Common name: Sweet alyssum Latin name: Lobularia maritima Plant size: Under 6″ Plant type: Annual USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11; grown as an annual in colder Zones Cultural needs: Almost any well-drained soil; full sun to part shade Originally from southern Europe, sweet alyssum has naturalized throughout the US as a hardy annual, reseeding year after […]
Have you ever considered making rocket component loads for your flatcars? Over the years I’ve seen some interesting flatcar loads on full-size trains, but I wanted to build something I’ve never seen before. I’m interested in watching rocket launches, so I decided to scratchbuild SpaceX rocket component loads. The rocket I built isn’t modeled after […]
Model Railroader Contributing Editor Larry Puckett hosts our latest Product Review video to talk about the features on the DCCconcepts Aegis system, an upgrade for NCE’s Digital Command Control PowerCab. You can read his review of the system on page 16 of the January 2024 issue of MR. The Aegis system maintains all the functions […]
Model Railroader Contributing Editor Larry Puckett hosts our latest Product Review video to talk about the features on the DCCconcepts Aegis system, an upgrade for NCE’s Digital Command Control PowerCab. You can read his review of the system on page 16 of the January 2024 issue of MR. The Aegis system maintains all the functions […]
Hardscaping, the subset of landscaping that includes outdoor paths, walls, and other things not made from plant or soil matter, can enhance the setting of many garden railways. Railway sites are also easier to maintain if they are elevated. I recently built a retaining wall for my railroad, the JS&A. The wall defines the railway […]
Miniature trees for warmer climates Since I seldom travel to parts of North America in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 and 10, it’s easier for me to write about plants adapted to more temperate climes. A number of you who have garden railways in those warmer regions have asked for more information about plants suited to […]
“How much is this worth?” is a simple enough question. I wish it had an easy answer. There is no Kelley Blue Book value for large scale trains like there is for vehicles. There are also variables that will affect the value: condition, modifications to the model, and your motivations for selling. First, you need […]
For the first time in many years, model trains are in The White House this Christmas. In a press release from The White House, First Lady Jill Biden announces the 2023 holiday theme, “The Magic, Wonder, and Joy of the holidays.” “In this season of reflection and goodwill, we hope you will embrace your inner […]
Common name: Threadleaf heavenly bamboo Latin name: Nandina domestica ‘Filamentosa’ Plant size: 1-2′ Plant type: Shrubs and small trees USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-11 Cultural needs: Sun or part shade, moist or dry soil The shrubby nandina belongs to the barberry family, not actually bamboo, but it mimics the willowy, grassy feel of bamboo. While the […]
If you’ve read Model Railroader magazine for any length of time, you’ve probably noticed the hobby journey for many of our authors started with a train set. For baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, the set was often produced by Lionel or American Flyer. Fast forward a generation or two, and those sets were […]
Come along with Trains.com host Gerry Leone, as he explores the production facilities of Sievers Benchwork, located on Washington Island, Wisconsin. With master carpenters Barb Cornell and Butch Young guiding us through the manufacturing process, learn how model railroad framework fabricated with pre-drilled holes and modular designs, revolutionized benchwork construction! Discover additional insights about its history, […]
Meet Shawn Viggiano How did I get started in the hobby? I got started into trains at an early age. My dad would set up an old Lionel train set around the Christmas tree every year. When I got older, my dad would set up a layout with buildings and switch tracks in our basement. […]
