You know, sometimes the hardest thing to do is what is normal, expected, and, routine. However, this is what we should strive for when we operate our railroads. The prototype railroads do the same thing day after day and for most of the railroaders the job can seem the same. Occasiona...

I attended the National Convention and Train Show in Long Beach, California and it was a fantastic experience. If you ever get the chance to go to a NMRA national convention, do go. It is an experience you will long remember. I attended many clinics and saw many sights. It was great t...

One item in railroading that is not often in the magazines is a discussion of signals and how they work on the prototype. What is often said by the modeler is “I operate in the dark,” or with CTC, or ABS, without much discussion of what these are and what they do. Perhaps it is best t...

1997 contest results. NMRA conventions and train show events feature a model and photo contest where entries are displayed to be viewed and enjoyed by other model railroaders and the general public. Any NMRA member may enter models and photos into these contests....

"Shake the box" kits have long offered good quality at reasonable prices. These kits can use some minor tweaking to improve their dependability and performance....

In my first column, I wrote that railroads are in the business of making money by moving freight and passengers (which can be thought of as a type of freight with certain requirements concerning movement). The manner in which the freight is originated and terminated uses a train known...

As I was driving down the road the other day, I was thinking about what I would write in this space. I was having a hard time thinking of a topic that I could write about. At that moment I realized this was a “problem,” and my mind wandered to the thought of some of the operational pr...

Gateway Central IV, like its predecessors, is a 4'x8' beginner layout constructed by division members. Each of the layouts has been used to try out a variety of construction techniques for support, track design, scenery and structures. The project involves a large number of members in...

Model railroad signals typically provide protection against running into an occupied block or running through an improperly aligned turnout. Most model railroads can be signaled using three types of signals: a one-headed block signal, a two-headed interlocking signal, and a one-headed...

Step-by-step assembly instructions for a block detector with built-in delay and logic for 2-color signal indication....

An overview of model railroad detection types and a method of detection using an optoisolator....

text and photos by Brad Joseph, MMR originally published in the Winter 1997 Caboose Kibitzer If any of you are like me, the recent cold weather has you daydreaming about springtime railfanning trips. Nice warm sunshine, beautiful scenery, and a good railroad adventure will certainly s...