Carey Tarkman’s Standard and O gauge layout

Carey Tarkman has built a 15 x 20 foot layout that includes both Standard gauge and O gauge. It includes Lionel, MTH, and American Flyer motive power. The elements needed to give life to a display featuring prewar models differ from the norm. They demand different skills and artistry from the builder. He or she […]

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Spectacular scenery on an O gauge layout

Spectacular scenery on an O gauge layout: When layouts with a New York setting appear in Classic Toy Trains, they typically highlight passenger traffic moving in and out of Grand Central Terminal or freight trains delivering perishables to New York City. On those O gauge railroads, the Pennsylvania RR or the New Haven dominates, especially […]

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Trains LIVE — Daytime in the dome

Trains LIVE — Daytime in the dome — 4-19-2023 — In this special episode of Trains LIVE we are talking about an upcoming rail excursion through the Colorado Rockies and California’s Donner Pass. Daytime in the Dome is presented by Lowell Smith and Silver Smith Tours. The excursion features the opportunity to ride aboard a […]

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Olympia & Sand Creek, Episode 11 | Installing a rock wall

In this episode, our host intentionally works his way between a rock and a hard place! The tough stuff starts when he discovers a flaw in his operating scheme. With a remedy in place, David starts into the scenery. As he shares here, installing the foreground rock wall scenery is an easy lift when using […]

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Trains LIVE — Stay bolts

Two men looking at a steam locomotive firebox under restoration.

Trains LIVE — Stay bolts — 4-15-2023 — Back in our March 15, 2023 episode we visited Spec Machine in Middleton, Wis., for an update on Chicago & North Western steam locomotive No. 1385. The Mid-Continent Railway Museum (North Freedom, Wis.) holds this steam locomotive in their collection and is restoring it to operation. As […]

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Spaces to Places IV | Town development, part 2

The new town of Westcott has moved from concept to construction. Watch as host Gerry Leone shares how he initiated the development by laying out the town on a sheet styrene template. Learn helpful tips for arranging city streets, structures, and even rail-served industries. Plus, you’ll also glean insights for working with styrene or similar […]

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Bowser HO scale SD30C-ECO

Screen shot of Bowser HO scale SD30C-ECO video.

Bowser HO scale SD30C-ECO. A modern-era diesel from Bowser Manufacturing Co. Inc. recently visited our HO scale Wisconsin & Southern project layout. Join Model Railroader editor Eric White and senior editor Cody Grivno as they talk about the features and operate the Canadian Pacific SD30C-ECO. The Bowser SD30C-ECO is decorated for Canadian Pacific in 12 […]

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Another single-industry layout: An ethanol plant track plan

A pencil drawing on track paper of a 3 x 8-foot shelf ethanol plant track plan

In last month’s “Sketching with Steve,” I explored a single-industry track plan by drawing a 4×8 paper mill layout. This month I’m doing it again, this time creating an ethanol plant track plan. If you’re looking for a modern industry that offers lots of business for your model railroad, an ethanol plant is for you. Jeff […]

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