To download these free signs simply go to the website mentioned in the video and search for 'Free Train Room Signs' under USEFUL TOOLS in the top tool bar.
Model railway resources. Modelling Gum Trees Clubs of Australia. © 2007-2017 Melbourne Model Railway Society. This site currently has 26 free downloadable model railway resources, with more to come as soon as is feasible. About this site All too often, when building a model railway, one has great difficultly in getting hold of certain critical things, such as backscenes, brickpaper, details, etc.
Model Railroading - A Lifetime of Activity And Enjoyment
It doesn't seem to matter whether you’re 5 or 95... or somewhere in between. The personal satisfaction of building and operating a realistic miniature railroad layout is rewarding and fun. Model railroading is a truly rewarding hobby that will keep most model railroad hobbyists busy and entertained for hours...if not a lifetime.
Ask model railroad hobbyists 'what appeals about the hobby?' and you'll get a variety of answers. For some model railroad hobbyists, it is a way of re-creating a fond childhood memory. Others; simply enjoy building a world in miniature with all its detail and realism. Then there are those model railroad hobbyists who love solving the technical problems of building and operating an electronic control system.
Knowledge Of Model Railroads
The more you know about model railroads, the less chance that you'll be taken
for a ride (excuse the pun!). Some hobby shop assistants and internet model railroad retailers just want to sell... and others may misunderstand your needs and sell you the wrong thing for your model railroad set. However, in saying that,
in general hobby shop staff have a wealth knowledge and are happy to share their model railroading ideas. Also the more research you do, the better you'll get to know your model railroad scales, styles and which model railroad set manufacturers you prefer.
Model Railroading Needn't Cost The Earth
Model railroad sets can run from a few dollars for a basic train set, to several thousands of dollars for a model railroad set loaded that's with accessories. Therefore, it is important to decide how much you want to spend on a model railroad set. Set a realistic budget for your model railroad set and stick to it.
Thanks to the Internet and sites like 'e-bay' you can pick up some real bargain model train sets and railroading accessories in the secondhand market. Make sure you know exactly what you are buying.
Enjoyable Rail Journeys
- Travel China by High Speed Trains
Planning Mistakes With Model Railroad Sets
When planning a model railroad layout it is usually best to start small. Then hopefully, mistakes can be small too. You will probably want to begin your model railroading hobby by purchasing only a small amount of track and maybe some plugs, switches, a locomotive or two, and a few cars. A small model railroad track layout of 4x8 or less might be a good place to start your railroading hobby. There is no point in being intimidated (and maybe discouraged) by a large or complex model railroad set when you are learning the basics of the hobby. With a smaller model railroad set it will be easier to fix mistakes or make changes.
A 4x8 model railroad layout is large enough to fit the 18-inch radius curves that come with many railroading sets. With a 4x8 model railroad layout there is also room for an oval with 18-inch radius ends and a few sidings.
Choosing A Model Railroad Scale
It is best to choose a model railroad scale that best suits your needs and gives you the effect you are looking for in your model railroad layout. O scale model trains and S scale trains are large when compared to the more popular HO scale model trains. O scale is 1:48 size with 1¼' track gauge and a minimum radius of 2 foot (24 inches). S scale is 1:64 size with 7/8' track gauge and a minimum radius of 22½ inches. As you can see S scale model trains are smaller in size than the larger O scale model railroad sets.
Model Railroading A Creative Hobby
YES! Model railroading is a fun-filled leisure activity that provides plenty of scope for the creative individual with a technical bent. It incorporates a variety of interesting hobby activities from building, maintaining, upgrading and operating a railway. What kind of world you create, where you create it, and how much time you spend in it... is entirely over to the individual model railroad hobbyist. We are all different.
George Bernard Shaw And Model Railroads
A model railroading hobbyist can build a railroad layout in the solitude of his or her basement, attic, shed or garage workshop...or they can sit in a sun lounger and watch model trains weave around their garden... or the railroad hobbyist can join a local model railroading club and share their railroading ideas and experiences with others. The opportunities for the model railroad hobbyist are endless!
Model railroading is a wonderful hobby and an excellent way to make friends. There are numerous model railroad organizations you can join where you can meet with like-minded people from all walks of life who share your passion for the hobby of model railroading.
As a member of a model railroad club you'll have the opportunity to share ideas, get expert advice, attend model railroad conventions, build a model railroad as a group project, and even take railroad trips together.
Working alone does have its disadvantages, because often solutions to problems can be hard to find without the input and experience of others.
More info at http://www.modeltrainclub.org/club.html
News from Model Train Clubs
Although we can't feature every Model Train Club from around the globe, we will from time to time give special mention to different clubs and model railroad societies starting with the following clubs:
The Seattle based United Northwest Model Railroad Club has an N scale (1:160) layout. (An N scale locomotive would have to be magnified 160 times to equal the real thing.)
The present 24' x 12' United Northwest Model Railroad Club layout breaks down into modules for easy take-down and transport. For Club Members it has been a work in progress for almost 20 years. The model train club has plans to extend the layout by 12' bringing it to 36'x 12'.
The United Northwest Model Railroad Club layout doesn't follow a particular prototype or era, but instead incorporates the best elements of Pacific Northwest railroading.
3d Model
The layout has operational DCC on the outside 'low line' main. The system is North Coast Engineering.
Yard and Engine Facilities - One end encompasses the massive yard and engine facilities, where we build and break up trains.
Mountain Area - The other end is a mountainous territory containing bridges, tunnels, loops, and a valley.
Mainlines - There are two mainlines, one that is known as the 'High Line', and the other that is referred to as the 'Low Line'.
United Northwest Model Railroad Club members usually operate passenger trains on the twisting and grade-filled High Line, and run longer freight trains on the flatter Low Line. The model railroad layout also has a host of other smaller switching opportunities to keep everyone busy and entertained.
MobileRailroad Layout
The Eltham Model Railway Circle (Melbourne, Australia) was formed in 1980 and started with a small end to end layout. The model railroad has progressed to a fully operational layout. By the Mid 1990's the club began construction of an exhibition model railroad layout. The exhibition layout had it's first public Showing at the Strathmore Model Railway Exhibition in August 1999.
The Eltham Model Railway Circle now has a large permanent layout as well as an exhibition layout called 'Layout Murranbilla'. Layout Murranbilla is 20ft long by 8ft 4inches wide. The model railroad layout breaks down into 8 modules, each 5ft 10 inches in length and 2ft 6inches wide. The legs are made from tublular steel that are fitted into larger square tubing screwed into each corner.
The model railway layout is built on the open type timber frame, with decking only where necessary for a solid base for the trackwork. Hand holds have been cut into the sides to allow easy carrying.
Power to the track is by way of two commercial battery chargers modified to give a split potential power supply using the two transformers in parallel. This allows the running of one common rail and a common return wire for the whole railroad layout. The controllers were originally purchased from the Melbourne Model Railway Society and were modified by removing the jug style of element from the circuit and replacing this with series connected diodes. This allows for a smoother operation of locos by varying the voltage rather than the resistance.
Enjoyable Rail Journeys
- Travel China by High Speed Trains
Model Train Club Makes Home In School
The Echo Valley Railway Guild in Saskatchewan, Canada has its model railroad layout located in the basement of a local school. The club's model railroad layout is a representation of the Crow's nest pass area of southern British Columbia and Alberta. The CP line and the Kaslo and Slocan Railway are modelled.
Ft. Mcleod (Mcleod) is modeled from which the line proceeds around the room passing through Crowsnest, Moyie, Sirdar, Nelson. To do this the line passes under the peninsula and circles twice around the room. The Echo Valley Railway Guild strongly support the hobby of model railroading. It with other model railroaders has taken on the task of producing a regional and two divisional NMRA conventions. The guild opens it's doors to the school children at least once a year. Together with the Regina Model Railroad Club, The Echo Valley Railway Guild have sponsored a model railroad show.
Model Railroad Club Members Share Clever Ideas
As well as working on their own home model railroad layouts, the Prince William County Model Railroad Club members collaborate on an award-winning modular club layout displayed at events in Virginia & Maryland. The club occupies part of the Historic Quantico Depot in Quantico, Virginia where members are building an HO model railroad layout.
The model railroad club has its own website that includes several 'how-to' pages with clever ideas like these:
Broken couplers are a problem for many model railroaders and are often caused by hitting the bumpers too hard. This problem was solved by the addition of two small nails just before the bumpers. Placed exactly two and a half ties from the bumper, the nails were inserted so they caught the axle of the car and kept the coupler from hitting the bumper. This not only saved many couplers, but is reported to have also lowered levels of frustration.
Hobby groups in the USA include:
(more clubs listed on other pages)
Nevada:
Southern Nevada N-Trakers, Clark County, Nevada.
North Carolina:
Cape Fear Model Railroad Club Inc Wilmington, Carolina Coastal Railroaders New Bern, Carolina Model Railroaders Greensboro, Hinkle's Lionel Trains Lionel collector and operator in the Charlotte, League Of Non Aligned Modelers Raleigh & Boone, Neuse River Valley Model Railroad Club Raleigh, North Raleigh Model Railroad Club Raleigh, Piedmont and Western Model Railroad Club Valdese, Sipping and Switching Society of North Carolina Raleigh & Boone, Triad Live Steamers 7.5' gauge Live Steam Club Farmington, Waynesborough Model Railroad Club Goldsboro, Wilson Area Railroad Modelers Inc. Wilson, NC.
Ohio:
Burning River 'N' Society Cleveland, C.A.N.S. (Columbus Area N Scalers) Columbus, Carillon Park Rail & Steam Society Dayton, Central Ohio Model Railroad Club Columbus, Central Ohio N-Trak Columbus, Central Ohio S Gaugers Columbus, Cooke Road Train Crew Columbus, Crossroads Railroad Club Vandalia - Ohio, Cuyahoga Valley S Gauge Association Cleveland, Cuyahoga Valley and West Shore Model Railroad Club Olmsted Falls, Greater Cincinnati Garden Railway Society, The Hocking Valley Model Railroaders Lancaster, Janis Junction Model Railroad Club Columbus, Lake Shore Live Steamers Cleveland, North Coast N-scalers, Pittsburgh & Ohio Northern Railroad Club Ada, The Sebring Model Railroad Club Sebring, Swanton area railroad and model club inc. swanton, Travelin' Trainmen of North Central Ohio North Central Ohio, Tri-State NTRAK Cincinnati, Youngstown Model Railroad Club Youngstown, Ohio.
The Models Resources
Oklahoma:
Central Oklahoma Model Railroad Club Oklahoma City, Claremore and Southern Railroad Club Claremore, Grenn Country Model Railroaders Green Country Model Railroad Assoc - Oklahoma, Locomotive Operators of Central Oklahoma, North Central Oklahoma Rail Road Club Ponca City, Northeast Oklahoma N Scale Tulsa, Oklahoma O Scalers Oklahoma City - Oklahoma, SouthWest Oklahoma Railroad Association Duncan, Southwestern Live Steamers.
Oregon:
Aloha and Western Oregon Lines HO Model Railroad Club Aloha, Columbia Gorge Model Railroad Club Portland, Corvallis Society of Model Engineers Adair Village, Greater Portland LEGO Railroaders Portland, Over The Hill Live Steamers Chiloquin, Pacific Northwest Division of the Toy Train Operating Society Seattle & Portland, Pacific Northwest Livesteamers Molalla, Rose City Garden Railway Society - Portland, South Coast Model Railroaders North Bend - Oregon, Train Mountain Railroad Museum Chiloquin, OR.
In Use Free Model Railway Resources Llc
Pennsylvania:
Track2, Allegheny Northern Railroad Club, The AMRS Hazleton, Capital PenNScalers Harrisburg, Carnegie Mellon Railroad Club Pittsburgh, Chelten Hills Model Railroad Club Elkins Park, DARN NTRAK, East Penn Traction Club Philadelphia, GATSME Lines Fort Washington, Great All Saints Model Train Display Pittsburgh, Keystone N Trak model railroad club Kulpsville, Keystone Model Railroad Historical Society Mechanicsburg, Keystone Chapter of European Trains Enthusiasts Marietta, Lehigh Valley Large Scalers Lehigh Valley - Allentown, Lower Anthracite Model Railroad Club - Shamokin, McKeesport Model Railroad Club, Nazareth Area Society of Model Engineers Stockertown, North Penn S Gaugers Lansdale, Penn State Model Railroad Club University Park, Reading Society Of Model Engineers Reading, Southeastern Pennsylvania HO Modular Railroaders Willow Grove, St. Alban's Railroad Fellowship Newtown Square, Strasburg Model Railroad Club Lancaster, Western Pennsylvania Railroad Society Hickory, Western Pennsylvania Model Railroad Museum Gibsonia, Williamsport North Branch Railroad Historical Society Hughesville, Youngwood Historical & Railroad Museum Youngwood, Pennsylvania.
Rhode Island:
Providence Model Railroad Club Providence, Rhode Island Central Railroad Providence, RI Providence.
South Dakota:
James Valley Model RailRoad Association Aberdeen, South Dakota.
Tennessee:
Chattanooga Area Model RR Club Chattanooga, Mid-South Live Steamers Columbia - Tennessee, Nashville NTrak Nashville - Tennessee.
In Use Free Model Railway Resources Pdf
More groups listed on other pages.