One of the great things about model railroading is the flexibility we have in terms of what we can do with our layouts – we can create the feel of any time, place, or season. From the arctic cold of northern Canada, to the sunny beaches of south Florida. As we enjoy the warm weather …
Era Focus: Modeling the Pioneer Age
A few months ago we outlined the basic hallmarks of the 5 key eras of railroading history. In this new series, we’ll be taking a closer look into 4 of these eras, examining what types of rolling stock, locomotives, industries, and scenery items would best fit these periods on your model railroad. For our first …
The History of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) was one of the most prominent East Coast freight haulers of the 20th Century. Operating in eight states at its peak, this historic railroad built a legacy which still impacts freight transportation to this day. The first operations of a company which would eventually become part of the mighty …
Continue reading “The History of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway”
Exclusive Preview – The Kato CN Transcontinental Set
The Prototype Following World War II, the Canadian National Railway embarked on an ambitious modernization program for it’s passenger services, purchasing a fleet of new lightweight coaches and sleeping cars for long distance routes. Although the new cars were successful, the program was never fully realized due to metal shortages following the war, and CN …
Continue reading “Exclusive Preview – The Kato CN Transcontinental Set”
8 Essential Rules for Storing Model Trains
As model railroaders, we put a lot of time, effort, and money into building something special. If you’re like us, you’ve probably spent years developing a collection of structures, scenery items, and of course, rolling stock to fit your railroads’ needs. While the goal is always to include as many of these items as possible …
Continue reading “8 Essential Rules for Storing Model Trains “
Rapido’s New Pullman Standard Dining Car
The Prototype The Pullman-Standard Car Manufacturing Company was the result of a merger between the original Pullman Car Company (a pioneer in passenger comfort and rail dining) and the Standard Steel Car Company in 1929. This came at a crucial transition period in passenger car development. Until this point, most passenger cars were being constructed …
Modeling Short Line Railroads
Found throughout North America, short line railroads serve as the “last mile” haulers for many freight cars. Often operating on a shoestring budget compared to class one railroads, these operations can be hidden gems of vintage locomotives and old-time railroading practices. In this article, we’re going to look at some of the hallmarks of short …
The History of Norfolk Southern
The Norfolk Southern Railway (NS) is one of the “big four” class one freight railroads currently headquartered in the United States. While the Union Pacific and BNSF dominate the western half of the country, the Norfolk Southern Railway operates alongside CSX as one of the largest operators based east of the Mississippi. Maintaining 21,500 route …
Adding a Realistic Pond to Your Layout
Adding water to your layout is one of the best ways to achieve a dynamic, realistic looking scene. Even if you don’t plan to include a river or major water feature in your landscape, whether due to size or the geographical theme of your route, small scenes such as ponds are a great natural element …
DIY Tips for Detailing Your Layout
While many of us find ourselves either in self-quarantine or in “lockdown” due to COVID-19, our layouts are becoming a welcome source of distraction and an escape from feeling cooped up at home. That being said, there’s no denying that it’s more challenging to make significant changes to our railroads during this time. Getting supplies …