“Dead Rail” or “Power on Board” — no matter what you call it, the concept is the same: a model locomotive that carries its own power source. This eliminates the need for alternating or direct current track power, along with multiple headaches such as short circuiting, dead frogs, and dirty rails. Rechargeable batteries have become […]
What do I collect? I collect original prewar trains in Standard and Wide Gauge, i.e. 2 1/8”. Lionel created the gauge in 1906, and called their trains the “Standard of the World.” Soon, Standard gauge caught on as a label, possibly to differentiate from other gauges at the time. When the Ives Toy Co. modified […]
By the time you’ve laid and wired your track and installed your train and turnout control system, it’s easy to let construction of your new layout take a back seat to running trains. After all, the entire purpose of building the layout is to be able to have a place to enjoy operating your model […]
When I cut a hole in the living room wall in order to expand my N scale railroad into the hallway beyond, I thought that was as large a model railroad as I would ever own. I was just happy that my wife agreed to my bizarre suggestion (see “Harlowton, Montana, in N scale,” Model […]
In the December 2006 issue of Classic Toy Trains, then-Editor Neil Besougloff presented his design for a “three times around the tree” layout. It has since become a favorite with many readers and has inspired several holiday layouts. We’re presenting Neil’s original plan, featuring Lionel O-42 tubular track curves, a tunnel, and a 45-degree crossing. […]
We pick up where we left off in part one. Having recently completed the roadbed, track, and wiring on our East Troy Industrial Park project layout, we advance now to… Digital Command Control Digital Command Control (DCC) is the best way to power and operate a brand-new model railroad. The biggest advantage of DCC is […]
Former Editor Neil Besougloff purchased this manuscript in 2002, and wondered why it hadn’t been used. I found the answer while scanning the slides–the photo quality is not great. While the photos are not usable in print, I hope they find some value in this online version. I’ve also learned that author Peter J. Corrigan […]
There’s nothing quite like that feeling of running a “first train” on a new model railroad. Although the scenery is still bare benchwork, the look and sound of those first wheels rolling under their own power along nickel-silver rails produces a thrill that never gets old. By the time we reach the conclusion of this […]
Let’s be frank, not all of us have the luxury of immense space for a massive model railroad empire. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the hobby, even in the most cramped room. By turning the pages of past issues and books by the Model Railroader staff, here are five recommendations for compact track […]
The idea of a custom run product — a manufacturer creating a special item for a retailer not sold in its catalog — is nothing new. Custom toy train products have existed for more than 100 years. “Custom run cars filled a gap in the market,” said Contributing Editor Bob Keller. “Manufacturers generally [produced products […]
It’s a cliché to refer to a decade as a “decade of change.” In the summation of our nation’s history, what decade wasn’t a decade of change? Change is perhaps the great constant of American history, and in many ways it is that forward-looking dynamism that keeps America at the vanguard of the international community. […]
If we are fortunate enough to have good genes, avoid fatal accidents, and escape catastrophic illness, it will come to all of us: old age. Model railroaders with huge layouts face a unique set of problems as the years pass by. There are several signs that may tell you it’s time to downsize: Half of […]
