Model Railroading - |
Get all the latest model railroad hobby news and views from the world of
model railroading. Stay up to date in the most enthralling (ok I'm biased)
hobby in the world...model railroading!
model railroading. Stay up to date in the most enthralling (ok I'm biased)
hobby in the world...model railroading!
| Model Railroading - A Lifetime of Activity And Enjoyment It doesn't seem to matter whether you’re 5 or 95... or somewhere in between. The personal satisfaction of building and operating a realistic miniature railroad layout is rewarding and fun. Model railroading is a truly rewarding hobby that will keep most model railroad hobbyists busy and entertained for hours...if not a lifetime. Ask model railroad hobbyists "what appeals about the hobby?" and you'll get a variety of answers. For some model railroad hobbyists, it is a way of re-creating a fond childhood memory. Others; simply enjoy building a world in miniature with all its detail and realism. Then there are those model railroad hobbyists who love solving the technical problems of building and operating an electronic control system. For more information on how to design, build, maintain and repair the model railroad set of your dreams be sure to use this helpful model railroading resource. Knowledge Of Model Railroads The more you know about model railroads, the less chance that you'll be taken for a ride (excuse the pun!). Some hobby shop assistants and internet model railroad retailers just want to sell... and others may misunderstand your needs and sell you the wrong thing for your model railroad set. However, in saying that, in general hobby shop staff have a wealth knowledge and are happy to share their model railroading ideas. Also the more research you do, the better you'll get to know your model railroad scales, styles and which model railroad set manufacturers you prefer. Model Railroading Needn't Cost The Earth Model railroad sets can run from a few dollars for a basic train set, to several thousands of dollars for a model railroad set loaded that's with accessories. Therefore, it is important to decide how much you want to spend on a model railroad set. Set a realistic budget for your model railroad set and stick to it. Thanks to the Internet and sites like "e-bay" you can pick up some real bargain model railroad sets and railroading accessories in the secondhand market. Make sure you know exactly what you are buying. Planning Mistakes With Model Railroad Sets When planning a model railroad layout it is usually best to start small. Then hopefully, mistakes can be small too. You will probably want to begin your model railroading hobby by purchasing only a small amount of track and maybe some plugs, switches, a locomotive or two, and a few cars. A small model railroad track layout of 4x8 or less might be a good place to start your railroading hobby. There is no point in being intimidated (and maybe discouraged) by a large or complex model railroad set when you are learning the basics of the hobby. With a smaller model railroad set it will be easier to fix mistakes or make changes. A 4x8 model railroad layout is large enough to fit the 18-inch radius curves that come with many railroading sets. With a 4x8 model railroad layout there is also room for an oval with 18-inch radius ends and a few sidings. |
Choosing A Model Railroad Scale
It is best to choose a model railroad scale that best suits your needs and gives
you the effect you are looking for in your model railroad layout. O scale model
trains and S scale model trains are large when compared to the more popular
HO scale model trains. O scale is 1:48 size with 1¼" track gauge and a
minimum radius of 2 foot (24 inches). S scale is 1:64 size with 7/8" track gauge
and a minimum radius of 22½ inches. As you can see S scale model trains are
smaller in size than the larger O scale model railroad sets.
Model Railroading A Creative Hobby
YES! Model railroading is a fun-filled leisure activity that provides plenty of
scope for the creative individual with a technical bent. It incorporates a variety of
interesting hobby activities from building, maintaining, upgrading and operating
a model railway. What kind of world you create, where you create it, and how
much time you spend in it... is entirely over to the individual model railroad
hobbyist. We are all different.
George Bernard Shaw And Model Railroads
A model railroading hobbyist can build a model railroad layout in the solitude of
his or her basement, attic, shed or garage workshop...or they can sit in a sun
lounger and watch model trains weave around their garden... or the model
railroad hobbyist can join a local model railroading club and share their model
railroading ideas and experiences with others. The opportunities for the model
railroad hobbyist are endless!
It is best to choose a model railroad scale that best suits your needs and gives
you the effect you are looking for in your model railroad layout. O scale model
trains and S scale model trains are large when compared to the more popular
HO scale model trains. O scale is 1:48 size with 1¼" track gauge and a
minimum radius of 2 foot (24 inches). S scale is 1:64 size with 7/8" track gauge
and a minimum radius of 22½ inches. As you can see S scale model trains are
smaller in size than the larger O scale model railroad sets.
Model Railroading A Creative Hobby
YES! Model railroading is a fun-filled leisure activity that provides plenty of
scope for the creative individual with a technical bent. It incorporates a variety of
interesting hobby activities from building, maintaining, upgrading and operating
a model railway. What kind of world you create, where you create it, and how
much time you spend in it... is entirely over to the individual model railroad
hobbyist. We are all different.
George Bernard Shaw And Model Railroads
A model railroading hobbyist can build a model railroad layout in the solitude of
his or her basement, attic, shed or garage workshop...or they can sit in a sun
lounger and watch model trains weave around their garden... or the model
railroad hobbyist can join a local model railroading club and share their model
railroading ideas and experiences with others. The opportunities for the model
railroad hobbyist are endless!
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| Copyright © Robert Anderson and Market Leaders Ebooks. All Rights Reserved. |
Hobby groups in the USA include:
Texas:
Abilene Society of Model Railroaders Abilene, All Points North Model Railroad Club Conroe, Austin Steam Train Association Austin - Texas,
AustNTrak Model Railroad & Eating Club Austin, Corpus Christi Model Railroad Club Corpus Christi, Texas & Beyond Model Railroad and Historical
Society Dallas, Dallas, Garland, and Mesquite Railway Systems Dallas, East Texas Model Railroad Club - ETMRC Commerce, Fort Bend Model
Railroad Club Sugarland, Galveston County Model Railroad Club Texax City, Galveston Model Railroad Club Galveston, Gulf Coast Society of Model
Railroading, Houston Area "G" Gaugers Model Railroad Club Houston, Houston N Crowd Houston, Houston Area Live Steamers Houston, Houston
Tinplate Operators Society Houston, Kevin's Train Page Beaumont, Lockheed Martin Recreation Assoc, North Cherokee Valley Model Railroad Club
Jacksonville, North Texas Garden Railroad Consortium Dallas, NorthWest Crossing Model Railroad Club Houston, Oklahoma, Red-River & Texas
Model Railroad Club Paris, San Antonio Model Railroad Association San Antonio, San Jacinto Model Railroad Club Houston, South Side Railroad
Modelers Dallas, Southwestern Live Steamers, Tex-N Modular Railroad Club Plano, Texas Northern Model Railroad Club Mesquite, Texas Western
Model RR Club Fort Worth, Tinplate Trackers Austin - Texas, Trinity NTRAK Fort Worth, Texas.
Utah:
Box Elders N Scale Model Railroaders, Hostler's Model Railroad Club Ogden, Ophir Tintic & Western Model Railroad Club Utah County, The O scale
guys salt lake city, Utah Free-mo Utah, UT.
Vermont:
Connecticut Valley Model Railroad Club White River Junction - Vermont, Northwestern Vermont Model Railroad Society Essex, VT.
Virginia:
Lynchburg Area N-Scalers Lynchburg, Northern Virginia Model Railroaders, Northern Virginia NTRAK Manassas, Piedmont Railroaders Warrenton,
Prince William County Model Railroad Club, South Hampton Roads NTRAK, RRFriends Central Virginia.
Washington:
Bellingham Society of Model Engineers Bellingham, Boeing Employees Model Railroad Club Kent, Lewis And Clark Train Club Clarkston, MS-Rail
Model Railroaders, Mount Rainier N Scale Modular RR Club Tacoma Area, Pelican Bay & Sallal RR Whidbey Island, Puget Sound Model Railroad
Engineers Tacoma, Puget Sound Garden Railway Society Puget Sound, Tacoma North Western Model Rail Road Federal Way, Tri City Model
Railroaders, United NorthWest Model Railroad Club Seattle, WA.
Washington, DC:
Crescent Model Railroaders Washington DC area, Washington Metropolitan Area LEGO Users Group.
West Virginia:
Mon Valley Railroad Club of West Virginia Morgantown, WV.
Wisconsin:
Capital City 'N'Gineers Madison, Cedar Creek Central Railroad Club Jackson, Central Wisconsin Model Railroaders Plover, Cream City Traction Club
Milwaukee, Kettle Moraine Ballast Scorchers Railroad Club West Bend, Lionel Railroad Club Of Milwaukee, Machickanee & Splinter Creek Model
Railroad Club Oconto, Metro Model Railroad Club Port Washington, Milwaukee Area N-Trak Milwaukee, Milwaukee N South Eastern Milwaukee area
(Cudahy), Milwaukee School of Engineering Society, North American Prototype Modelers Milwaukee, Paper Valley Model RailRoad Club Kaukauna,
Rothschild, Schofield And Weston Model Railroad Club, St. Croix Railroad Hudson, Sheboygan Society Of Scale Model Railroad Engineers
Sheboygan, Tri-County Model RR Club Kenosha, Wisconsin Garden Railways Society State-wide, Wisconsin & Northshore Garden Railroad Club.
More groups listed on other pages.
Texas:
Abilene Society of Model Railroaders Abilene, All Points North Model Railroad Club Conroe, Austin Steam Train Association Austin - Texas,
AustNTrak Model Railroad & Eating Club Austin, Corpus Christi Model Railroad Club Corpus Christi, Texas & Beyond Model Railroad and Historical
Society Dallas, Dallas, Garland, and Mesquite Railway Systems Dallas, East Texas Model Railroad Club - ETMRC Commerce, Fort Bend Model
Railroad Club Sugarland, Galveston County Model Railroad Club Texax City, Galveston Model Railroad Club Galveston, Gulf Coast Society of Model
Railroading, Houston Area "G" Gaugers Model Railroad Club Houston, Houston N Crowd Houston, Houston Area Live Steamers Houston, Houston
Tinplate Operators Society Houston, Kevin's Train Page Beaumont, Lockheed Martin Recreation Assoc, North Cherokee Valley Model Railroad Club
Jacksonville, North Texas Garden Railroad Consortium Dallas, NorthWest Crossing Model Railroad Club Houston, Oklahoma, Red-River & Texas
Model Railroad Club Paris, San Antonio Model Railroad Association San Antonio, San Jacinto Model Railroad Club Houston, South Side Railroad
Modelers Dallas, Southwestern Live Steamers, Tex-N Modular Railroad Club Plano, Texas Northern Model Railroad Club Mesquite, Texas Western
Model RR Club Fort Worth, Tinplate Trackers Austin - Texas, Trinity NTRAK Fort Worth, Texas.
Utah:
Box Elders N Scale Model Railroaders, Hostler's Model Railroad Club Ogden, Ophir Tintic & Western Model Railroad Club Utah County, The O scale
guys salt lake city, Utah Free-mo Utah, UT.
Vermont:
Connecticut Valley Model Railroad Club White River Junction - Vermont, Northwestern Vermont Model Railroad Society Essex, VT.
Virginia:
Lynchburg Area N-Scalers Lynchburg, Northern Virginia Model Railroaders, Northern Virginia NTRAK Manassas, Piedmont Railroaders Warrenton,
Prince William County Model Railroad Club, South Hampton Roads NTRAK, RRFriends Central Virginia.
Washington:
Bellingham Society of Model Engineers Bellingham, Boeing Employees Model Railroad Club Kent, Lewis And Clark Train Club Clarkston, MS-Rail
Model Railroaders, Mount Rainier N Scale Modular RR Club Tacoma Area, Pelican Bay & Sallal RR Whidbey Island, Puget Sound Model Railroad
Engineers Tacoma, Puget Sound Garden Railway Society Puget Sound, Tacoma North Western Model Rail Road Federal Way, Tri City Model
Railroaders, United NorthWest Model Railroad Club Seattle, WA.
Washington, DC:
Crescent Model Railroaders Washington DC area, Washington Metropolitan Area LEGO Users Group.
West Virginia:
Mon Valley Railroad Club of West Virginia Morgantown, WV.
Wisconsin:
Capital City 'N'Gineers Madison, Cedar Creek Central Railroad Club Jackson, Central Wisconsin Model Railroaders Plover, Cream City Traction Club
Milwaukee, Kettle Moraine Ballast Scorchers Railroad Club West Bend, Lionel Railroad Club Of Milwaukee, Machickanee & Splinter Creek Model
Railroad Club Oconto, Metro Model Railroad Club Port Washington, Milwaukee Area N-Trak Milwaukee, Milwaukee N South Eastern Milwaukee area
(Cudahy), Milwaukee School of Engineering Society, North American Prototype Modelers Milwaukee, Paper Valley Model RailRoad Club Kaukauna,
Rothschild, Schofield And Weston Model Railroad Club, St. Croix Railroad Hudson, Sheboygan Society Of Scale Model Railroad Engineers
Sheboygan, Tri-County Model RR Club Kenosha, Wisconsin Garden Railways Society State-wide, Wisconsin & Northshore Garden Railroad Club.
More groups listed on other pages.
| Recommended Model Railroad Resources |
Take all the guesswork
out of setting up the
perfect model railroad.
Easy to follow action
steps to quickly and
easily design, build,
maintain and repair a
model railroad you'll be
supremely proud of. All
explained step-by-step
at this excellent model
railroad resources
website.
out of setting up the
perfect model railroad.
Easy to follow action
steps to quickly and
easily design, build,
maintain and repair a
model railroad you'll be
supremely proud of. All
explained step-by-step
at this excellent model
railroad resources
website.
| Model Railroad Questions Answered |
Model Railroaders
(beginners and
experienced) were
asked to submit
questions they wanted
answered.
It was like opening the
floodgates! The
questions came in thick
and fast, including a lot
of questions on Analog
verses DCC and
advanced electronics.
Clear concise answers
to all the questions are
laid out in the Model
Train Help Ebook.
(beginners and
experienced) were
asked to submit
questions they wanted
answered.
It was like opening the
floodgates! The
questions came in thick
and fast, including a lot
of questions on Analog
verses DCC and
advanced electronics.
Clear concise answers
to all the questions are
laid out in the Model
Train Help Ebook.
| Sample Of The Model Railroad Questions That Get Answered |
If I install a larger motor
in my locomotive will I
be able to pull more
cars?
What's wrong when a
part of the track will not
work? How do I go
about fixing it?
Should I replace my
horn-hook couplers with
knuckle couplers?
What is rust-busting, a
talgo truck, "head-end"
traffic, a green wave
for freight trains?
What is meant by
"code", as in code 40
track? Is a locomotive
change-over the same
as shunting?
Which rails should I
use - brass, steel or
nickel-silver?
How do I make plastic
buildings look real? Why
do some buildings look
translucent?
Should electric feed
wires be included every
couple of feet or should
I solder rail joiners?
What is a bridge rectifier
and what does it do?
When I buy a track
switch, what is meant
by 'No. 4 turnout' or 'No.
8 turnout'?
Running techniques for
a locomotive on a
reversing loop. What
about stopping the loco
on the loop and
throwing the switch?
What is a decoder and
can I run an analog
locomotive on a DCC
system without a
decoder?
Clear concise answers
to these questions
along with hundreds of
other model railroading
tips and ideas are
included in the Model
Train Help Ebook.
in my locomotive will I
be able to pull more
cars?
What's wrong when a
part of the track will not
work? How do I go
about fixing it?
Should I replace my
horn-hook couplers with
knuckle couplers?
What is rust-busting, a
talgo truck, "head-end"
traffic, a green wave
for freight trains?
What is meant by
"code", as in code 40
track? Is a locomotive
change-over the same
as shunting?
Which rails should I
use - brass, steel or
nickel-silver?
How do I make plastic
buildings look real? Why
do some buildings look
translucent?
Should electric feed
wires be included every
couple of feet or should
I solder rail joiners?
What is a bridge rectifier
and what does it do?
When I buy a track
switch, what is meant
by 'No. 4 turnout' or 'No.
8 turnout'?
Running techniques for
a locomotive on a
reversing loop. What
about stopping the loco
on the loop and
throwing the switch?
What is a decoder and
can I run an analog
locomotive on a DCC
system without a
decoder?
Clear concise answers
to these questions
along with hundreds of
other model railroading
tips and ideas are
included in the Model
Train Help Ebook.
Help For Model Railroad Enthusiasts
Model-Railroad-Resources.com
Model-Railroad-Resources.com
