Hobby Trains

Updated Product: LEGO 6746 Chief’s Tepee Wild West American Indians 1997 Set
Build a wild west era Native American scene with this village set.

LEGO 6746 Chief’s Tepee constructs a running-horse themed dual …read more at


New Product: LEGO 7124 Flash Speeder Vintage Star Wars Episode 1 Set New
Build a LEGO model of the Flash Speeder land vehicle used by the Naboo Royal Security Forces in Star Wars …read more at


The D&H – Rocky Mountain Empire (Plan#3a)

OK, where were we, oh yea…

If you recall the previous topic "The D&H – Rocky Mountain Empire (Plan#2)", it exposed very issues that needed reevaluated while hoping to keep the BIG DREAM with little space alive.

So, I have done a rough draft of Plan #3 that I hope has addressed "most" of the issues but there is virtually no Switch/Turnout in it but just track overlays as I need some help in those areas with the bigger curves. The biggest changes is moving the Mainline to a minimum radii of 30" and in many places I went to 34" radii and the "Access" areas are larger and better positioned. I’ve done no Grade or Topography as this is purely a rough draft to check if the concept is better and ask a few more questions using the updated plan.

First is Level #0 which is by design to be strictly a hidden Staging area and "DC" Reverse Loop that can be used during manual operation. Lisa and I have added "space" to the area by considering "bumping" out the walls using a Bay Window concept and if I need to creep a bit into the planned hallway by a few inches that’s OK too. So, the "Gray" areas on the North/Top and Right/East are an extra 12" push beyond the foundation but obviously the plan now has to get around the support polls (black squares) and their potential positions.


New layout: Help me gather ideas

Hi all. I have a small 3′x4′ layout that I’ve all but finished, and I’ve been bitten by a bug. I’d like to build a 4′x8′ foam layout with a small town, coal operation, and a long, double mainline with hills and a river. I’m loosely (very loosely) modelling the trip NS makes along the susquehanna river in Pa.

There is a coal plant in Selinsgrove, Pa that supplies power to the area, lots of top gons and coalporters parked there. Coal is usually supplied by the coal region of PA southeast of the mainline

And a mainline that runs along the river east through Riverside/Danville, Pa and Bloomsburg, Pa.

My questions are pretty basic… where do you folks get the styrene to scratch build buildings? How do you model trees without breaking the bank? Is it possible to model a 20+mile trip in a 4×8 layout? How do you gather inspiration for your layouts and transfer them to your track-plan?

A picture of my small/portable layout:

I haven’t been able to build a trackplan on the computer but I have doodled one up which I can provide…


Updated Product: LEGO 6079 Dark Forest Fortress Castle Forestmen Knights
This charming forest scene from the retired LEGO Castle Forestmen series simply teams with action and adventure.

The fortress consists of …read more at


New Product: LEGO 6382 Fire Station Vintage 1981 Classic Town Fireman Set
Build a distinctive red firehouse for your vintage LEGO town setup with this classic 1981 set.

The station is built on …read more at


FMV BNSF hoppers

Can you fellas please educate me? Just noticing that the current run of BNSF (Wedge Logo) Trinity hoppers have silver bottoms where the first run had black bottoms? Is this following the prototype or just..?

Thanks!

P.S. Whups, I mean FVM. Listen to what I mean, not what I type.


New Guy from Chicago

Hi all, this is my first post and I look forward to chatting with everyone. I am brand new to model railroading but I have always had a fascination with trains. Now that I’m older I have the space and resources to create my first layout. I have done some research and have been considering starting an N scale layout. I hope that some of you will give me some suggestions on what to do and where to start. I’m just trying to figure out what would be a good starter set or if I should buy separate pieces. Any and all help, suggestions, and opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys. Take care.

New Product: LEGO 6344 Jet Speed Justice Classic Town Police Boat & Plane
This classic set from 1993 builds the Jet Speed Justice – a team of both a modern black-and-white boat and …read more at


Updated Product: LEGO 6755 Sheriff’s Lock-Up Western Bandits Cowboys Town Set
A jailbreak is in progress at the town Sheriff’s lockup as the sidewall of the jail explodes outward as if …read more at


Yes, James! I Want to Learn the Secrets of Starting a Magnificent Model Train Layout
Send Me My Free Model Trains Answers Email Course Today!

You Will Receive the First Lesson in Your Email Inbox Immediately.

Privacy Assured: Your email address is never shared with anyone.