Model Railroader Magazine has been the go to model railroading magazine for many years.
Watch the video below as Editor Neil Besougloff explains what’s new in next months issue.
If you are a beginner, an experienced model railroader or just an armchair model railroader, then this is the best model railroading magazine on the market for you. Click the link below the video for a discounted subscription.
This is a video review of the Lionel Burlington Northern SD-60 Legacy diesel locomotive and the Burlington Northern Command Control Crane and Boom Cars.
Click the video to play and turn up your speakers…
Features of the Lionel Burlington Northern Leagacy SD60 Diesel Locomotive #8302:
>> Lionel
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The huge G-Scale model train display at The Living Desert is something worth seeing…
The model trains became an addition to The Living Desert in 1998. It was supposed to be a display that would only run in the evenings as part of the WildLights, but due to the poularity of the layout it now runs full time during the park opening hours.
Most of the locomotives, rolling stock, track and switches are made by LGB.
>> The Living Desert G-Scale Model Railroad
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In this video Eric Siegel from EricsTrains.com shows us the updates to his model railroad and what he got for Christmas… Trains and more trains!
Look out for the Lionel Corporate Tinplate O Gauge Christmas set. This is an awesome model train set and typical of what a boy might have got in the 1910′s and 1920′s. The engine is a PS3 from MTH. It comes complete with the engine, tender and 3 passenger cars. There is an optional 4th baggage car. You get an oval of MTH real tracks, a 50 watt transformer and a DCS remote commander and a DCS commander remote.
Click the video to play and turn up your speakers… Enjoy!
Please leave your comments below…
The “Bognor Regis Observer” reported that the Playstation generation is given new meaning.
The kids of today have been labelled the “Playstation” generation (correctly or incorrectly) because they tend to spend most of their time on the Playstation.
But in Bognor Regis a group of kids have been inspired to try their hand at Model Railroading. The local model railroad club created a 12 week course where the experienced model railroaders showed the kids their skills with huge success.
They have spent one Saturday a month helping to build a new layout for the town’s model railway club rather than playing on the computer games console. The results of their work since last spring will be on show for the first time at the club’s latest annual exhibition this weekend. The layout created by the members of the junior section of the club – such as Aaron Wallace, 15 – with its adult members is called Troutbeck Bridge… [full article here]
This is a video review of the O scale Lionel 6-28371 Union Pacific DD35A Diesel Locomotive with Legacy.
This is an awesome diesel locomotive in O scale with outstanding features and great sound.
The DD35 was basically 2 GP35 diesel locomotives on a single chassis making up 88ft of locomotive.
Watch the video for a great review by Eric. Click the video to play and turn up your sound…
Video by esiegel76
>> Lionel Union Pacific DD35A Diesel Locomotive
>> Lionel Trains
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Model Trains For Beginners has been on a mission since 2008 to reverse the decline in model Railroading.
Dan Morgan of ModelTrainsForBeginners.com says that the kids of today are missing out because a video game will never give you as much pleasure as planning, building and constructing a working model railroad. We live in an instant gratification age where the kids want to take the wrapping off a package and be playing in 2 minutes… So, it’s up to us as parents and grandparents to show them what they are missing out on.
Wday.com reported on the decline in model railroading with members of the West Fargo Club…
Don Radeck – Spud Valley Model Railroad: “I look forward to Tuesday nights coming out here, and we model railroad, and we talk about trains and trains we saw over the week.”
In recent years those numbers on Tuesday night are dropping, and fewer young people are showing up.
Don Radeck: “A lot of it’s the electronic age, it’s easier to sit at the computer screen and play video games and stuff like that I see that with my own son”
Some of the decline may also have to do with the real railroads they’re based on.
Full article and video by wday.com
We would love to know your thoughts, please comment below…
Here’s how to make a row of LED lighting for your model train coaches. This is a great addition to any model train coaches you have and will certainly add to the realism and bring them to life…
The coach lighting is made using a small lighting board (with 3 x SMD LED’s), 4 diodes to make a bridge rectifier and an additional capacitor to store some power. The stored power in the capacitor eliminates the annoying switching on and off of lights as your coach travels the track. This is due to connectivity issues between the track and the coach pickup, usually caused by dirty track.
Click the video to play and turn up your speakers…
Thanks to scoopmmr for this great video.
>> lighting kits for model railroads
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Boxcars on your model railroad may serve many different purposes. They could be used for hauling almost any type of cargo. But, what about using a static boxcar as an advertising billboard?
This would make for an interesting addition to any model railroad.
Here’s an article from Ryan Kunkle that explains this idea in more detail (with pictures)…
Taking a cue from another railroad that once roamed this valley, the Lehigh Valley, the Reading and Northern uses this old boxcar as a large billboard. The scroll on the right features a hand-painted map of the railroad advertising their direct route to Canada… rest of article here
Please leave your comments below…
Model Railroader associate editor Cody Grivno shows you how to add ground cover and other easy scenery techniques to your model train layout. For more …
www.youtube.com/watch?v=antGqzrmwn0&feature=related
There is a huge amount of variety out there today but which is the best model train set for adults?
To the person that is not familiar with model trains or model railroading they can all look the same… But, to the person in the know there is a huge difference.
The first thing to know about the person you are buying for is, are they likely to expand the model train set you give them into a bigger model railroad?
Some adults are content with just having their model train set operational at Christmas around the tree or on a table… Knowing this will help you choose the best model train set for an adult.
The next thing to consider is the size or scale of the model train set. A small scale will allow a bigger set in a smaller area, while a bigger scale might suit the more mature person with failing eyesight.
Controlling the locomotive has advanced a long way lately and in the past you would have bought a DC powered train, whereas today I would suggest you only look at the DCC controlled model train set. This will give the user much more functionality and enjoyment from their new model train set.
Model train sets have been made to represent almost every real life railroad that ever existed. Some people prefer the old steam engine era, while others prefer the diesel locomotive because it reminds them of where they used to live. This is a personal preference and has no bearing on the functionality of the train set, but it’s worth considering.
Price is the last consideration, because you do get what you pay for. Model train sets for adults are usually upwards of $100 with the better ones closer to $500. Model train sets with longer track, are easily expanded and have a more robust and effecient locomotive will cost more.
That gives you some idea of what to look for in a good model train set for an adult. Have fun and please tell us which model train set you picked up…
This has been an ongoing discussion for many, many years and one that annoys the experienced model railroaders.
Thanks to the generosity of a friend and colleague, my son Nick and I recently came into a rather nice train set.
I hesitate to refer to the railroad paraphernalia as toys, though that’s exactly what it is for Nick and I, because model railroading is a serious, substantial and year round hobby for a lot of people. In other words, model trains are toys the way my fishing tackle is a collection of toys, that is to say you could argue either way, but you’d be arguing over something that’s largely inconsequential.
Comment below, it will be interesting to read what you think…
Sometimes you need general lighting at a lower level for your model train layout, rather than the detailed lighting inside buildings, on the streets and in your train.
The perfect solution is the new type of LED lighting usually used for Christmas tree lighting. The cool operation and low power consumption of these LED lights makes them perfect to use.
This is what Ryan had to say about this type of lighting…
Until recently, holiday lights were available only as incandescent bulbs. These lights work well and still have some advantages today. The color of an incandescent bulb is much warmer than an LED (Light-Emitting-Diode) most of which yield a cooler blue-ish light more similar to a fluorescent bulb. If you are looking to use small bulbs to light a finished scene, this type of light may be preferable, but there have also been some great improvements in LED lighting as well. Also, the old incandescent light strands are certainly less expensive than LEDs.
Please leave your comment below…
This is a video review of the Bachmann 32-979 Class 66 412 (Low Emission) Malcolm Rail locomotive.
It retails for around $135.00 and is a great running and sounding locomotive. Note that it is DCC ready with a 21 pin decoder socket.
In the video the locomotive has been fitted with a Bachmann 21 pin decoder. The locomotive comes standard with interior cab lighting which works, switchable rear tail liaghts and many other detail parts.
Turn up your speakers and click the video to play… Enjoy!
Get the Bachmann 32-979 Class 66 412 (Low Emission) Malcolm Rail locomotive
Get the Bachmann 21 pin decoder
Please comment below…
This is a quick video of the new Bachmann model train models about to be released, or they may have been already released by the time you watch this…
Take special note of the new limited edition NRM (National Railway Museum: UK) and the weathered Deltic DP1.
Turn up your speakers and click the video to play… Enjoy!
>> Click here for more Bachmann trains
Please comment below…
Dave has kindly done this video model train review…
It is the Hornby Black 5 DCC Locomotive With Sound. It is equiped with a Locksound V3.5 decoder which is fitted by Hornby.
This is a great looking locomotive and runs very well… It also has great sound.
Turn up your speakers and click the video to play…
Please comment below…
Dave’s been at it again creating a “Model Railway at Christmas”…
Worksafe in Australia would have a field day with the dangerous antics of Mr and Mrs Claus 
Look out for that part…
From Dave and all of us here we wish you a Merry Christmas and a wonderful new year.
Don’t forget to comment below… it’s what keeps Dave inspired to create more videos.
Who would have thought that a model railroad could attract over 1 million people a year.
The Miniatur Wunderland Hamburg is one of the most successful tourist attractions in Germany.
It has taken over 5,000 working hours in the last 10 years to create.
More than a thousand trains, aircraft, cars and ships create this miniature world. it is based on a 1,300 square meter layout and there are plans until 2014 to expand it significantly.
There is no trick photography or computer animation in that video… It is all real!
Tell us what you think of this model railroad…
Are you looking for a model train set for the Christmas tree or a gift for someone?
Then I recommend you have a look at the Chicago Metra by Kato USA. It comes complete with Bi-Level cars in a four-piece train set and would make any adult or kid very happy…
See the Kato Chicago Metra here.
>> Model train sets (discounted prices and fast delivery to your door)
“Videogames have taken over kids’ lives,” Bochicchio said. “Kids don’t build anything anymore. I want them to be able to use their hands, to be able to make models. Basically I want them to have a finished product when they’re done, something they can be proud of.”
For Bochicchio, it’s his eight-year-old autistic son who rekindled his interest in the hobby. He saw it as a way to connect with his child and also remember the time he spent with his own father decades ago.
While building his own collection, Bochicchio became acquainted with the online hobby community. It wasn’t long before he created an electronic storefront and his house turned into a model train warehouse. After the post-Christmas demand didn’t die down
Dan Morgan from www.modeltrainsforbeginners.com has been trying for years to encourage kids into the hobby of model trains. Video games just don’t give you those hands-on skills so important in life.
It’s been widely reported that the planning, construction, problem solving and creativity skills developed with building a model train layout are unrivaled in any other hobby.
People that complain that it is an expensive hobby just haven’t realized the full potential of the hobby. If you are new to model trains, check out www.ModelTrainsForBeginners.com
