The best raw materials for garden railroaders

Bins of PVC and other raw materials

The first lesson we learn when we take our trains outdoors is that nature doesn’t play favorites. Our sensible action is to choose materials for our projects that will stand up to the forces of nature. Plastic “Plastic” is a generic term, for which there exist many variants. Most large-scale trains are made of ABS, […]

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Glues and adhesives for garden railroads

Several bottles and tubes showing the various adhesives described in the article.

Glues and adhesives are among the first things you need when building a model — to hold it together! There are lots of adhesives, and they all do specific jobs depending on the material. General-purpose adhesives White glue — This is known as a PVA (polyvinyl acetate) glue. When it dries, it’s nearly transparent. Its […]

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Trains.com Holiday Party: Working with Acrylic, Episode 11

Cody Grivno holding a structure model kit

In this final episode of our Trains.com Holiday Party, Cody Grivno shows how to assemble an HO scale kit made from styrene and acrylic parts. Cody shares his helpful hints for working with acrylic components to form a sturdy, contemporary structure. […]

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Digest: Virginia legislators working to acquire federal land needed for Long Bridge project

Satellite image showing approximate locations of new bridge project.

Legislators seek transfer of federal park land for Long Bridge project Virginia’s Congressional delegation is attempting to get a small section of National Park Service land transferred for use in the Long Bridge project that is an essential part of the state’s plan to ease rail congestion, with the state’s senators considering a move to […]

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Digest: Newark Penn Station to receive $190 million refurbishment

Large mural in an archway of a passenger station as passenger walk or stand nearby.

Newark Penn Station to receive $190 million facelift Newark Penn Station will receive $190 million in restoration and rehabilitation, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced Tuesday. Some $30 million in work is scheduled to begin immediately, with the project continuing over the next five years. NJ.com reports work has already begun on the original decorative […]

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Patriot Light Supply and Melrose Park Station structures

Patriot Lighting Supply Background Building

Patriot Lighting Supply Background Building Price: $59.99 Stock no.: 2795925 Features: 2 3/4″ profile, lit with 20 LED lights. Uses 4.5V power sources no. 279-4061, 4062, or 4050 Website: Menards.com/Trains Melrose Park Station Price: $49.99 Stock no.: 2795551 Features: fully assembled, lit with 10 LED lights. Uses 4.5V power sources no. 279-4061, 4062, or 4050 […]

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Digest: Amtrak will pay $2.25 million, fix stations to settle ADA discrimination claims

Amtrak logo

Tuesday morning rail news: Amtrak to pay $2.25 million, repair stations to meet ADA standards Amtrak will pay $2.25 million to settle claims it discriminated against disabled passengers by failing to accommodate those passengers at its stations. The Washington Post reports the passenger railroad will also fix dozens of stations over the next decade to accommodate people […]

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Digest: South Shore Double Track project advances with demolition contract

SouthShore_MichCity_Lassen

More Tuesday morning rail news: South Shore moves closer to start of Double Track project with demolition agreement In another step toward the start of the South Shore Line’s Double Track project, the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District Board of Trustees on Monday approved a $2.7 million contract for demolition work in Michigan City, Ind. The […]

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Digest: Derailment, bridge collapse reported on Pennsylvania short line

RJ Corman Railroad Group logo

More Wednesday morning rail news: Short line derailment, bridge collapses closes Pennsylvania highway A train derailment and bridge collapse have closed a state highway in Indiana County, Pa. The Indiana Gazette reports the derailment has occurred near Starford, Pa., closing State Route 1014. The location is on the R.J. Corman Pennsylavania lines. Photos on the […]

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Report says Hudson tunnels can be repaired while still in service, but finds little support

An Amtrak train emerges from the West Portal of the Hudson River tunnels.

NEW YORK — An independent report released Monday contends Amtrak’s Hudson River tunnels can be repaired while the tunnels remain in service, contrary to a longstanding belief that the tunnels cannot be fully refurbished until they can be taken out of service following the construction of the proposed Gateway Project tunnel between New Jersey and […]

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Amtrak report details urgent need for Hudson Tunnel repairs

damage to the walls of the Hudson River tunnel

Amtrak says it needs to make urgent repairs to its existing Hudson River tunnels — a process that could cost hundreds of millions of dollars — to address the potential for catastrophic failure of the century-old passageways between New Jersey and New York’s Penn Station. The Associated Press reports it has reviewed a not-yet-completed Amtrak […]

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