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The history of the railroads in America stretches back to the early 1800s, as these rails became one of the most influential travel methods in our country. To this day, railroads still see heavy use and are growing in popularity. To best understand their continued use through history, here’s a look at the most popular railroad lines in America based on the number of people who use them annually. MTA Long Island RailroadThe most popular railroad, when measured by passengers, is the MTA Long Islan …

Are you thinking of starting your first model railroad build? Congratulations! We’re excited for you to start this incredible journey of creativity. What should you know before getting started? Well, for starters, we recommend taking your time planning every detail of your layout before you start building. If you don’t, you may run into serious problems. These can be frustrating enough to make you quit. So here’s why you should not rush planning a model railway layout.1. Planning Is Part of the …

Historical accuracy is often one of the things model railroaders strive for in their layouts. However, if you’re new to railroading, it might not be obvious what makes one layout look more accurate than another. In this post, we’ll let you in on three secrets to building an accurate industrial railroad model.Research Real RailroadsWhen you’re first planning a new model railroad, we recommend doing as much research as you can. For example, if you want to make a railroad based on a Colorado town i …

Scale modeling is a fulfilling hobby for millions of people around the world. There are classic model enthusiasts who work on trains, airplanes, and cars, but there are also many other kinds of scale modelers. Some people build elaborate dioramas from video games and movies, while others build entire armies for wargaming and tabletop RPGs. Regardless of which hobby branch you belong to, here are eight helpful tips to improve your scale modeling experience.1. Focus on Your Likes and DislikesThank …

Sharing hobbies with your kids is one of the many joys of parenting. Not only can working on hobbies give you more reason to spend time together, but it can also teach your kids essential skills. Learn the advantages of getting your kids interested in model trains.Get Your Kids Interested in Science and TechnologyBuilding model railroads can be a very creatively-fulfilling hobby, but it also involves a lot of electrical work and technical knowledge. By involving your kids, you’re allowing them t …

Getting started in model railroading can be overwhelming. There are tons of different choices to make, from the scale you want to the kind of train you want to build. Before buying anything, you’ll need to decide whether you’re using DC power or investing in a DCC system. When buying stock cars to build your train, it helps to know about the most popular manufacturers. Here are three top model train brands and what they’ll add to your layout.AthearnAthearn is a well-known manufacturer of model t …

Every model railroader can learn new crafting and painting techniques, no matter how long they’ve been in the hobby. YouTube is a great place to see what other people are up to and learn how to make your layouts look more professional. However, the downside is that you might look back at your layout and wish you’d known these new techniques earlier. Thankfully, there are tons of benefits to expanding your old model railroad layout.You Can Apply New Ideas and SkillsNow that you’ve built your firs …

Pretty much every hobby is more fun when you do it with other people. If you’re a fan of model trains, you might consider looking for model railroad clubs in your area. If there aren’t any, you can always establish a club yourself. Discover how to start your own model railroad club.What Is a Model Railroad Club?In general, a model railroad club is a meeting of people who are interested in the hobby, regardless of skill level. You join up with other model railroaders to talk about the hobby, shar …

Are you thinking of building your own model railroad? Creating a layout from scratch is the best way to get a customized layout with all the details you want. However, it also takes a bit of time and energy to make. With that, consider this quick guide to model railway baseboards, which are the first part of the layout you’ll need to build.What Are Baseboards?The baseboard is the foundation for your entire model railroad. It needs to be perfectly level and made of a material you can drill holes …

Many a model railroader has struggled with utilizing layout corners in interesting ways. The reason they’re such awkward spaces is that you can’t fit a curve into those tight areas, meaning there will always be some leftover room in the corners. What should you do with these spaces? Consider how to make use of corners in your model train layout.Make Interesting OperationsOur favorite thing to do with corners is to find unique ways to perform operations. So you can’t fit a curve into a 90-degree …