The Oberammergau, Ogden & Olomana Railroad (a.k.a. the Triple O) operates across eras and continents on a small piece of land on Oahu’s windward coast (see Garden railroading in Hawaii – Trains). We have employed the German toy line Playmobile) to bring it to life in all its incarnations, whether European, Wild West, or Hawaiian […]
I really enjoy using my Lionel postwar No. 3662 operating milk car, but lately I have found this great car is giving me some trouble. Specifically, the milk cans never come all the way down the chute. One or two of them get through before they get jammed. What do you suggest to fix things? […]
With a mainline run of more than 1,000 feet, this freelanced HO scale (1:87.1) club layout is quite impressive! But the fact that the established Pacific Southern Railway Club 501(c)(3) nonprofit raises funds for a local emergency services definitely makes this model railroad a stand-out/stand-up amongst some of the finest in the hobby! To learn […]
This small, portable N scale (1:160) layout is designed to create a big impression. To learn even more about the layout details, be sure to read the November 2023 issue of Model Railroader magazine. […]
Facts & features Name: Steel mill with a twistScale: N (1:160)Size: 3′-0″ x 6′-8″Prototype: FreelancedLocale: Upper MidwestEra: Mid-20th centuryStyle: IslandMainline run: 17 feetMinimum radius: 11.25″Minimum turnout: NoneMaximum grade: NoneBenchwork: Hollow-core doorHeight: Varies by venueRoadbed: NoneTrack: Kato Unitrack and Bachmann E-Z TrackScenery: Extruded-foam insulation boardBackdrop: NoneControl: Direct-current cab control with Bachmann Auto-Reversing Systems Download a […]
13 tips for storing your trains 1. Modern trains go in their boxes. Be sure you store them out of direct sunlight and fluorescent lighting in a cupboard, drawer, or other dark, dry area. A packet or two of silica gel inside the box helps keep moisture and humidity low so your boxes won’t get […]
Facts & features Name: Pacific Southern RailwayScale: HO (1:87.1)Size: 46 x 96 feet Prototype: FreelancedLocale: GenericEra: FlexibleStyle: WalkaroundMainline run: 1,000 feetMinimum radius: 48″ (main), 36″ (branch)Minimum turnout: no. 4, some hand-laidMaximum grade: 1.3% (main), 3.1% (branch) Benchwork: L-girderHeight: 36″ to 60″Roadbed: Cork on 1⁄2″ plywoodTrack: Visible track: handlaid code 100 (main), code 83 (yards), code […]
By Ken Kilby Tucked away in the northeast corner of South Carolina lies a stretch of coastline known as the Grand Strand. The Strand, as it is locally known, is roughly 90 miles of beaches, high-rise hotels, and condos. About a mile from the beach, you’ll find the Myrtle Beach Mall, home to the Grand […]
Name: Grand Strand Model Railroaders’ O gauge layoutDimensions: 12 x 18 feetTrack: GarGraves flextrack (maximum diameter is 64 inches)Switches: Ross Custom SwitchesMotive power: K-Line, Lionel, MTH, WilliamsRolling stock: Lionel, MTHControls: MTH nos. Z-1000 (2), Z-4000 transformersAccessories: Gilbert American Flyer, Lionel, Marx, MTHStructures: Lionel, MTH, PlasticvilleVehicles: Corgi, Ertl, MTH, TycoFigures: Bachmann, MTH, Preiser, RMT, Woodland Scenics […]
There’s a switch on top of my Lionel No. 2332 Pennsylvania GG1. I’ve heard it controls how the engine reverses. I’ve run the locomotive on a test track, and without my touching it the locomotive reversed following the transformer direction switch. Is everything working right? – Jim Rohrbach, San Mateo, Calif. The switch on the […]
Name: The Polar Express layout Gauge: ODimensions: 4 x 8 feet The Classic Toy Trains staff built the Polar Express layout over a five day period, from benchwork to final scenery. This layout, which was featured in the November/December 2023 issue of Classic Toy Trains, features scenes from the beloved 2004 movie. See the construction of the layout […]
The simplicity of operating with a DC power pack like this MRC Tech7 is just one of several reasons to use DC block control on your model railroad. Though Digital Command Control may be the wave of the future, DC has its advantages and die-hard adherents. MRC photo Digital Command Control’s fervent fans to the […]
