Model Railroads

Collecting, buying and restoring model trains is a hobby for many people. Model trains are easily purchased from hobby shops, toy stores and online sources. Restoring model trains takes hours of...

Collecting model trains is a hobby that many people share. Sometimes, hobbyists desire to change the paint on a model locomotive. There is a simple method to completely remove undesired paint from...

For many model railroad enthusiasts, laying track is just a necessary evil that must be overcome before they can run their trains. Fortunately, many manufacturers now make a type of ready-made...

The transformer for your model train set serves a very important role in the system. It takes the household electrical voltage of 110 volts and transforms it down to a voltage for which your train...

You can wire anything from train sets to doll houses and more.

Model train enthusiasts get a thrill from assembling a locomotive and watching it snake its way along the track to its destination. Regardless of the scale model of your train, the steps to...

Designing a table for a train set is a relatively easy task that can be expanded and modified to turn a simple table into a virtual world of its own. The idea is to create a table set that tells a...

Have you ever found a model train or figure that you wanted to repaint, or just take the paint off of? You could use an expensive paint remover from a hobby shop, but there is a much easier way to...

Although some model railroaders choose to purchase all of their items separately, it may be easier to simply buy a prepackaged, ready-to-run model railroad layout. Although this type of train set...

HO scale trains are a great hobby for kids and adults alike, and can spark an interest that lasts a lifetime.

It's easy to buy a toy train set and let it run. It can be fun, but it'll be more fun if you can make a game of it. By adding some rubber bands, pipe cleaners, paper cups and marbles, you can make...

If your kids are into Thomas the Tank Engine and Brio trains as much as my boys were, you've probably seen the train tables that you can buy in specialty toy stores that cost a fortune. For a...

For more than a century, model trains have held an allure for children and adults alike. They offer boundless opportunities for creativity in many directions, including artistic, electrical and...

There are many techniques for designing and building a fixed supporting structure for your model train layout table. Many modelers, however, need to be able to fold up and put away the layout due...

A great train table can add hours of fun to your child's playtime. When you create a table yourself, you also have the opportunity to save on what is otherwise an expensive item to provide. Older...

Whether you are a gaming enthusiast or an avid model railroad builder, at some point you will want to paint your own brass models. Brass is a soft metal that can hold great detail, which is why it...

Every model railroad hobbyist wants to have a functional and visually appealing track layout. The best way to achieve this is to design the table ahead of time, even before the first length of...

Cleaning Lionel O-gauge track should be a regular part of your model-train maintenance routine. Even the best Lionel engines will sputter and stall on dusty or oxidized track, and a dirty track...

The first mass-produced model train was made by Marklin in 1891 and since that time the hobby has grown to include millions of fans, including musicians Rod Stewart and Neil Young, newscaster Tom...

Are you looking for a hobby, but not really sure what you would like to do? How about getting involved in one of the oldest and most rewarding hobbies around? For generations, children and adults...

A Public Library can be one of the best places to spend your free time. However, do you know it can be a great way to save money on reading? This is a must read for those of you who have not yet...

Lionel trains have been around for more than 100 years. From their beginnings in 1901 Lionel trains were a huge hit with the public. Lionel trains are often passed down from generation to...

Model train sets can be a great hobby, but cleaning your layout can be intimidating due to all the small, fragile parts. Don’t let the dust pile up on your train layout. You can clean it...

The Mamod steam engine is a classic member of the miniature steam engine family. Easily available online, these small engines are great for both the hobbyist and the student and make great...

Model trains and model railroads can be a tremendously entertaining hobby. Model trains have something for everyone, regardless of age. However, there are a few things you should consider before...

The model train hobby is one of the oldest and most interesting hobbies around. Men, women and children of all ages enjoy the sights and sounds of model trains as they motor around a table...

You have the track down in your own route design and your model train runs great. To keep from getting bored with the setup, make some scenery for your train to pass through on its journey. Add...

Founded in 1935 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) has a large membership devoted to the promotion, development and pleasure of model railroading. In addition...

Whether you’re just setting up your first model train or are a serious model train enthusiast, selecting a theme for your model train layout provides an exciting start to your model train project.

Caring for model trains is not unlike caring for any other sort of model. Dust them to keep them working regularly.