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!
Model Train Tracks Exposed
The different train track materials are easy to pick. Steel is a silver color (or rusty if not looked after properly). You can also use a magnet to find out if it is a steel train track.
Brass has its own distinctive color(s).
Nickel silver train track is silver colored, but has a slight gold tint to it.
Iron Horse Pulls Heavy Load
The steam locomotive was invented in England in 1797.
U.S. Railroads used steam locomotives from their inception in the early 1800s until the 1960s, when improvements in diesel power made diesel-electric powered rail locomotives a more cost-effective choice.
Steam locomotives worked hard and easily produced enough tractive power to grip metal rail tracks, and pull heavy loads. But, over time, steam powered locomotives presented a difficult problem for the railroads. The production, maintenance and upkeep of steam locomotives were very specialized and became increasingly expensive for the railroads. By the late 1940s and early 1950s, it was no longer cost-effective for large U.S. railroad companies to maintain and run these powerful iron horses.
800,000 Train Passengers Daily
Every day East Rail carries about 800,000 passengers. 48 domestic passenger trains travel into and out of Hung Hom station every hour during the morning peak period.
Hong Kong’s heavy rail network is primarily arranged on two axes. Since electrification in 1983 patronage of the East Rail route has soared almost six-fold. A fleet of 451 GEC-Alstom-built EMU vehicles share the same tracks as trains continuing to Shanghai and Beijing, as well as commercially vital freight, mainly container traffic.
Claimed To Be World’s Oldest Railroad Bridge
In southwest Baltimore, near the Mount Clare station stands what’s claimed to be “the world’s oldest railroad bridge still in use.” The 312ft single track Carrollton Viaduct over the Gwynns Falls River in Baltimore was built in 1829.
The two-arch stone bridge is believed to be the first masonry railroad bridge built in the United States. It cost around $58,000 to construct using around 12,000 blocks of granite. An 80-foot arch spans the Gwynns Falls, while a much smaller 18-foot span crosses an old wagon road.
Model Railroad Club Grows Mushroom Layout
The California Southern Model Railroad Club was formed in 1984 with the merger of the North Orange County Modular Railroaders and the Cerritos Valley Model Railroad Club.
The new clubs first layout was a single track line with passing sidings in HO scale. There was a yard at each end of the run, with a connecting track to form a continuous loop. There were numerous problems with the design, mainly focusing on accessibility. Some areas were in excess of 4 feet from the nearest aisle, making it difficult, if not impossible to do routine maintenance.
It was decided by the club membership in early 1996 that the old model railroad layout should be replaced with new one.
Construction on a new “mushroom” design HO scale layout began in 1997. There will be eventually be two levels, stacked one on top of the other, with the upper level directly over the lower level, but with the aisleways reversed. This design maximizes the utilization of the space available making a longer linear run.
Cupolas On Model Train Cabooses
Model railroading has some unusual terms that can be somewhat confusing to anyone new to the hobby. One such railroading term is the word “Cupola”. It sounds complex but it is really very simple and a clever invention.
The Cupola is box-like Crow’s Nest structure raised above the roof of a caboose for visibility along the train while it is in motion.
In 1898, T. B. Watson wrote “During the ’60s I was a conductor on the C&NW. One day late in the summer of 1863 I received orders to give my caboose to the conductor of a construction train and take an empty boxcar to use as a caboose. This car happened to have a hole in the roof about two feet square. I stacked the lamp and tool boxes under the perforation end and sat with my head and shoulders above the roof… (Later) I suggested putting a box around the hole with glass in, so I could have a pilot house to sit in and watch the train.”
Cupolas were first built into cabooses around 1875 and became permanent fixtures until 1949.
Prototype Railroading Terms – Part 1
I’ve compiled a list of some common railroading terms (with simple definitions). You might hear some of these railroading terms mentioned from time to time, so if you’re not already familiar with them, this will be a handy reference. The railroading terms I’ve listed here are reasonably universal, but some may vary depending on where you live. Also note, that the list is by no means complete, as there are literally hundreds of different railroading terms used on railroads around the world including several slang expressions.
Part 1 has the first seven railroading terms:
Absolute Block
A block which must not be occupied by more than one train.
Accelerometer
This device measures a trains rate of speed change.
Active Dynamic Braking
Uses the traction motors as generators where the output is dissipated in a massive resistor bank. The effect is to consume the trains momentum in generating electricity.
Adhesion
The amount of pulling or retarding force a wheel is capable of exerting on the rail without slipping or spinning. Adhesion can be affected by the load on the wheel, rail condition, wheel condition and other factors like oil, rust & weather.
Air Flow Indicator
This instrument measures the air flow through the automatic brake valve to the brake pipe.
Alertness Device This is a “deadman” type of safety device that activates a brake application if the engineer fails to maintain the required frequency of movement.
Angle Cocks
These are valves on the air hoses controlling air flow between cars.
Central California Traction – A Brief History
The Central California Traction Company (incorporated on August 7, 1905) was originally setup as a second streetcar line as an alternative to the Stockton Electric Railroad.
The electric passenger train service between Stockton and Lodi began in 1907, in direct competition with Southern Pacific Railroad. By August 1910, the railway line had reached Sacramento to cater for passengers and freight. The freight service carried livestock and produce (mainly grapes, strawberries and sugar beets). At its Peak, The Central California Traction Company was operating 36 passenger trains a day, as well as freight trains.
The Central California Traction Company used overhead wires in the cities of Stockton, Lodi and Sacramento, but power between the cities was fed by a covered third rail that was energized at 1200 volts DC. The Central California Traction Company was one of the first railroads to use the high tension DC power in the United States.
In 1933, the last interurban passenger train made its final run but the freight operations continued. Demands on power created service problems and in 1946 The Central California Traction Company made the switch from electricity to diesel with the arrival of a pair of GE 44-tonners.
Upcoming Scale Model Train Show
The Great Scale Model Train Show and The All-American Hi-Rail & Collectors Train Show is scheduled for Feb. 4-5 2006 at the Maryland State Fairgrounds, Timonium MD.
The operating model train layouts on display will include:
- Baltimore Area NTrak 50′ x 50′
- Baltimore Area American Flyer 38′ x 24′
- Custom Model Railroads (HO) 4′ x 8′
- DC Area Independent HiRailers (O) 24′ x 60′
- Four County Soc. of Model Engineers (HO) 60′ x 90′(featured in Great Model Railroads 2005)
- High LiNn3 Route (N Narrow Gauge!) 8′ x 24′
- Jeff Jacobs N scale construction demos
- Japan Rail Modelers of DC (HO) 4′ x 20′
- Keystone Chapter European Train Enthusiasts (HO) 32′ x 46′
- Lionel TMCC Demo (O) 9′ x 18′
- Mason-Dixon Large Scale RR (G) 30′ x 40′
- Meade Area RR Society (HO) 40′ x 60′
- WamaLTC Lego Train Club 18′ x 50′
- Warrior Run Loco Works (1:20.3 scale) 25′ x 50′
This Model Train Show happens for Feb. 4-5 2006 at the Maryland State Fairgrounds.
Ants Control Model Railroad
It seems that Ants and Model Railroads do go together. The Alamogodo N-Scale Trains Society (ANTS) is a N-Scale Modular Model Railroad Club located in Alamogordo, New Mexico. The name (ANTS) was chosen because it was felt that if you’re going to be a bug, be one that goes to picnics.
With 4 corner modules and only 3 members, the original train layout was something to see. The Ants Model Railroad Club was founded in March 1993 by three N-Scale enthusiasts who wanted to be able to share their love of the hobby as a nonprofit group.
The model railroad club has grown since it’s inception with the main requirement for membership being a desire to model N Scale model trains.
The Ants Model Railroad Club built a model train layout for the Alamogordo and Otero County Centennial. It depicts the route going to Cloudcroft from Alamogordo. This model train layout shows how difficult it could be to get from Alamogordo and Cloudcroft. The Ants Model Railroad Club donated this layout to the Sacramento Mountains Historical Society. They are located in Cloudcroft, New Mexico and the model train layout can be viewed there.
Model Train Cleaning and Lubrication
Basic maintenance is key to keeping model trains running smoothly for years to come. Trains should be cleaned every few years if in daily use or every three to five years if operated seasonally.
If your train won’t run, there is likely a mechanical or electrical problem in the motor that can be fixed. Whether your train has been dropped or has simply gone unused for many years, it is important to diagnose problems and to make the necessary repairs before any permanent damage is done.
Polar Express Model Train Set Thrills Lionel Fans
The Lionel 6-31960 Polar Express model train set is painstakingly designed to be true to the original.
A feature of the Lionel Polar Express model train set is the die-cast metal Berkshire steam locomotive just like the ones 50 years ago that are still around today and running. The Lionel Polar Express locomotive has a new, larger pilot, headlight lens cap and unique whistle. The engine and tender are painted in a dark, matte finish to complete the image.
Following the locomotive and tender are two lighted coach cars and a lighted observation car. The Lionel Polar Express Train Set observation car features a rounded observation deck, just like in the movie. Silhouettes in the windows depict scenes from the movie including the scary marionette car, and the coach car.
The main characters from the movie are included as articulated figures in this Lionel Polar Express Train Set with turning heads, movable arms, bendable waists and jointed knees. They can be posed and placed on areas of the locomotive, tender and passenger cars to replicate scenes from the movie.
The Lionel Polar Express train set features: Die Cast 2-8-4 Berkshire steam locomotive and tender, two passenger coaches, one passenger observation car with rounded deck, CW-80 transformer, articulated movie characters, smoke fluid.
The model train is O Gauge with layout dimensions 40” x 60”. Minimum Radius is O-27 with length 63 3/8”.
The Lionel 6-31960 Polar Express model train set features: operating headlight, air whistle in tender, puffing smoke, die-cast metal locomotive body and frame, separately applied metal handrails, operating coupler on rear of tender, pilot and headlight lens shield, interior lighting, decorated drumhead on observation car, rounded observation deck. The Lionel Polar Express Train Set cars feature silhouettes in the windows.
India Plans Big Train Set
Indian Railways (IR) plans to build a 10,000km railway network of dedicated heavy-haul freight lines with a 30-tonne axleload (or possibly more) at an estimated cost of between $US 15 billion and $US 20 billion. Now that’s a BIG train set to own!
Weathering Tip For Freight Trains
Weathering (showing signs of wear and tear) can add to the realism of any model train set, but it needs to be done carefully. One, often overlooked, important consideration is the age of the individual freight wagon being weathered. Not all wagons on a freight train are necessarily of the same vintage or have experienced the same weathering conditions. A freight train could comprise a mix of fairly new and considerably old wagons.
For example a model train layout depicting a mid 1960’s railroad might comprise mainly of wagons built around 1950. That would make most of the wagons around 15 years old.
Compare this to a freight train on a modern day railroad layout. Today’s freight train might include several brightly colored newish wagons along with a couple of 35-40 year old wagons built around the mid to late 1960’s. Weathering of the older 1960’s wagons would be different to that seen on the newer wagons.
So, always consider that a freight train is made up of several different wagons of different ages and backgrounds rather than all the wagons on a train being constructed at the same time and experiencing the same weathering conditions.
Vancouver Houses Model Train Collection
The Granville Island Museum in Vancouver, Canada houses many collectable model trains, photographs and dioramas including: The Royal Hudson, Lionel Trains, “O” Gauge, “G” Gauge, Standard Gauge, Steam Locomotives and Tender, Transcontinental Trains, Brass Locomotives and many more model trains, toy trains and photographs.
The shear size of the model train collection, the detail and hours required to build the 5 line working diorama will take the steam right out of your engines.
The model train museum has an 80-foot-long diorama of Kettle-Valley-like terrain with almost 1000 feet of train track. There are beechwood cabinets lining the walls, filled with sets that run the gamut from turn-of-the-century tin wind-up trains to contemporary collectors’ scale models. The Granville Island model train museum hosts a collection snowblower cars, dining cars and hand made engines that run on small pieces of coal. There is even a rare pink Lionel train set, circa 1958.
Design and building team for the “O” gauge track layout was a team of talented long-term friends. The Granville Island Model Ships, and Model Trains Museum is located on Granville Island in the heart of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Nickel Silver Model Train Tracks
Nickel silver train tracks are one track option for model train enthusiasts to consider when building a model train set layout.
As with Brass track, Nickel silver train track also forms an oxide, but are still a good conductor of electricity. The oxide that forms on nickel silver happens to be electrically conductive whereas that which forms on steel and brass is not. What this means is that after a while on steel and brass rails the model trains tend to run erratically. This means you’ll need to clean the rails frequently to avoid this problem.
Using nickel silver train track means you will have better running model trains and less time spent cleaning train track. That’s why many model railroaders favor nickel silver train tracks for their model train sets.
Ice Train Frozen To Railway Track
True train story: USA December 19, 2005
A dog was found frozen to some railway track and was pulled free just 10 minutes before a train was due to pass by. The dog, nicknamed “Ice Train”, lost some hair in the rescue process and was taken to the Chippewa County Shelter where it recovered quickly.
The dog’s owners were identified but “Ice Train” has since been adopted by a Wisconsin family.
Canadian Tourist Train Operator Wins Top Honour
It’s the first time a Canadian company has won a World Travel Award in the train category of the World Travel Awards. Rocky Mountaineer Vacations, has won top honour at the 2005 awards as the “World’s Leading Travel Experience By Train”. Other nominees in the category were: The Blue Train (South Africa), Rovos Rail (South Africa), Great Southern Railway (Australia), Orient Express Ltd (United Kingdom), Orient Express (Peru) and Palace on Wheels (India).
Over 2,000 people attended the gala ceremony at London’s Royal Opera House where the 12th Annual World Travel Awards event was held.
Since receiving the award, Rocky Mountaineer Vacations has announced the suspension of the North Coast Explorer train for the 2006 season. The tourist train, servicing the cruise ship industry, ran along the Skeena River and back form the Port of Prince Rupert.
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