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Major Rail Accidents 1915 – 1917
This model railroading blog looks at a variety of topics of interest model railroaders and train enthusiasts.
Model railroaders will know the frustration of derailments and accidents that happen with model train sets. However, train accidents on real-sized prototype train tracks are far more serious and, sadly, cause tragedy and mayhem. In this series we look at some of the more serious train accidents from history.
May 22, 1915
A passenger train collides with a troop train in Gretna, Scotland, killing 227.
December 12, 1917
543 die when a troop train derails near entrance of Mount Cenis tunnel in Modane, France.
Not All Hobby Shops like HO Scale
I just got some feedback from a reader regarding his local hobby shops and what they think about HO scale. I thought I would share his comments and you are welcome to add your own thoughts on HO scale to this blog.
“I have just begun reading Mr Anderson’s ebook and was encouraged to read that HO train lines are so popular. I was beginning to have doubts after visiting two local train stores here –neither of which carried much in the way of HO train sets. The larger of the two in fact said it did not carry HO lines because they were no darn good. The engines are not repairable and the tracks keep coming apart. They preferred the larger–mostly Lionel type trains that can be turned on and off by remote. “
I think the thing to remember is that some hobby shops specialize in certain scales and brands and have their own views that are not always shared by everyone. Keep an open mind.
Model Railroad Tip: Create a Board Effect When Scratch Building
Here is an inexpesive technique to use when scratch building structures out of balsa wood. Take a flat piece of thin balsa and then use a metal dog comb with a straight edge to create a board effect on the wood. This effect can look as good as any manufactured siding. The key is to use a comb that is the scale width.
Model Railroad Clubs In Florida
Here is a list of groups in Florida:
Big Bend Model Railroad Association Tallahassee, Consolidated Model Railroaders (CMRX) Panama City, Florida Citrus Model Train Society Fort Lauderdale, Florida Nature’s Coast Model RailRoad Club Brooksville, Greater Florida LEGO Train Club, The H. B. Plant Railroad Historical Society Plant City – Florida, Miracle Strip Model Railroad Club – Florida, Model Railroad Club Wildwood, Ocala Model Railroaders Ocala – Florida, Orlando N-Trak Orlando, Palm Beach Model RailRoaders West Palm Beach, Pensacola Model Railroad Club Pensacola, Ridge Live Steamers Dundee, Sarasota Model Railroad Club Sarasota, Scale Rails of Southwest Florida Fort Myers, South Plantation Train Club Plantation – Florida, Sun City Center Model Railroad Club sun city center, Suncoast Model Railroad Club Largo, Palm Beach Model Railroaders West Palm Beach, Florida.
For details on individual model railroad clubs.
Attaching Track Question For Readers
Here is another question for readers to get their teeth into. This question is from Peter who models in N scale.
“I’m reading your eBook on model railroading. Already I’ve picked up some good tips. Here’s my question.”
“I’m building a new railroad in N scale. Modeled after the Santa Fe. This time I’m using Kato unitrack. I read somewhere that you can attach the track to the table by using a dollop of white glue on each of the two “posts” on the bottom side of the track. Seems reasonable until you consider you have to apply the glue to every section of track at the same time. I’m wondering if there’s a better way. Such as drilling out the holes in these two posts and then using screws or tacks. Do you know anyone who has tackled this problem? How did they do it? Thanks.”
The Inside Look Into Model Train Passenger Cars
Many model train passenger cars that are being retailed don’t have interiors. As a result when you look inside them they look like a toy train.
One simple solution is to buy some commercial window tinting film from hobby, hardware or car accessory store. A small strip of the tinting film can be attached to the inside of the clear plastic that makes up the windows of most passenger cars. The tinting film can look like polarized glass which is very difficult to look through.
Making Paved Streets On A Model Railroad Layout
Here is a simple way to age paved streets on your model railroad layout: use a fine point pen to create cracks.
Simply drive around your neighborhood or areas similar to where your modeling and see how the pavements are aging.
Word of caution though, your model railroad layout needs to look authentic, so don’t go crack crazy.
Model Railroad Clubs In Connecticut
Here is a list of groups in Connecticut:
Connecticut Society of Ferroequinologists and Model Railway Engineers, Connecticut S Gaugers, Housatonic Model Railway Club, Mohegan – Pequot Model Railroad Club, New Haven & Derby Railroad Club, New Haven Society Of Model Engineers, Silk City Model Railroad Club, The Stamford Model Railroad Club, Torrington Area Model Railroaders, Valley HO Trak Model Railroad Club, Valley Ntrak of Connecticut.
For details on individual groups visit http://www.model-railroad-resources.com/modelrailroadclubs.html
HO Scale Model Railroad Layouts Explained
HO scale (pronounced “H-Oh”) is the biggest selling model railroad scale. For that reason there is generally a wider selection of HO scale model train sets and model railroading accessories available including locomotives and rolling stock.
The HO scale market is the biggest so the model train manufacturers cater well for the HO scale market.
HO scale is popular because most model railroading enthusiasts prefer a middle of the road scale size. Although HO scale is convenient for most people, it is difficult to run 50-car trains on even medium-sized HO scale model railroad layouts.
Enjoy your HO scale model railroading!
Modeling Adhesives Used For Model Railroad Scenery
When selecting adhesives to use in the creation of scenery for your model railroad there are many to choose from in hardware stores and hobby shops / craft shops. Most adhesives will do the job that is claimed, but they are not all suitable for the same job.
When building scenery try using an acrylic matte medium or white glue as both of these modeling adhesives are water soluble. However, a contact cement may be more suitable in some applications.
Quick Tip
If you are going to use white glue, you may want to dilute it with water using 2 parts glue to 1 part water, or a 1 to 1 ratio, depending on its application. Try adding a few drops of liquid dishwashing detergent as this will help break up the surface tension of the water. Another thought is to add a small dab of latex paint to tint the glue and help hide any bare spots.
Early Model Train Manufacturers Start With Clockwork Locomotives
Before Lionel entered the scene, Ives Corp. dominated the toy train manufacturing in America. Founded in 1868, this toy firm developed a mechanical clockwork locomotive giving its trains the edge of self-propelled motion. Around 1900, Ives faced competition from European toy makers. Ives then produced colorful electric locomotives with the first automatic reversing units. Heightened competition from Lionel and American Flyer led to Ives declaring bankruptcy in 1928.
American Flyer Model Trains History
The American Flyer Manufacturing Co. was founded in 1907, and made windup and electric wide gauge (the competitor to Lionel’s Standard gauge) trains. The A. C. Gilbert Co. bought the firm in 1937 and offered O and HO trains. After World War II, Gilbert switched from O to S gauge. Lionel purchased the rights to produce American Flyer trains after Gilbert went out of business in 1966.
Major Rail Accident From Leaking Gas – 1989
This model train set blog looks at a variety of topics of interest to model railroaders and train enthusiasts.
As model railroaders we can get frustrated with derailments and accidents that happen with our model train sets. Sadly, train accidents on real-sized prototype train tracks are far more serious and cause tragedy and mayhem. In this series we look at some of the more serious train accidents from history.
June 4, 1989
Leaking gas from a liquefied gas pipeline engulfed two Trans-Siberian Railroad trains. The huge explosion happened in a crowded rail station outside the Central Asian city of Ufa in the former Soviet Union. It engulfed two passenger trains and killed 575 people.
When Not To Make Your Scenery Perfect.
We’ve all walked down city streets and observed the less than perfect side to real city life. So, why make a cityscape on your model railroad layout look like a scene from Fantasy Island.
When modeling an urban scene, never forget the garbage that could be present. What about adding an old newspaper, some garbage cans, cracks in the pavement, graffiti, an old rundown shack, perhaps piles of junk, a broken-down old car and scrape outside of major industry or railyard.
Although you don’t want to overdo it, a bit of imperfection will add to the reality of most city scenes. Look around you and come up with your own ideas.
A Trap For Beginners To Model Railroading
Before getting started in the actual building of a model railroad layout, the most important detail to consider is what scale you are going to model. This is critical because the scale will determine how big your model railroad layout will be. SCALE simply means the ratio of the model compared to the real life object (prototype).
As an example, 1:87 scale means that the model is 1/87 as large as the prototype, or the real life object. Therefore 1 inch on the scale model represents 87 inches on the prototype. Your model railroad layout will look much more realistic if you keep the components on your model in the same scale. Sounds simple enough, but a trap that beginners to the hobby often fall into.
National Model Railroad Association Worth Joining
The National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) is the largest US organization devoted to the development, promotion, and enjoyment of the hobby of model railroading.
The NMRA was founded in 1935 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in order to provide a service to the hobby of model railroading.
Remove Trains With Drooping Couplers For Repair.
When traveling on grades, cars near the head end of heavy trains, are subjected to an incredible degree of pull. This can force one knuckle up and out of the other. When the opposite coupler goes down it can loosen until the actuating pin snags things between the rails. Remove any cars with drooping couplers until they are repaired.
US Railway History 1929-1940
The Great Depression exacts a heavy toll on the railroad industry, forcing substantial segments of the railroading industry into bankruptcy. Besides facing competition from one another, the railroads had new competition in the form of automobiles, trucks, and buses.
As the Great Depression settled over the United States after 1930, the railroads had already lost half of their passenger business. A similar decline in railroad freight traffic from which the rail lines realized most of their revenue made a bad situation even worse.
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