The Pioneer Era was one of the most exciting periods in railroading history; beginning with the Civil War, transcending the era of the Wild West, and ending in the early 20th century. This was the era when railroading established its supremacy and surpassed waterways, canals and turnpikes dotted with horse-drawn wagons as the undisputed leader …
Trains – Our Heritage, Our Passion
In 1913 when our founder Benjamin Morris Klein founded our Company on the east side of Baltimore’s commercial district, selling basic hardware items was his primary goal. It was only logical that his product mix promptly changed due to the dominance of railroading in the fabric of Baltimore’s civic and economic culture. The founding of …
Early Railroading (1827-1860)
In 1827, the Baltimore and Ohio became the first common carrier rail company to operate in the United States. Barley fifty years had passed since the Declaration of Independence was signed, and America was still very much in it’s infancy. Early operations depended on horse-drawn carts for startup operations. Those pioneer railroads had to invent …
The New American Limited GATC Welded Tank Car
The History of the GATC Welded Tank Car Until World War Two, tank cars were typically built using the complex and time consuming method of riveting. One of the advancements to come out of the war effort however was new and improved welding technology. This revelation allowed manufacturers such as General American to retool their …
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Adding Sound to Your Model Railroad: Sound Systems and DCC
If you’re looking to take your model train layout to the next level, adding sound effects is a great way to transform your railroad and bring an added level of realism to your scene! From in-cab locomotive sounds to ambient effects and immersive surround sound setups, there’s no shortage of possibilities for adding sound to …
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120th Anniversary of the Pacific Locomotive
ModelTrainStuff is celebrating the 120th anniversary of the Pacific-type locomotive, wheel arrangement 4-6-2! The Pacific dominated high speed passenger service and express freight service in the United States from 1902 through 1950 until steam locomotives surrendered to Diesel-Electric locomotives. The Missouri Pacific was the first US buyer in 1902 and accordingly the 4-6-2 was christened …
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Up and Over: How to Build a Bridge for Your Model Train Layout
A significant moment in your railroading journey is when you start thinking about your model train layout as more than just pieces of track on a level surface. We previously covered how to build realistic hills and mountains for your layout. And while that allows for elements like tunnels, it also creates space for you …
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Founder’s Day – Honoring the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
This month at ModelTrainStuff we’re paying tribute to the founding of America’s first common carrier the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad on February 27th, 1827. The B&O Railroad Museum once issued a poster with the legend “America Grew Up on Trains” and the B&O railroad started our Nation on that glorious journey. The B&O had to …
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What Type of Layout is Right for You?
We’ve talked about model railroad scales, we’ve talked about eras, and we’ve talked about scenery styles. But one crucial question we haven’t yet explored is what type of layout will work best for you? In this article, we”ll explore the pros and cons of three major model railroad designs. The Classic Tabletop Loop Ah, the …
Moving Mountains: Building Realistic Hills & Mountains for Your Layout
All good model railroads start with a flat plywood base, but unless you happen to be modeling the farmland of the midwest, it will soon become apparent that the real world rarely has this appearance. Hills and mountains are a great way to add scenic interest to your railroad and to develop the believability of …
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