Second Section – Trains of the Summer

Our theme this month includes the legend “second section”. Seasoned railroaders know that symbolized traffic that was so heavy that another section of a schedule train was required to handle crowds. Those crowds normally peaked during traditional holidays but became more a part of “standard operations” during summer months.  Railroads themselves started early on promotions …

What is the difference between a train and a locomotive?

Are you a beginner model railroader? Or are you buying something for a model railroader for the first time? While getting started with model railroading or buying someone a gift is straightforward, there’s lots to consider to ensure you buy the right thing. So while there’s plenty to learn about different model railroad scales, sometimes …

A Tribute to Rail Transport in Great Britain

This month we pay a special tribute to the railroads of Great Britain. Just as Britain influenced colonial America, they too influenced the development of railroad transportation in the US. England holds claim to the earliest experiments with railroads and practical application of steam locomotives. In 1802, Richard Trevithick designed and built the first (unnamed) steam locomotive to run …

Top 5 Model Train Buildings and Structures to Include in Your Layout

Many elements combine to bring our model train layouts to life. There are hours of fun to be had while building our own model train structures in our chosen scale, whether building from scratch or buying ready-built products. The beauty of choosing model train structures and buildings is the sheer variety of what you’ll find, …