ho scale

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  1. Guilford Railman

    Am I Missing Something Here? - Need Feedback on Wiring Lift Bridge.

    I did a test of the wiring on my GMRC build and everything works great, except for the lift gate. That section is completely dead! I was under the impression I just needed to wire a single set of feeder wires to the track and connect it to the bus wire and that would be it. Am I forgetting...
  2. Guilford Railman

    Operating a Switching Layout Using a Dice Table/Chart

    I made a video showing how I operate my switching layout Rocky Valley using a dice probability table/chart. The second half shows the switch job created using this method. I learned this method through @moghobbystuff on YouTube. It’s a very simple and effective way to operate a small layout!
  3. Guilford Railman

    2025 Amherst Railway Society Train Show Haul

    Just wrapped up day one of the show. I mainly purchased rolling stock for the layout but I also picked up some track and the bridge I wanted for my GMRC build. I’m hoping to find the rest of the Peco turnouts I need when I return tomorrow.
  4. Guilford Railman

    Using Paint Pens on Previously Painted Track

    With my 1 ft x 6.5 ft shelf layout build, I’ve made a few mistakes here and there. One of these mistakes is accidentally getting some IPA on the track that I have painted. This has created a few areas here and there where the shiny rail is visible. These areas aren’t horrible but I would...
  5. Guilford Railman

    Looking for Specs on Passenger Car Details

    I'm looking for some information on passenger cars from the early to mid-1900s. I'm building a layout focused around the GMRC and would like to be as prototypical as possible, even down to the details. Taking a look at the photo below, does anyone know the length of the grab irons you would find...
  6. Guilford Railman

    Green Mountain Railroad Layout Build

    As model railroaders, we can't help but start planning new layouts while we're currently working on the present layout. For years, I have dreamt of having a layout focused around my favorite railroad and locomotive from my childhood. I found this locomotive online the other day, purchased it...
  7. Colorado Midland Modeler

    My layout: The Colorado Midland, Midland Terminal, & Short Line.

    Here's a little bit of the story of how my layout came to be. I've been into model trains since I was a little kid, Lionel sets and Thomas the Tank Engine got that ball rolling, but I didn't have any place to set anything up and kind of walked away from it for a little while. Eventually, I...
  8. Guilford Railman

    Switchlist Program Alternatives

    One of the model railroaders I follow on Youtube has mentioned a program called Switchlist several times over the years. He has stated that it is only available for Mac, and unfortunately I do not have a Mac, but rather a windows PC. My layout is small and I have been using JMRI to generate...
  9. All in a days work Cr.jpg

    All in a days work Cr.jpg

    This is the interior of an old engine house. The guy in the yellow shirt was coming to throw me out for trespassing on RR property.
    • PaulieT
    • Media item
    • ho scale interior model wood structure
    • Comments: 0
    • Category: Dioramas and Mini-Scenes
  10. Country Farm House.jpg

    Country Farm House.jpg

    Nestled at the top of a long private driveway in the rolling countryside of Bucks County, PA with beautiful, long distance views and gorgeous sunsets, this charming farm home is waiting for its new owner. You will enjoy your expansive 3.6 plus acre property which features apple, pear and peach...
    • PaulieT
    • Media item
    • farmhouse ho scale house humor model model photo
    • Comments: 0
    • Category: Buildings and Structures
  11. Guilford Railman

    Walthers Oil Loading Platform Modification Help

    I’m looking to utilize the Walthers oil loading platform kit as both a loading and unloading facility. Has anyone made modifications to this kit for unloading or have any suggestions on how I can go about it? I’m modeling 1960s with a single track unloading one tank car at a time. Thanks in...
  12. Guilford Railman

    How Would I Go About Designing The Road Markings For This Intersection?

    I have tried to find examples online of intersections similar to mine but haven’t found exactly what I’m looking for. Does anybody know the best way to design the road markings for this intersection? I would like to include a parallel parking spot for my store and markings for the tracks...
  13. T

    Pemco PRR GG-1 Squeals like a pig. (NO, not like Ned Beatty, well maybe a little.)

    j
    • Trucker-Mike
    • Thread
    • gg-1 ho scale pemco prr repair squeals when running
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: HO Scale
  14. Guilford Railman

    Why Is My Manual Ground Throw Squeaking After Applying Ballast?

    Question says it all…I applied some ballast around a turnout with a Caboose Industries manual ground throw, being careful to not get much ballast and glue around the mechanism. After it began to dry, the ground throw itself is now squeaking. What would cause this? Can I oil it somehow?
  15. Guilford Railman

    Applying Woodland Scenics Road Building Kit Smooth-It to Craft Foam

    I am looking to apply the Woodland Scenics Smooth-It to my layout soon but I am not sure it can be applied to craft foam successfully. I have applied it to insulation foam board previously with success. Has anybody used the Smooth-It material on craft foam before?
    • Guilford Railman
    • Thread
    • ho scale road scenery smooth-it switching layout woodland scenics
    • Replies: 0
    • Forum: Scenery
  16. Guilford Railman

    Need Information on Properly Wiring My Layout

    I will be starting track work soon on my 1 ft x 6.5 ft HO scale shelf switching layout and need some help with understanding the difference in wiring gauges and which is best for my setup. I lack knowledge in this area and could use some help. Here is a basic schematic showing how many feeders I...
  17. Guilford Railman

    Grain Boxcars in the 1950s

    For the current switching layout I’m building, I plan to model in the 1950s and 60s. This is an era I’ve never modeled before. Were any specific boxcars used for grain transport or were their design characteristics specific to their use such as extra hatches or anything like that? I did learn...
  18. Guilford Railman

    Northern Pacific Rocky Valley Branch Switching Layout Build

    Hello Everyone! Model railroading had been put aside the last few months except for some minor Lionel train set work. Last week I received an email inviting me to exhibit a layout at a local train show! This brought back some motivation to build another layout:) Now…since my n scale layout...
  19. S

    Pin to couple loco to tender on Fleischmann HO diecast steam (DB BR 01 182)?

    I've lost the pin that my Fleischmann HO BR 01 182 had to hold the tender. I believe what I had was what would be called a "core pin" and the hole is slightly larger than 2mm (maybe 2.2mm?). I'm not positive that was what the loco had originally though. A clevis pin might also work. Anyone...
  20. Guilford Railman

    New Layout Build

    Hello Fellow Modelers! Many of you know me from my N Scale Micro-Layout thread. I have decided to build an HO Scale shelf layout as my next build. This build will most likely happen over a longer period of time despite it being a small layout. If only my boss would understand my need to model...




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