Everything on model trains, model railroads, model railways, locomotives, model train layouts, scenery, wiring, DCC and more. Enjoy the world's best hobby... model railroading!
Planning Micro Model Train Layouts
A micro model train layout is best defined as a self contained, working model railroad with a clear purpose and operating capability. They are ideal for small apartments and confined spaces, because most micro model train layouts will fit in an area of less than three or four foot square. Depending on the design, micro model train layouts can be reasonably quick to construct and can feature a lot of operating functions.
The main thing to remember – a very small micro model train layout requires a different planning approach. Scales are different and the scenery is very compact when compared to a larger scale model railroad layout.
Constructing a micro layout is a bit like a theatrical stage set design.
You choose a scene and then work out the logistics of compressing the illusion of it into a confined space.
You’ll need to be flexible in your thinking, because most micro layouts use forced perspective and lots of special tricks and even flexible backdrops (just like on stage!).
Careful thought needs to be given to selecting rolling stock and structures which could include low-relief and flat models of structures.
Railroad Terms – Part 17
This list of railroad terms continues with another eight listed in this posting:
Rules-in-effect
The specific operating rule (or group of operating rules), as designated in the Timetable, that govern the use of tracks.
Running Track
A designated track for movements by signal indication or at a Restricted Speed.
Schedule
Indicates the direction, number, frequency, and times for trains on a destignated timetable.
Semi-Automatic Switch
A hand-operated switch that is designed to be trailed through in either position.
Siding
A track used for meeting or passing other trains adjacent to a main track.
Slide Fence
A fence placed along trackage to warn of rock slides. When the fence is activated, it changes the aspect of the signals governing that block to Stop.
Speed Control
An engine safety braking device incase the engineer fails to reduce the train’s speed to the speed required by the cab signal indication.
Spotting Cars
Switching freight cars to a specified location for loading and unloading.
Model Railroad Clubs In California
Here is a list of groups in California:
Alameda County Central Railroad Society, Amtrak Employees Model Railroad Club, Angels Gate Hi-Railers, Antelope Valley Model Railroad Club, Antelope Valley N’Scalers, Bay Area Lego Train Club, Bay Area NTRAK Model Railroad Club, Bay Area Garden Railway Society, Belmont Shore Model Railroad Club, Black Diamond Lines Model Railroad Club, California Southern Model Railroad Club, Capitol City NTrak, Carquinez Model Railroad Society, Citrus Empire Model Railroad Club, Coachella Valley Model Railroaders, Coastal Valley Lines, Corona & Temescal Canyon Railroad, Black Diamond Lines Model Railroad Club, East Valley Lines, Eel River Valley Model Railroaders, Glendale Model Railroad Club, Gold Coast Modular Railroad Club, Golden Empire Model Railroad Club, Golden Gate Model Railroad Club, Golden State Model Railroad Museum, Goleta Valley Railroad Club, Group 160 Ntrak Club, San Fernando, Highland Pacific HO Model Railroad Club, High Sierra Model Railroad Club, Joshua Tree & Southern Railroad Club & Museum, Lancaster andNorthwestern Railroad Club, Live Steam Clubs Of Southern California, Los Angeles Live Steamers, Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum, Los Angeles Model Railroad Society, Los Angeles N-Scale Association, Modular Railroad Engineers of Ventura County, Monterey & Salinas Valley Railroad Modeling & Historical Society, Napa Valley Model Railroaders, North Coast Narrow Gaugers, North County Model Railroad Society, North Valley Live Steamers, Oahu Sierra Railroad Engineers, Orange Coast Railroad Club, Orange County Model Engineers, Orange County Module Railroaders, Pasadena Model Railroad Club, Pomona Valley Model Railroad Club, Poway Station All Scale Model Rrailroad Club, Redwood Valley Railway, Riverside Live Steamers, Roseville Roundhouse Model Railroad Club, Sacramento Model Railroad Historical Society, Sacramento Modular Railroaders, San Diego Garden Railway Society, San Diego Model Railroad Museum, San Diego Model Railroad Club, San Diego Society Of N Scale, San Joaquin Valley Garden Railway Society, Santa Susana Railroad Historical Society, Silicon Valley Lines, Slim Gauge Guild Model Railroad Club, South Bay Historical Railroad Society, Southern California LEGO Train Club, Southern California N Scale Council, Southern California Traction Club, Tehachapi Loop Railroad Club, Tri-City Society of Model Engineers, Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society, Western Sierra Model Railroad Club.
For details on individual groups visit http://www.model-railroad-resources.com/modelrailroadclubs.html
Formal Art Of Model Railroading Explained
I came across this definition of model railroading the other day and I must admit that it brought a smile to my face. Not that I am criticising, it is just that it makes the hobby sound so formal.
Model Railroading: The art and science of designing and erecting a place that is a miniature setting for dramatic events involving trains, terrain, and associated human activities.
Spectacular Train Journey In New Zealand
The TranzAlpine rail journey from Christchurch to Greymouth (New Zealand) is rated one of the world’s great scenic railway journeys.
The TranzAlpine scenic train journey travels from one coast of New Zealand to the other. The train journey sets off from Christchurch – New Zealand’s largest city on the South Island. Views from the train begin with fields of the Canterbury Plains and farmland, followed by the spectacular gorges and river valleys of the Waimakariri River.
The train then climbs into the Southern Alps of New Zealand before descending through lush beech rain forest to the West Coast town of Greymouth and the spectacular glaciers.
The trip is 223.8 kilometres long and takes just four and a half hours. There are 16 tunnels, and 5 viaducts, the highest being the Staircase standing at 73 metres.
Railroad Terms – Part 16
My list of common railroading terms continues with another seven this posting. These railroading terms are reasonably universal, but some may vary depending on where you live.
Operator
The person controlling a designated section of track. He or she is accountable to the Dispatcher for movement of trains. Abbreviated as Opr.
Overhead Bridge
Any bridge which crosses above the trackage eg. a railroad bridge, road bridge, or pedestrian bridge. Abbreviated as OH.
Pilot
An employee assigned to a train to guide the Engineer, Conductor, or Track Car Driver in unfamilar situations or territory.
Push-Pull Train
A passenger train with a MU or control car at either end.
Retarder Yard
A switching yard where an employee in a control tower controls the movement of cars (after they are released from a locomotive).
Return Movement
When an uncoupled engine, or leading portion of a train returns toward the remaining stationary portion of the same train.
Reverse Movement
A movement opposite to the direction previously authorized.
Enjoy your model railroad.
The Gauge Explains Building AN On30 Class A Climax
In the words of Ken Smith “I wanted a backwoods Class A Climax for use as a MOW engine on my Tall Timber Railroad. I also wanted this loco to look like she was nearing the end of her useful life. Finally, I wanted to be able to build a loco without a huge investment like some of the brass counterparts available in On30.”
An excellent article at The Gauge will show you how you can convert an Athearn SW 7 into an On30 Class A Climax. This is a very simple conversion that one with basic skills can accomplish. You need only simple tools and glue, nothing else. Check out this model railroading article at http://www.the-gauge.com/
Bachmann HO Model Train Set Released
For 122 years the Pennsylvania Railroad was one of the largest in the world. The keystone crest of Pennsylvania is “The Standard Railroad of America.” With more than 10,000 miles of tracks, the Pennsylvania Railroad accomodated almost 7,000 locomotives and more than 250,000 cars running on the tracks.
To commemorate the long and distinguished history of the Pennsylvania Railroad, Bachmann Industries has released the HO Spectrum. The Bachmann Keystone train set comes with a K4 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive with tender that features a working headlight.
The cars are approximately six inches long and one and a half inches high. There are enough sections of track to allow assembly of several track layouts that are very easy to change. Also included are a plug-in terminal re-railer and power pack that converts household AC current to DC current to allow operation of the locomotive and all lights.
The HO scale Bachmann Keystone train set also comes with a VHS tape detailing the set up of the track. This is an ideal starter set into the wonderful hobby of model railroading.
Hornby OO BR County Class 4-6-0
The distinctive green of the BR trains of the early 1950’s. This one is the Hornby OO BR County Class 4-6-0. Having a length of 253mm it’s not too long for a tight curve and would often be seen on a branch line. The Hornby OO BR County Class 4-6-0 would most likely be seen pulling rolling stock rather than coaches.
Add Excitement To Your Model Railroad Scenery
Tunnels and a bridge will add interest to a layout. You’ll need a rail station too. Put operating signals at crossings. Use either a set of crossing flashers or a flasher and drop-arm combo. Kids (and adults too) are mesmerized by these ‘lights and action’ items.
Other ideas like a working grain elevator, water tower, coal loaders, or a control towers help complete a scene. Be creative, but specific, with your scenery.
History Of Lionel Model Trains
Lionel is a well-known name associated with O gauge trains. Joshua Lionel Cowen started the Lionel firm in 1900, later developing Standard gauge (2 1/4-inch gauge) and helped to popularize O gauge.
Lionel trains became a major model train manufacturer during the late 1940s and ’50s. In 1969, General Mills secured the rights to manufacture Lionel trains under the names Model Products Corp. and Fundimensions. Richard Kughn acquired those rights in 1986 and formed Lionel Trains Inc. In 1995 he sold the company.
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.
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.
Why Model Railroad Scenery Is Important
Trains don’t just run through an empty landscape, so the scenery (geographical setting) is a vital part of any model railroad layout. Constructing the countryside and cityscape through which your model trains will travel can be tremendous fun.
When creating model railroad scenery you need to consider the era, geographic location, and relative prosperity of the area being modeled. Don’t mix eras – putting 1970s building in a turn of the century Western theme. Or putting a 1980’s Honda model automobile in fifties-era scenery.
Study the architecture of the buildings from that time period. Find out what kind of shrubs and trees are likely to be found in that area. Little details can add to the realism to your model railroad scenery.
Get model trees that look like native species from your hobby shop or make them yourself. A book from the library or surfing the Internet will give you some ideas for your model railroad scenery.
Ask at your local model shop about buying suitable buildings. You may prefer to construct them yourself with balsa wood and paint.
Events In US Railway History
1970-1975
Burdened by regulation and faced with subsidized competition, nine Class I railroads, representing almost one-quarter of the industry’s trackage, file for bankruptcy protection.
World’s Unluckiest Railroad
If railways are considered lucky or unlucky, maybe this example would fit the description of the unluckiest. In the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia, there was a gold mining town called Walhalla. Around the 1890’s the citizens were lobbying for a branch line from the mainline some 40 miles away so their town could continue to be prosperous.
The gold mines were going well, and many in the town beleived a railroad connection might guarantee prosperity for the town. The lobbying for a railroad went on for quite a few years, and eventually the railroad was built, the first train arriving in March, 1910.
A week or so before the railroad was officially opened one of the major gold mines in the town closed down, and this was followed by many others. Because there weren’t any other prospects for employment in the town because of it’s isolation, many people left town, and ironically they left town on the train! The very thing that many thought would keep people in the town actually carried them and their houses away!
The town slowly died away, but the railroad soldiered on for about another 40 years, and was eventually closed around the mid 1950’s. According to a number of books on the subject, the railroad had very few years where it actually made a profit. Published courtesy of http://www.stanfordnorth.com
Lionel Trains Steam Engine 733
The 773 Steam Engine (usually referred to as “The Hudson”) was introduced by Lionel Model Trains in 1950. The Lionel 773 Steam Engine was available for only one year.
Lionel Trains reintroduced a modified version of the 773 Steam Engine in 1964. This Lionel model was sold for three years (through 1966).
The 773 Steam Engine was the largest steam engine produced in the postwar era. It was decorated with a bell, whistle and turbo generator. These were located on the top of the boiler. A complete set of drive wheel hardware accented the large, spoked drive wheels. The open-grill cow catcher was unique to the Hudson in the postwar era.
Railroading Terms – Part 15
Continuing this series here are six more prototype railroading terms:
Junction
Where two or more railroad lines converge as designated by the Timetable.
Main Track
A track where train movements are authorized by ABS, DCS, or interlocking as designated by the Timetable.
Maintenance of Way
A location where work is being carried out by Railroad Crewsas designated by Form D. Abbreviated as MOW or MW.
Marker
A highly visible red/amber light, reflector flag, or marking device on the rear of a train.
Mile Post
A white sign with black numbers to designate the distance from a location. Abbreviated as MP.
Movable Point Frog
A frog with a moving alignment allowing open flangeway for train movement.
Lionel Trains 733 Steam Engine
The 773 Steam Engine (usually referred to as “The Hudson”) was introduced by Lionel Model Trains in 1950. It was available for only one year.
Lionel Trains reintroduced a modified version of the 773 Steam Engine in 1964. This Lionel model was sold for three years (through 1966).
The 773 Steam Engine was the largest steam engine produced in the postwar era. It was decorated with a bell, whistle and turbo generator. These were located on the top of the boiler. A complete set of drive wheel hardware accented the large, spoked drive wheels. The open-grill cow catcher was unique to the Hudson in the postwar era.
Railroading Terms – Part 14
Another five common railroading terms:
Interlocking (Int)
A predetermined sequence of signals and signal appliances to ensure that movements must succeed each other in the correct order. This is to prevent signals being displayed simultaneously on conflicting routes.
Interlocking Appliances
Are parts of any interlocking capable of movement like: switches, movable point frogs, derails, locks, movable bridges etc.
Interlocking Limits
The trackage between the opposing home signals of an interlocking.
Interlocking Signals
The fixed signals of an interlocking.
Interlocking Station
The location from where an interlocking is operated.
Happy Railroading!
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