Building your Model Railroad

I live in Rawlings, VA and just found your website. I am looking for some information about incorporating lightning and thunderstorms in a background setting for an S gauge layout I am starting now. Any assistance would be appreciated. Carlton. Ed.: Thanks for your question! An article in the next issue of Tracks should help answer your question about this and lots of other sound effects that you can use for your layout. Look for it on this blog on July 1, 2021.

Thanks so much for providing the articles and information about switchbacks and zig zags used in earlier standard and narrow gauge railroads. It may be well worth your while and our fellow readers' interest to speak to the folks at the Great Northern Historical Society and learn more about the Great Northern Railway switchbacks between Skykomish, Washington and Wenatchee, Washington. The water stops and GNRR company towns on Windy mountain and Cowboy mountain at the time were; Skykomish, Scenic, Elba, Nippon, Alpine, Wellington and Cascade Tunnel Station. I think that is the full list of GN company towns on this part of the old route now, but I do not have my map in front of me-its still rolled up in a tube haha. The folks at the Skykomish historical society would be a great source of information too. The 100th anniversary of the Wellington Avalanche 1, march 2010 was commemorated by the descendants of the GN employees and passengers that were on the passenger train that was buried in the avalanche on 1, March 1910. I would like to forward more information to you if possible as quite a debate was created by a retired BNSF executive describing how the old route could still be used for rail traffic with reconstruction of the old route. This would would eliminate the issues of ventilation and tunnel flushing required in the new cascade tunnel since 1956 when the pantograph power for the electric locomotives was ripped out. This was a huge mistake by the Great Northern at the time as all they needed to do was upgrade to larger electric locomotives and sell the old Baldwin electrics to the Pennsylvania RR(which they did) The switches there were used between 1892 and 1929 during the coal and oil-fired steam era with GN company towns that were water stops and the coal stop and upper switching yard at Wellington, Washington The folks at the Skykomish, Washingtom Historical Society would also be a great source of information and help as well. Please keep up the great work you are doing. Leon Edward Zaharis

Question from Jeff:
I'm trying to create a portion of the Glenfinnan viaduct in my layout. I've seen the Faller Curved viaduct kit. Does anyone know if the roadbed that that comes with is detachable? Or does anyone know of another curved viaduct kit for sale, preferably one with smooth concrete instead of bricks? Send in your answer on the Comments Page and I will forward it to Jeff...

I built an HO train layout on a 6x6 foot section of thick plywood. My layout includes a working silver mine, a southwestern U.S.A.village, a wharf with

I used a 6x6 foot section of thick plywood for the base supported by two sawhorses. I bought a cheapo Bachmann train set and an oval track layout. The

Tracks Newsletter with information, photos and videos for model railroaders of all ages and all scales

Things to consider when designing a custom model railroad

The April issue of Tracks is once again full of model railroading information, pictures and videos for all ages and all scales.

I built a diorama (16 x 12) of a pond and an abandoned caboose entering a tunnel. I touched up the caboose with streaks of gray and rust-colored paint

I built a diorama of a Cape Cod harbor with a sand dune,piers,buildings,and various sized boats(hand carved kayaks,row boats,motor boats,and a fishing

Abandoned Caboose diorama with a pond and people camping out on the pond.

Hi Just getting back into Model Railroading after a long break. Digging out my old stuff I found this Service Station Model brand new, still with plastic

How to install traffic signals on your model railroad layout.

3D printing is a great way to create unique 3D models or parts for your miniature model railroad in any scale.