A visit to Len Smith’s O gauge Reading layout

Len Smith's layout and the cover of the November 2021 Classic Toy Trains

Take a ride on Len Smith’s O gauge Reading RR featured in the November 2021 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Modern locomotives and rolling stock plus great scenery make this layout a terrific tribute to his favorite fallen flag. Have a look at the track plan here. […]

Read More…

Convert a large-scale LGB passenger car into a dining car

Model figures in a dining car

By Frederic Williams Rohm and Brian Michelson I grew up in central Pennsylvania where my family had been long-time residents. My garden railroad is based on the Pennsylvania Railroad circa 1900; my grandfather and uncles worked on the PRR. The premier Pennsy passenger train of this era was the Pennsylvania Limited, which began making the […]

Read More…

Back on Track: How to hide backdrop seams, Episode 12

In this episode, host Gerry Leone gets back to the backdrop. Namely, he’s working to disguise those unpreventable seams that appear between sections of hardboard panels. Gerry shares his techniques for getting the job done in a satisfactory way, but without the painstaking efforts of a professional drywall installer! […]

Read More…

Back on Track: Layout progress report and more, Episode 11

It’s hard to keep with Gerry’s rapid pace of construction. Fortunately, he slowed down for a quick recap of what he’s accomplished with the cameras turned off. Then, it’s back to solving benchwork problems! […]

Read More…

Back on Track: Tips for testing and tweaking a track plan, Episode 10

Host Gerry Leone continues to plan and build out a switching area for his all-new Bona Vista HO scale model railroad. This time, Gerry shares how he uses actual model structures and track remnants to visualize and plot his plans, and then adjust them to suit layout realities. […]

Read More…

A visit to John Staschak’s O gauge layout

Overview of John Staschak's toy train layout with superimposed cover of September 2021 Classic Toy Trains

John’s layout appears in the September 2021 issue of Classic Toy Trains. It features tremendous trackwork and wonderful scenery (see the plan here), in addition to some spectacular modern trains. Watch and hear freight and passenger consists work their way around it. […]

Read More…

Frank Sinatra’s O gauge railroad

View of Frank Sinatra O gauge layout

Frank Sinatra’s O gauge railroad included many collectible pieces as well as everyday items. They were all colorful and fun to the legendary singer and his family. As noted in the November 2015 Classic Toy Trains, members of the Sinatra family believe he was introduced to the hobby by visiting the home of big-band leader […]

Read More…

Neil Young’s O gauge railroad

Neil Young’s O gauge railroad

Neil Young’s O gauge railroad To begin, Neil created his layout, which covered approximately 1,000 square feet on his ranch in northern California, to run through an assortment of natural landscapes outside his home. That’s right – the unforgettable three-rail display was built not inside an immense train room but instead filled in space among […]

Read More…

Scale It Down: Making big plans fit into less space, Episode 1

Scale It Down logo over image of unfinished benchwork and track work.

Steve Brown, host of It’s My Railroad, launches into an all-new, Trains.com exclusive series! Follow along as he walks through his plans and strategies for building a reduced-scope, N scale version of his favorite HO scale layout, the Winston-Salem Southbound Railway (The Tar Branch), previously featured in Model Railroader magazine and MRVideoPlus.com. […]

Read More…

Layout Visit: Ted Pamperin’s C&O Hinton Division in HO scale

A Chesapeake & Ohio steam locomotive pulls a train of freight cars along on Ted Pamperin's HO scale C&O Hinton Division model railroad

Layout builder Ted Pamperin hosts an exclusive video tour of his HO scale (1:87) layout capturing Chesapeake & Ohio Railway’s steam and diesel-powered Appalachian operations during the early days of winter in 1951. Even in this unique scenery motif, you’ll find Ted’s depiction of West Virginia’s New River Gorge is quite impressive. […]

Read More…

Layout Visit: Ted Pamperin’s C&O Hinton Division in HO scale

A Chesapeake & Ohio steam locomotive pulls a train of freight cars along on Ted Pamperin's HO scale C&O Hinton Division model railroad

Layout builder Ted Pamperin hosts an exclusive video tour of his HO scale (1:87) layout capturing Chesapeake & Ohio Railway’s steam and diesel-powered Appalachian operations during the early days of winter in 1951. Even in this unique scenery motif, you’ll find Ted’s depiction of West Virginia’s New River Gorge is quite impressive. […]

Read More…