Modeling Real Life: Atlas Scenery Additions for Railroading

One of the great aspects of model railroading is the opportunity to turn our scenes into something genuinely life-like. While you might spend weeks perfecting and painting your landscape, the addition of model scenery to your layout is often the final touch that’ll bring it to life. And when it comes to choosing scenery, there’s …

The History of the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway

With less than 1000 route miles to its name, the Spokane, Portland, and Seattle Railroad was very much an underdog of mainline railroads. It was however a critical link for rail operations in the Pacific Northwest. Never intended for a prolonged existence, the railroad was jointly operated by the Great Northern and Northern Pacific for …

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 …