Milwaukee Lionel Railroad Club’s O gauge layout

Track plan overview

Facts & features Name: Milwaukee Lionel Railroad Club’s O gauge layout Dimensions: 30 x 54 feet Track and switch: GarGraves, Lionel (diameters range from 72 to 120 inches) Motive power: American Flyer, Atlas O, Ives, K-Line, Lionel (all eras), Marx, MTH, Weaver, Williams Rolling stock: Atlas O, Ives, K-Line, Kusan, Lionel (all eras), Marx, MTH, […]

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Six grade crossings you can model

Asphalt-and-timber crossing on west edge of Wisconsin & Southern yard in Horicon, Wis.

Grade crossings you can model are scene enhancers that you should consider adding to your list of projects. “Why a grade crossing?” you may ask. “I’d rather work on a locomotive, freight car, structure, or [fill in the blank with your favorite aspect of the hobby.]” I get it. Grade crossings you can model introduction […]

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Sketching with Steve: Working facing-point and trailing-point turnouts

Several sketches of a short train on a track with different turnout configurations.

A turnout is where one track becomes two. The single track, where the movable point rails let a train choose between routes, is called the point end of the turnout. The two-track end, where the closure rails cross at the frog, is the frog end. And which end is which can make or break a […]

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State Line Route in N scale: Installing fascia, Episode 9

David Popp leaning on the fascia on the State Line N scale layout

David shows how he attached fascia to the State Line Route N scale layout to give it a more finished appearance. It can be especially tricky when there are no extra hands around to help with the curves, but David has a solution! Plus, Gerry Leone and Seth Puffer have finished building their structures for […]

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State Line Route in N scale: Installing fascia, Episode 9

David Popp leaning on the fascia on the State Line N scale layout

David shows how he attached fascia to the State Line Route N scale layout to give it a more finished appearance. It can be especially tricky when there are no extra hands around to help with the curves, but David has a solution! Plus, Gerry Leone and Seth Puffer have finished building their structures for […]

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A fun, large-scale Halloween display

A Halloween display layout on a truck

I love collecting and displaying large-scale trains. I also love showing off my 1956 GMC pick up at car shows, or even at the front of my driveway at home. I decided to combine the two and make a mobile display layout! The layout is an easy build. My truck has slots on the truck […]

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Resuscitating a lifeless locomotive

A stethoscope is used to listen to a model locomotive being held upside down in a foam cradle

Good news! If your lifeless locomotive has ever run under Digital Command Control (DCC), chances are good that you can get it running again without having to send it off for repair. The solution is easy, too! More good news! If you have a new steam locomotive that doesn’t run or only partially works, maybe […]

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Scale It Down: Ground covering for industrial outlots, Episode 7

Series host Steve Brown heads for the homestretch, as he works to complete the scenery on his down-sized (N scale) depiction of the Winston-Salem Southbound Railway. Follow the “Regular Guy” routine to learn simple ways for adding both fine and clump ground cover materials to the outlots of this industrial area.   […]

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How to sell toy trains

A listing for toy trains on Craigslist.

Where can I sell my trains? How to sell toy trains might be one of the most-asked questions we get at Classic Toy Trains. I first refer people who want to know how to sell Lionel, MTH, Marx, and American Flyer trains to the advertisers in Classic Toy Trains and even Model Railroader. There are […]

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State Line Route in N scale: Wiring a layout for DC power, Episode 8

David Popp holding a meter

After a quick update with Jenny to see how her Walther’s bungalow kit is coming along, David gets to work on electrical projects. Follow along, and you’ll see how he installed feeder wires and added a power bus line under the State Line Route N scale layout. […]

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State Line Route in N scale: Wiring a layout for DC power, Episode 8

David Popp holding a meter

After a quick update with Jenny to see how her Walther’s bungalow kit is coming along, David gets to work on electrical projects. Follow along, and you’ll see how he installed feeder wires and added a power bus line under the State Line Route N scale layout. […]

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