Bill Canelos In the April and June 2014 issues of Garden Railways, author Bill Canelos shows you how to modify a Bachmann 4-6-0 locomotive. In this video, he demonstrates the sound system he’s installed. […]
Enhance your Bachmann 4-6-0 part 2
Tag: How To
Build Warwick Railroad station in 1:29 scale
Download the PDF of this project here. This PDF is formatted to print on your home printer. Most pieces are formatted to fit on a 8.5″ x 11″ piece of paper. For larger parts of the plan, you will see “break lines.” Line up the break lines to create the larger piece. PLEASE NOTE: This […]
How to use the color red in the garden
1. From the edge of the railway, red kangaroo paws (Anigozanthos ‘Dwarf Delight’, Zones 9-11) wave furry red fingers at trains from multi-branched stems all summer. Frank and Ruby Andrews planted these Aussie imports lower than the track to frame their Maple Rock Railway as trains pass. The plants’ frost-sensitive basal leaves may require mulching […]
Helper communication in the steam locomotive era
Helper operations were carefully coordinated using locomotive whistle signals as specified in the railroad’s operating rules: (an “o” denotes a short sound, while a dash – indicates a longer whistle blast). The lead engineer handled the train’s air brake while each helper engineer had an independent brake for just his engine. Two long blasts on […]
Operate turnouts with servo motors
Modified radio control servo motors operate the remote control turnouts on Jim Lomison’s HO layout. Turnout motors always seemed a bit pricey to me until I learned about servos from a friend who’s a radio control (RC) enthusiast. He uses servos in his aircraft, and they sell for less than $10 each. The “servo” name […]
HO scale Boston & Maine
Name: Boston & Maine Layout designer: Bob Gurley Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 22 x 50 feet Prototype: loosely based on Boston & Maine, Maine Central, and Grand Trunk Ry. Locale: New Hampshire and Maine Era: fall 1954 Style: walk-in Mainline run: 128 feet Minimum radius: 24″ Maximum grade: less than 1 percent Originally appeared in […]
HO scale Elm Valley RR
Name: Elm Valley RR Layout designer: Floyd Simms Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 15′-9″ x 16′-6″ Theme: logging and quarrying Locale: Pacific Northwest Era: 1950s to ‘60s Style: walk-in Mainline run: 75 feet Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 3-1⁄4 percent in helix Originally appeared in the June 2014 Model Railroader. Click on […]
Olympia Logging Series: Part 1 – display-style design
Before starting construction, MRVP’s Kent Johnson introduces the concept of an all-new On30 display-style layout. Kent touches on On30 equipment, track, and a shadow box design he, David Popp, and other MR staff modelers will use to showcase a freelance logging operation set in the Pacific Northwest mountains. […]
Olympia Logging Series: Part 2 – assembling the lower benchwork
Construction on MRVP’s On30 display-style logging layout gets off to a fast start! MRVP’s David Popp introduces the sketched plans for the trackwork and diorama frame, before addressing the construction steps used to make the lower frame and leg assemblies. Also be sure to download the PDF of the Olympia benchwork specifications so you can […]
Demonstration of magnetic air hoses on HO scale freight cars
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Model Railroader contributing editor Pelle Søeborg installed MagnaLock air brake lines (hoses) from North American Railcar Corp. on his HO scale freight cars. In this video you can see how the air hoses work during switching moves on Pelle’s Union Pacific Daneville Sub model train […]
Olympia Logging Series: Part 4 – installing the curved backdrop
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page As part of the shadow box construction on MRVP’s On30 Olympia Logging Co. layout, David Popp shows how to add a curved styrene backdrop. In this video, David demonstrates how he cuts and installs support components, makes cutouts in the styrene sheet, and […]
Add a valance and dust cover
I think every model railroad should have a valance. What is a valance, you may ask? A valance is a view block suspended from the ceiling that follows the edge of the benchwork and frames the layout for viewing. If you think of a model railroad as a stage, then a valance serves the purpose […]
