Your Gateway to Model Railroading Fun
Gateway NMRA Logo
Cab instructions and switchlist.

Developing an Operations-Focused Model Railroad: How We Did It

Venita Lake explains how operations were developed for the El Dorado & El Reno Railroad, the waybills, track warrants and switchlists used, and the evolving role of their dispatcher's desk....
Read More
Jacob Libhart's City Streetcar Model Railroad Diorama

Jacob Libhart’s City Streetcar Model Railroad Diorama

Jacob Libhart found this model railroad diorama (in very poor condition) in an antique store in Cuba, Missouri. The layout had no engines, cars or paperwork and was not running. This 12 year old modeler completely refurbished the diorama, adding motive power, cars, new track - and rew...
Read More
The Silicon Valley dispatcher's desk and magnetic board with a linear schematic and, on the left, a track diagram of each level.

Notes on Operations – How Other Folks Do It

Thoughts on model railroad operations from the perspective of learning from others....
Read More
Building City Streets Using Walthers Cornerstone Street Systems

Building City Streets Using Walthers Cornerstone Street Systems

Techniques for modeling concrete, brick and asphalt streets, and concrete grade crossings, on your model railroad layout with the Walthers Cornerstone street system....
Read More
World’s Greatest Hobby on Tour in St. Louis

33,000 Attend World’s Greatest Hobby on Tour in St. Louis

The World’s Greatest Hobby program, sponsored by the Model Railroad Industry Association, had the right idea when they selected St. Louis as the location for its second WGH on Tour event. America’s Center in downtown St. Louis was packed on January 8-9, 2005, and the Gateway Division,...
Read More
World’s Greatest Hobby on Tour

World’s Greatest Hobby on Tour is Coming to St. Louis

The World’s Greatest Hobby (WGH) program, sponsored by the Model Railroad Industry Association (MRIA), has selected St. Louis as the location for its second WGH on Tour event, and the Gateway Division, will be there to promote the hobby and membership in the NMRA....
Read More
Rockwoods School District WGH Visit

Rockwoods School District WGH Visit

As a result of request through the Gateway Division website, Rick and Venita Lake visited the Center for Creative Learning in the Rockwoods School District in September to talk with a second grade class about their train collection. This was part of a special unit on collections, what...
Read More
Getting Down to Details - Mailboxes

Getting Down to Details – Mailboxes

Some years ago I wrote a brief piece for The RPO relating information I had picked up at a national convention. It focused on making sure that details on the layout fit the time frame modeled, and gave approximate times that hay stacks went from stack or square bales to rolled, or whe...
Read More
Missouri History Museum Model Railroad Layout

Saint Louis Central 2002 Missouri History Museum Exhibit

This model railroad layout is based on the Saint Louis Central 2001 Model Railroader project designed and built by St. Louis area members of the National Model Railroad Association during the July 2001 National Train Show in downtown St. Louis. We’ll call this one "Version 2.002" beca...
Read More
Missouri Historical Society Logo

St. Louis Central 2002 Begins

We’re going to be a part of the History Museum! At the May Division meeting, members approved a budget of $2,000 to build a 4’x8’ layout for a forthcoming exhibit at the History Museum in Forest Park. The exhibit, entitled “Our World in Miniature: Trains, Dollhouses and Other Miniatur...
Read More
Gateway 2001 National Convention and National Train Show

Gateway 2001 National Convention and National Train Show

The Gateway 2001 national convention and train show was the culmination of five years of planning and preparation involving not only our local members, but volunteers across the country and abroad. The event was a great success....
Read More
Taking Stock for Now and Later

Taking Stock for Now and Later

Developing a comprehensive inventory of a model railroad's inventory - cars, engines, structures, details, books, and tools - serves a number of purposes, for the present, for protection, and for your estate....
Read More