Build a large-scale, wooden freight car

A large-scale flatcar project

It’s been common practice for railroads to modify antiquated rolling stock to suit a particular need for Maintenance of Way (MOW) equipment. An old flatcar no longer of use for main line service often became an asset for work trains. The flatcar could be repaired, lightly modified, and put into service looking much like it […]

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Visit a garden-railway display at a nature center

A family watches a large-scale train display

For many years I have been a volunteer at our local nature center (Sandy Creek Nature Center of Athens-Clarke Co., GA). It occurred to me that their circular flower and nature gardens would be a perfect setting for a garden railroad. I approached personnel at the center, and they were enthusiastic, as it would create […]

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How to make covered loads for large-scale freight cars

A covered load on a large-scale flatcar

Part of the nature of our great hobby is to collect. Often we collect items not necessarily train related, like old toys, knickknacks, or scraps from a recent project. An easy way to incorporate them into your railroad is to turn them into loads for freight cars or loading docks. Here’s a sampling of castoffs […]

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Model railroad locomotive, freight car, structure, detail, tool, and book announcements for May 27, 2021

Refrigerator car

Product news  Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. Here are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of May 27, 2021. HO scale locomotives  Electro-Motive Division SD40-2 diesel locomotive. Atchison, […]

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Thimble cactus

Thimble cactus in a garden railroad

Common name: Thimble cactus Latin name: Mammillaria gracilis fragilis Plant type: Perennial USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11 Cultural needs: Gravelly or sandy well-drained, neutral or slightly acidic soil; full sun Plant size: 1″ high, spreading to 6-12″ As might be expected, this miniature mammillaria cactus hails from south of the border in Central or Eastern Mexico, […]

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Model railroad locomotive, freight car, passenger car, detail, tool, and book announcements for May 20, 2021

WalthersProto HO scale Electro-Motive Division

Product news  Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. Here are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of May 20, 2021. HO scale locomotives  Genesis 4-8-4 FEF-2 and FEF-3 steam […]

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Create a soybean field for your garden railroad

A garden railroad scene with a model soybean field.

Always looking for new ways to make the farm scene on my garden railroad layout look more realistic, I decided to add a field of crops. With my limited knowledge of gardening, creating long rows of perfectly aligned tiny plants just wasn’t possible. I pondered several ideas but discovered the best one as I strolled […]

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Model railroad locomotive, freight car, detail, book, tool, and club announcements for May 13, 2021

Broadway Limited Imports BNSF Ry. Electro-Motive Division SD40-2 diesel locomotive

Product news Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. Here are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of May 13, 2021. HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division GP40-2 and GP40-2L diesel […]

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