—> The BIG BUNDLE packs of model buildings (with up to 67% OFF the regular price) are now available . Here is the link to one http://www.modelbuildings.org/big-bundle-deal-1.html

—-> Some of the popular multi-packs with 35% – 49% saving are now available from the same website.

Also, if you haven’t get joined my Online Model Train Club, please consider it. The content and resources gets updated every month and there are some exciting developments in the pipeline. The club is going from strength to strength and is too good to miss!

Remember to BOOKMARK the blog so you can check for regular updates. And feel free to add your comment to any of the postings.

The latest model train poll asked: Will you let friends and/or family operate your trains over the Christmas break?

357 people responded as follows:

–> Yes – I even let the Children have a go (37%, 133 Votes)
– -> My trains won’t be operating (17%, 59 Votes)
–>  I haven’t got a layout yet (15%, 54 Votes)
–>  No – they’re not interested (11%, 40 Votes)
–> No – that’s too risky (8%, 29 Votes)
–> Yes – but only adults (7%, 24 Votes)
–> Yes – but only experienced operators (5%, 18 Votes)

Add your comment.

Our last poll ran for only a few days and asked: Will you be working on your layout over the Christmas break?

There were 323 respondents and the votes were as follows:

>> YES – I hope to (72%, 233 Votes)
>> No – Unfortunately I have other things to do (16%, 53 Votes)
>> I don’t have a layout yet (12%, 37 Votes)

Add your comment.

Our recent survey asked: Do your locomotive models have sound?

474 respondents answered as follows:

–> NO – but someday I hope to have some (37%, 177 Votes)
–> YES – some have sound, but I wish I had more (19%, 91 Votes)
–> YES – I have some locos with sound (19%, 89 Votes)
–> No – I never will have locos with sound (11%, 50 Votes)
–> YES – all my locos have sound (9%, 41 Votes)
–> I don’t have a layout yet (5%, 26 Votes)

Add your comment.

340 model railroaders took part in the last survey which asked: Will your model railroad include a Christmas element of some kind this year?

Results are as follows:

— No (64%, 217 Votes)
— Yes (21%, 72 Votes)
— I don’t have a layout yet (15%, 51 Votes)

Add your comment.

The latest survey asked “Are Model Train Manufacturers Doing Enough To Promote Model Railroading?”

415 model railroaders responded as follows:

— No, I think they could do more (79%, 326 Votes)
— Yes, I think they are (21%, 89 Votes)

Add your comment

A reader wants your advice:

“I’m planning a N scale layout based during the late 40s to late 50s. I will be including a Switcher/Yard engine for my small branch line’s yard. My layout is a simple D.C. arrangement that will be up-graded to D.C.C. at a later time. Thanks for what advice I can get.”

If model train manufacturers want to promote the hobby it should be done through advertising, something that model railroading doesn’t get enough of. This is the view of at least one keen model railroader (watch video). Do you agree?

Add your comment to this posting and/or take part in the poll.

There was a great response to last weeks poll which asked:   Do You Operate DC Or DCC?

In all 841 model railroaders had their say with the majority (53%) of railroaders saying they operate DCC. Another 20% hoped to convert.

Although I’m not a professional pollster, I did notice one thing of significance.

Throughout the polling the percent results remained constant, indictating (to me) that the results were very accurate and hardly changed as more and more people voted. Here are the survey results:

>> DCC – I have always operated DCC (14%, 120 Votes)
>> DCC – I converted from DC to DCC (39%, 326 Votes)
>> DC – I hope to convert to DCC at some stage (20%, 169 Votes)
>> DC – I will be sticking with DC (19%, 162 Votes)
>> I don’t have a layout yet (8%, 64 Votes)

Click here for more DCC info

600 Model railroaders took part in our latest survey which asked “Do you plan to expand your layout size in the future?”

Here’s how they voted:

>> YES – I hope to (43%, 257 Votes)
>> NO – Unfortunately I don’t have the space (40%, 237 Votes)
>> I don’t have a layout yet (17%, 106 Votes)

Add your comment to this post.

A whopping 632 model railroaders took part in last weeks poll that asked “Does your layout include a rural (farm) setting with livestock and/or crops?”

I was a little surprised with the results. What do you think?

>> NO – neither (32%, 202 Votes)
>> YES – both animals and crops (25%, 156 Votes)
>> YES – animals and livestock (24%, 150 Votes)
>> YES – crops (1%, 10 Votes)
>> I don’t have a layout yet (18%, 114 Votes)

Add your comment.

As a follow-up to the earlier video about handling criticism about your railroad, Don sent in details of what’s on the sign he has in his train room. Add your comment to this post.

AMAZING FACTS: China already has the longest high speed rail network in the world and by the end of 2015 China this will increase to 18,000 km (11,000 miles) of track. The coverage is planned to increase to 25,000 km (16,000 miles) by 2020. Although the Chinese bullet trains can comfortably reach speeds of 380 km/h (240 mph), for safety reasons most operate at around 300km/h. During a test run a train reached speeds of 487.3 km/h ( that’s 302.8 mph).

Step back to 1993 when average train speeds in China were 48 km/h (30 mph) and the railways were losing market share to the airlines and China’s fast expanding road expressway networks. Although not as fast as planes, the bullet trains are more environmentally friendly than motor vehicles. The Chinese high speed rail network of 1580 high-speed trains currently transports 1.33 million passengers every day.

Mike kindly sent in this video giving you a 5 minute condensed ride on a bullet train from Beijing to Hangzhou and then on another high speed train to Shanghai. Fascinating to watch.

Add your comment.

Here are the results from the last poll which asked “Do you operate switcher engines on your layout?”

536 model railroaders took part in the poll and here is how they voted:

>> YES, I have several (32%, 171 Votes)
>> NO, I don’t operate switchers (22%, 116 Votes)
>> YES, I have ONE (18%, 95 Votes)
>> NO, I don’t have a layout yet (15%, 82 Votes)
>> YES, I have TWO (13%, 72 Votes)

So, it looks like 63% of us have at least one switcher.

This young model railroader has obviously been the target of some tough criticism by some others in the hobby. In my opinion we should be encouraging the younger generation to get involved in the hobby rather than trying to make them feel inferior. Sure, many of us have considerable experience and do know the best methods to complete many tasks, but we should be focusing on passing on our skills to the next generation rather than putting them down. Do you agree?

Add your comment to this post.

The last poll asked: What era do you model on your layout?

592 model railroaders responded in just a few days and here’s how they voted:

>> I have a mix of several eras (29%, 174 Votes)
>> Steam / Diesel (1941- 1955) (26%, 152 Votes)
>> Modern Diesel (1975 – present day) (13%, 77 Votes)
>> Early Diesel (1955 – 1975) (11%, 65 Votes)
>> I don’t have a layout yet (9%, 55 Votes)
>> Standard Steam (1918 – 1941) (9%, 52 Votes)
>> Early Steam ( pre1918) (3%, 17 Votes)

Add your comment.

The results of the last poll are in. The question was “Have you ever used foam core sheets when constructing scenery or structures?”

>> YES  (51%, 157 Votes)
>>  NO  (35%, 108 Votes)
>> I’ve never heard of it before  (14%, 41 Votes)

Total Voters: 306

Most of us focus on our layouts, and forget about the total room setting. It usually pays to have some comfortable seating even if its in an adjacent room to relax and talk trains with friends.

Here’s a simple idea for a wall hanging using low relief buildings. The wall hanging is easy to make and would be a interesting talking point with others in the hobby.

If you decide to make one of these wall hangings, feel free to send in a photo so we can publish it on the blog. Use this link to get in touch http://www.model-railroad-resources.com/submit-questions.html to provide some details about where you will be hanging it etc.