I recently started up once more on my basement railroad and it’s been quite a while since I’ve added anything to my trains content, so I figure it’s past time to do so. I was also inspired by a Twitter thread I came across recently that inspired this post. So let’s start with that:

Had a little …

Train shows are one of the great community experiences across the world. Little kids and big kids alike can see some truly amazing things and have a lot of fun taking in a train show. If you’re even considering model railroading as a hobby, there’s no better first step than attending a local show. …

There are a number of approaches that you can take towards benchwork for your model railroad. And the approach that is right for one person isn’t necessarily right for someone else. This time I’m going to walk through some of the basic benchwork terminology and skills that might be needed for model …

It’s the holiday season and for many it’s a time to put up a tree with lights and ornaments and presents. One way to add to the enjoyment of your Christmas tree is to put a train around it. This is one area where the pre-packaged train sets really shine. Whether it’s a Santa themed train, the Polar …

I would love more than anything to take a tour of these shops one day and see the 4014, 844 and the Centennial. Not likely, but I would love it.

One of the things that can help to unify the feeling of your layout is to pick a theme. What this means is that you pick a time and place where your railroad operations are occurring. This can be as specific or generic as you want. It can also be as realistic or fictional as you want. As with …

Here’s a cool short video from the Columbus, OH PBS station (WOSU) about the local train depot here in Canal Winchester, OH.

Once you’ve decided on which scale you’re going to model in, the next step is to start thinking about your track plan. In order to do this you first need to decide the space you’re going to work in initially. If you haven’t done anything with model railroading before, it’s important to start small. …

Overlapping Dogbone with Turnouts
Simple track plans are OK for a little bit, but it can get boring pretty quick. With a few simple additions, you can make your layout far more interesting.

Industries
Trains primarily pickup and deliver goods. Whether it’s hauling coal from a mine to a power plant, …