1790026391
Gauge Problem with Peco #5 Turnout

Started by kenheywood in Track and electrical/DCC: I keep having some rolling stock that just ride up on the outer rail and ground on my yard throat. Not all but enough to make it painful. They only misbehave when the turnout is thrown. After a lot...
Track and electrical/DCC 3 1 57 1790026025
Can I stain/paint a completed trestle

Started by MSutinen in Scenery and structures: First, some background. I built a Campbell “Tall Curved Trestle” kit for one of my first layouts, long before I learned to stain the wood before assembling. As a result, it’s the color of the...
Scenery and structures 4 1 37 1790024935
Block Detection and Turnout Position Signal System

Started by Ken Meade in Track and electrical/DCC: I'm looking for an alternative to Railroad Co. software for signal control. Currently, there are quite a few circuit boards available that can either change signal aspects depending on the setting...
Track and electrical/DCC 10 0 142 1790024391
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 30 19 1,605 1790024282
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 37 17 801 1790024121
Publisher’s Musings: Having fun with trains?

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 12 6 380 1790023284
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 11 3 126 1790022801
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 719 10 19,084 1790022611
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 896 48 44,729 1790022216
Layering Static Grass and Unkempt Fields

Started by CP Rail Vermont in Scenery and structures: Layering Static Grass and Unkempt Fields Several months ago, I was asked to demonstrate how I model static grass fields and I gave a brief description of how I did that, but thought it would be...
Scenery and structures 27 37 679 1790021405
does ops on multiple layouts make ops on any one more interesting?

Started by greg ciurpita in Operation and maintenance: i contiue to wonder why people continue to enjoy operation on my small 3 town and yard layout. yes, there aren't many options near me and ops is new to most of these people. But i...
Operation and maintenance 26 3 510 1790020914
Seeking spare track, engines, or rolling stock for 10 year old beginner

Started by coolmodeltrains in Getting started HO scale HO: Hello everyone! I am 10 years old and trying to get back into the model train hobby. I had and still have a train set from when i was about 5 years old, but i was too young to take proper...
Getting started HO scale HO 5 0 269 1790020521
Laying cork roadbed under turnout?

Started by kamrail in Benchwork and roadbed: i'd like to know how to lay cork roadbed under my swiches 📷 i'll be working on the railroad tomorrow (my n scale railroad) thanks aaron
Benchwork and roadbed 24 0 4,937 1790020459
Wavy hardboard

Started by Rick Beatty in Benchwork and roadbed: I went shopping for hardboard to use for fascia. Lowes only had the 1/8" size. Even though it was stacked on a flat surface it was very wavy: 📷 I then went to a Home...
Benchwork and roadbed 11 1 245 1790019165
Box flock applicator

Started by jimcubie1@gmail.com in General discussion static grass: I have searched the site and I don’t see a discussion of this tool I have been impressed with them. I have read that you can turn your present grass applicator into a box type applicator.. has...
General discussion static grass 4 2 92 1790017696
The Quanah Acme & Pacific RY, a Protolance Model RR in HO

Started by Tom D Holley in General discussion: A little back ground. I grew up along the Quanah Acme and Pacific RY (QA&P) in the west Texas community of Swearingen, now a long gone ghost town. My Grandfather was first a laborer, and...
General discussion 229 18 7,336 1790016069
TCS Motherboard Question

Started by rsparker in Track and electrical/DCC: Normally I would use a decoder buddy in all of my locos but I had this board laying around and want to use it in an old CF-7. My question is about led's. I'm assuming the negative wires go to the...
Track and electrical/DCC 5 0 65 1790015875
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 248 19 6,853 1790014663
Brushes for figure painting

Started by Rick Beatty in General discussion: What size and shape brushes are best for painting HO scale figures, from clothing to faces and hair?
General discussion 18 0 532 1790011551
Norfolk Southern - Morristown Airport Industrial District (MAID) in N Scale

Started by Ronald Bokleman 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 32 8 2,760 1790010870
PCs for model railroaders.... or anyone, really

Started by CandOfan in General discussion: Probably THE most important thing with any PCs is the data, and ensuring its preservation. It is also one of the least likely things to be properly attended to amongst non-professional IT...
General discussion 10 2 595 1790009694
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 5 1 155 1790009451
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:48 107 4 2,740 1790009338
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 306 18 12,357 1790007109
hobby shops to visit on the road

Started by jacksonjunction in General discussion: Any info for locating hobby shops while on vacation. Like to visit and support brick and mortar stores in different areas. I thought there was a catagory in this forrum but I can't find it
General discussion 11 0 146 1790006404
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 4,693 28 532,406 1790006161
Animating F&M Models CPR Switchstands

Started by MikeHughes in Scenery and structures: I thought it could be done, and it can! 📷
Scenery and structures 14 2 1,008 1790005153
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 1,288 69 107,989 1790004792
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 131 4 5,125 1790002905
Unusual tools that make modeling easier

Started by thewizard1 in Scenery and structures: I would love to see tools that are not commonly thought of as model building tools as well as custom made tools.
Scenery and structures 411 6 21,136 1790001949
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 6 2 251 1789998459
Weekly AI Foto Phun September 20 - 26, 2026

Started by jeffshultz in General discussion: The Weekly AI Foto Phun will be the thread for posting AI generated or heavily AI edited photos. There are no restrictions. ChatGPT prompt: Create a photorealistic image of Burlington...
General discussion 4 2 109 1789994611
Rick's Diner - September, 2026 Edition

Started by Kevin Parson in General discussion: 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷
General discussion 90 1 2,471 1789991711
Looking For A Bell Bracket USRA-Style?

Started by Edmund in Locos and rolling stock: I've recently turned my attantion to a pair of Trix, HO USRA Mikados that I've been wanting to do a little detailing before final weathering and fine-tuning of the decoders. One of the 'glaring' (to...
Locos and rolling stock 8 1 94 1789989898
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 16 4 435 1789982120
Salvaging a brass tank car

Started by CandOfan in Locos and rolling stock: Last year I got this 3-dome tank car, riveted construction (so fits my WWII or earlier eras). It is a Tokaido model, imported by Lambert, and I got it pretty cheap ($50 or so), due to its rather...
Locos and rolling stock 5 17 134 1789978921
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 83 9 3,881 1789978758
Musings on a Switching layout...which got outta hand (was "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 327 9 12,022 1789977115
What’s Neat: Use AI for layout planning, …

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 5 4 258 1789964653
Let's See A Model Of... September, 2026 Edition

Started by Kevin Parson in General discussion: 📷
General discussion 108 2 3,010 1789964253
New locomotive purchases

Started by Rick Beatty in Locos and rolling stock: I am curious. When you purchase a new DCC equipped locomotive, do you dive right into programing it with JMRI as soon as you get it or do you run it with the default 03 address for a while to ensure...
Locos and rolling stock 13 0 319 1789964150
Need help with new layout with two previous modules integrated into it.

Started by Deemiorgos in Dream and design: I need help on how to wire this layout so it is able to be switched back and forth when needed from DCC to DC. I am researching how to completely isolate the two power systems, but it is...
Dream and design 33 5 720 1789961260
Rick Sutton yells "MORE SPACE...I NEED MORE SPACE......" New layout adventure started.

Started by Rick Sutton in Journals/Blogs new layout: Yeah. Bit the bullet. The existing layout room is too tight and the layout itself is pretty much done and dusted. I could tear it out and start something new but the space would still be sub-optimal...
Journals/Blogs new layout 272 35 11,919 1789958303
Weekly Photo Fun - Sep 13-19, 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...
General discussion Photos 66 7 2,443 1789957810
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 9 4 466 1789957107
C855A & C855B units MUd - Video

Started by Ken Meade in Locos and rolling stock: Finally got the C855B unit set up with a decoder and speed matched to the C855A unit and the sound file downloaded from ESU and installed. The trucks seem to be a bit tight so I couldn't get a good...
Locos and rolling stock 13 5 172 1789956702
Rolling stock that no one makes in HO

Started by Deemiorgos in Locos and rolling stock: Let's hear about rolling stock you would like to see made in HO. So far Rapido has made the CNR landmark Super Continental line and Balloon Top coaches. I hoping one day they decide to make...
Locos and rolling stock 72 7 2,006 1789952441
Indian Rock 4 axle road units

Started by Indian Rock in Locos and rolling stock: This is where my 4 axle road builds will take place and post here. Both EMD, GE, and Alco Pics once I figure out what my first 4 axle unit will be to start here and complete Heres...
Locos and rolling stock 15 5 469 1789951493
Headlight brightness

Started by mpwjohn in Locos and rolling stock: Am the only modeler who has noticed how over bright headlights seem to be getting in the model press? After reviewing a lot of both black and white prints, then color prints, that in the...
Locos and rolling stock 4 1 212 1789950817

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