Every week I get hundreds of emails from all over the globe and unfortunately I can’t reply to them all. So, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their kind words of encouragement. It is so good to know that so many people (with varying levels of experience) are benefiting from the tips and ideas in my Model Train Help ebook. It sounds like some of you are constructing some amazing layouts.

I’m really pleased to hear the ebook is so widely accepted regardless of readers individual preferences for particular brands, scales, or operating systems. I have tried to make it suitable for everyone (beginner and experienced model railroader) rather than limit it just one scale or operating system.

I am also aware of the different railroading terms used in different countries. For example in the USA the term ‘Model Railroad’ is used whereas in some other countries like the UK and Australia ‘Model Railway’ is more widely used. HO in the USA is a similar scale to OO in the UK. Spelling also varies – for example in some countries ‘Analog’ is ‘Analogue’ and ‘Color’ is ‘Colour.’

However, in general terms model railroading (railway modelling) is very similar and the problems are very similar.

Here are some recent emails from around the world:

“I have purchased your eBook and have put the knowledge learned to good use. Thank you for writing it.” L Meyer, Germany

“I have just finished your book and it was great. I’ve recommended it to all my railway friends.”J Burke, UK

“Just bought your Model Train Help book and read it… and wanted to thank you. It has really helped me as I was a bit confused with changing over to DCC and until now was very confused. I now have confidence to go to tackle the project. Thanks again.”S Harris, Victoria, Australia

“I’ve read through the first 132 pages of your book and wanted to tell you it’s one of the best RR books I have ever read. You have a lot of knowledge and make everything sound easy… even for dummies like me.”R Jackson, MI, USA

“Hi Rob, I absolutely love your book. My mind is buzzing with some of the ideas you mentioned. The bonus section on airbrushing trains was unexpected as it is something I have always wanted to try. I can’t thank you enough!”M Morgan, IL, USA

“Thank you for creating this excellent book. I found the pages on wiring for two car operation most helpful. You are to be congratulated.”S Hansen, Denmark

Click here to find out more about my Model Train Help ebook.

Long-time model railroader Dave Adams has submitted these reviews of popular model train books for publication:

“Complete Beginner’s Guide To Model Trains” – By Albert Williamson

This ebook was orginally titled “The Ultimate Guide To Model Trains”. In my opinion the original name was inaccurate as this model train book was only 62 pages long with very basic content. Fortunately, this ebook has improved and the new title more correctly reflects the content.

The “Complete Beginner’s Guide To Model Trains” ebook is a good starting point but, at US$37, many will consider it over priced compared to my 1st choice. However, don’t be put off, this ebook is still packed with lots of excellent ideas and answers a lot of questions that will be stumping many in the hobby.

Compared to many ordinary hard-cover model train books the Complete Beginner’s Guide To Model Trains ebook is really easy to read and understand. Albert is to be congratulated on this improved version – it is worth buying. I like to print out these downloadable books and I then make notes and add to them as I go along.

“Model Trains For Beginners” – By Bruce Morgan

The author of this US$37 ebook Bruce Morgan describes himself as a passionate model railroader. This certainly comes across in this model train book (ebook) which Bruce has obviously written with the beginner very much in mind. It is basic and easy to understand, and you would need 3 or 4 ordinary books to give you all the condensed information this ebook contains in one place.

Again, it is not as comprehensive as my 1st choice, but it is still worth having as the author has tried hard to explain processes step-by-step, although I would have liked to see some topics in more detail.

“Model Train Help” – By Robert Anderson

Model Train Help in its 4th edition and is my # 1 choice. This downloadable ebook starts with all the basics explained in simple uncomplicated words. Then, step by step, page by page, the author explains how to design, plan, and create amazing layouts that are easy to run and problem free.

Model Train Help includes really helpful sections on DCC, scenery building and weathering techniques to add realizm to trains. I particulary enjoyed the bonus section on air-brushing, and the follow-up bridge building tutorial a few days later was a pleasant surprise I wasn’t expecting.

Conclusion – Model Train Help is a ‘must have’ model train book (ebook) for both beginners and more experienced model railroaders (I guess that’s me). Without question, author Robert Anderson explained many things I didn’t know.

At US$39.97, it is excellent value with over 200 pages packed with step by step instructions and photos, along with six bonuses and even more surprise (unadvertised) free follow-up tutorials. From my experience, you would not normally find this amount of easy to understand information in just one model train book. You would need to buy 4 or 5 model train books to get the equivalent amount of quality thorough information.

Summary –

Ebooks are a quick and easy way to access lots of valuable model railroad information with having to waste hours and hours surfing hundreds of websites on the Internet. You get all the information in one place and almost instantly as it takes about 2 minutes to get any one of the three model train ebooks I reviewed.

You’ll also find that in the case of the Model Train Help ebook there are free follow-up tutorials that aren’t even advertised, so that’s even better.

Each of the model train books (ebooks) is worth getting, but if you are on a limited budget then my pick would be the Model Train Help ebook. It is a “must have” for both beginners as well as the more experienced, and covers such a wide range of model railroading topics including: track plans, scenery building, weathering techniques, wiring tips, DCC and DC operation, building tunnels, ponds, roads and everything you could possibly imagine on the subject model railroading.

This is my choice because the author gives so many good ideas, and so many questions get answered. And best of all, it is written in a way almost anyone could understand.

Laurel is an 8th grader from Pittsburgh, PA and is working on a school project that someone may be able to help with:

“Hello, I am trying to get in touch with Mr Frank Edgcombe, the model railroad expert historian. My name is Laurel and as part of my 8th grade graduation week presentations later this year, I have been assigned the subject of toys and miniaturization in history. I would like to do a section on model railroads with some pictures of larger toys of the late modern years, 1930 to 1960.

I understand that Lionel O scale were the trains that were most popular. Is there a web page that has pictures of Lionel toy locomotives of this era? I found a picture that was exactly what I was looking for of a 600E locomotive but then learned that standard and O scale were not exactly the same and I do not know the size of this engine.

If there was a site that could give me the model names or numbers of the largest toy locomotives of that era, I could google them myself. Unfortunately, all the sites I find give me lots of information but not the size of the engines. Does a list of the largest of these toy locomotives exist anywhere? Thanks for you help, even if no one knows of any model train picture sites.”

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