• The Model Railway Show - Episode 0013

    Posted May 1, 2011 by Trevor Marshall

    In Episode 0013 of The Model Railway Show, we speak with editor Chris Lane about the 2011 On30 Annual. We also talk to master scratchbuilder (and Accurail partner) Bob Walker about his new book, "Scratchbuilding for Model Railroaders". The Model Railway Show is the fast-paced, thought-provokin...

  • Philippine challenges

    Posted April 30, 2011 by Phil Clark

    Layout name would be Key West & Havana Transfer as these are the two end points. I used to build modules for clubs in UK. This time, its 15 plywood 4 by 2 foot modules interconnected in a 30 by 11 foot room to show scenes that suit me from the late 1960s. For me modules are easier to work on, using ...

  • Lights and lighting.

    Posted April 28, 2011 by Karl Rethwisch

    I often wish I had photographed more of my "unusual" modelling projects.  I am correcting that shortcoming with future construction projects however.  Anyway, here's a few more thoughts on locomotive lighting, how I did it in the "old" days and how I would (will) do it nowadays. I began b...

  • Locomotive lights and lighting.

    Posted April 28, 2011 by Karl Rethwisch

    I mentioned "ground lights" earlier.  In later years, the SD40-2 years, ground lights were replaced by Step Lights that illuminated what else but the STEPS.  It was seen as an aide in helping employees find the steps in the dark.  The concept of step lights is identical to that o...

  • UUUUUUGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!

    Posted April 27, 2011 by Cap't.Jack Scrymgeour

    Worked on my locos tonight, well just one, a tyco 4-8-0. On my layout the two ovals are Isolated from each other, with rubber jointers, the problem is when i have a a long tender pickuped loco, (positive on tender truck and negative on the drive wheels with a wire going from tender to loco) when it ...

  • Lighting "Tricks".

    Posted April 27, 2011 by Karl Rethwisch

    To reiterate some ideas and construction methods outlined earlier let it suffice ta say that where EVER you can fit a fiber optic fillament you can send LIGHT. Very SHARP bends to fiber optics MUST be avoided to prevent damaging the fillament and causing a light "leak"  After cutting a fillame...

  • Railshop Equipment

    Posted April 26, 2011 by Nils Moberg

    So I have been researching railshop equipment and have found a few websites for companies that make some of the equipment. Here they are:    http://www.macton.com/rail_equipment/rail-shop.htm   http://www.simmons-albany.com/group/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&id=5&Item...

  • THE TIP BLOG

    Posted April 24, 2011 by Ian Kennedy

    Here is a blog that everyone can partake in. Do you have a tip that you would like to share. Why not leave it here so everyone will have access to it. It could be a money saving tip, a time saving tip, safety related, recycling tip, you name it. Just leave it in the form of a comment and if a suffic...

  • The Coal Belt Lines

    Posted April 24, 2011 by Harry E Dinsen

    The Coal Belt Lines Seeing the layouts that are posted on Train Life for viewing, I was serious about posting mine forothers to check out and comment on. A brief background on the development of mine, the layout Coal Belt Lines, owned and operated by the Allegheny & Eastern Transportation Corporat...

  • Ending the Never Ending Layout Design, Part 2

    Posted April 23, 2011 by Roger Broederdorf

    I hope you find this as amusing as I do. The layout is now in revision 15 or 16, do not really care anymore. Why am I still changing the "Never Ending Layout design"? Operation, operation, operation. The Marklin C Track System has allowed me to run my trains over my layout design without it being at...