Description:
New articles, photos, modeling techniques, downloads and content from the Gateway Division NMRA, your "Gateway to Model Railroading Fun."
Contents:
Building Your First Model Railroad Video Series
Build your first HO scale model railroad with the new YouTube video series from the World's Greatest Hobby. This video series, hosted by Michael Gross, will teach you the simple how-to techniques you need to know to take an HO scale electric train set and make it a scenic model railroad.
Designing the Gateway Central XV Small HO Scale Switching Layout
Our 15th project model railroad is different in many ways from the previous layouts. This one is designed as a small, easily transported switching layout for display and discussion at local Train Shows. It features five industries, trailing and facing sidings to switch, and DCC sound - all on a 13 pound 14"x48" layout. Read about the design and see planning and finished photos of the railroad.
Buildings and Structures on the Gateway Central 2009 Layout
Each of the buildings on the new Gateway Central XV layout are visually interesting and provide a boxcar setup location on this switching layout. See detailed photos of each assembled structure and simple instructions on how to kitbash two unique background industrial structures.
Track Plan & Parts List for the Home Version of the GC2009 Switching Layout
Build the home edition of the Gateway Central 2009 model railroad as a home layout or an expansion to your existing home layout. This 14"x60" HO scale railroad features six industries, a runaround, mainline connection, and lots of switching opportunities and operation for a standard diesel switcher and 40' boxcars.
Win a cab ride in a Union Pacific steam locomotive with the NMRA Photo Contest
The National Model Railroad Association and the Union Pacific Railroad are pleased to announce a model photography contest to help celebrate the 75th anniversary of the NMRA. The NMRA will pick one photograph submitted by an NMRA member in good standing depicting one or more models of UP equipment and/or structures in a realistic scene. The photograph will be judged for prototype fidelity of the modeling and scene as well as for photographic art. The member submitting the photograph will win a cab ride in one of the mainline steam locomotives operated by the Union Pacific.
Photos of Paul Fries' HO Scale Red Board Hobbies Layout
Paul Fries' HO scale model railroad is displayed in the front window of his hobby shop, Red Board Hobbies, in Belleville, Illinois. The layout features fall scenery and a small town theme. The layout's design provides continuous running and industry switching in a relatively small space. See 15 photos of this completely sceniced layout.
Build a Model Railroad Layout Access Gate
There are many different benchwork and layout designs. Current trends favor a walk-in around-the-walls design. This is best from an access standpoint since it allows unlimited entrance and exit. But there are also those who do not want to loose the space required to turn trains around at each side of the entrance of a walk-in design. The use of a duckunder is not a good solution, as it limits access and are a hazard to tall folks. A properly designed gate allows easy access without any drawbacks. The key to building a successful gate is in the design and construction. A good design takes into account not only access, but expansion and contraction, safety, and ease of maintenance. The gate on Dave Roeder's HO scale Webster Groves and Fenton Railroad has all of these features.
Photos from the 2009 DPM Structure Kitbashing Contest
Members who attended the May 2009 Division meeting received a DPM building kit and some extra wall components. Many of them brought their completed kitbashed models for a "show and tell" presentation at the September 2009 meeting. Members voted for their favorites and prizes were awarded. Each modeler spent a few minutes talking about the design and finishing of his own model.
Next Gateway Division Monthly Meeting is March 15, 2010
The next monthly meeting of the Gateway Division will be at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 15, 2010 at Trinity Lutheran Church in West St. Louis County (directions and map available on the Gateway Division website). This month's topic is Show and Tell! It's the members' night to show photos of their layout or favorite prototype. Bring your slides or DVDs, but please limit your presentation to about 10 minutes. Show what you are doing and see what others are doing - you could learn something new. Refreshments are provided at the meeting. Guests are always welcome.
Modeling Boxcar Grain Loads
John Carty models East St. Louis in 1955. In that era, grain arrives at his mill by boxcar. Grain doors were placed within the door openings of boxcars, usually reaching about halfway up the opening, to prevent the grain from spilling prematurely. John describes an easy method to model the grain doors and loads, with photos of the process and a completed car.
Photos of Hank Kraichely's HO Scale Burlington Route
Hank's double-deck layout depicts the St. Louis to Hannibal portion of the CB&Q Railroad's North Bound main known as the K Line in 1963. The Francis branch running from Old Monroe to Francis is also modeled. The layout runs through rural areas and has six towns, two cement plants, along with paper, chemical and power plants. There are also two interchanges on the Francis branch, at Wellsville with the Wabash and at Francis with the GM&O.
Model Railroad Operations with a Computer Spreadsheet
There is no substitute for running trains to gain experience and confirm your general direction as the railroad takes on a more finished look and the operating crew becomes more familiar with your overall operation scenario. Dave Roeder, MMR, soon realized that the computer was a much more efficient way to keep switch lists than manual approaches. This article discusses how Excel spreadsheets are used to support operations. The schedule is done as one spreadsheet with a separate sheet for each train order. A master schedule sheet provides the dispatcher with the overall game plan and each train order has notes describing the details of the switching moves.
The Winter 2010 Issue of The RPO is Now Available Online
The quarterly members newsletter of the Gateway Division NMRA, the RPO, is now available online in PDF (Adobe Acrobat) format. This link opens the 2MB current issue.
Photos of the Litchfield Train Group's Large HO Model Railroad
The Litchfield layout depicts the ever-gentle rolling countryside of Illinois from Centralia to Chicago. The main room is set in the 50s and 60s era when steam engines were becoming extinct and the "new" diesel locomotives were gaining in popularity. The smaller room is "Chicago," which is set in the 70s and not only provides additional destinations with modern industries, but where you can also find a mix of old and new railroads, buildings and equipment. In the rail yards, you'll see railcars to service the old meatpacking plants, warehouses, factories, gravel and milling operations, as well as high-tech inter-modal, auto loading, chemical companies, and barge facilities. Operators can store hundreds of cars and stage 14 trains each 16 feet long. View 66 photos taken during the December operating session.
The Fall 2009 Issue of The RPO is Now Available Online
The quarterly members newsletter of the Gateway Division NMRA, the RPO, is now available online in PDF (Adobe Acrobat) format. This link opens the 1,405KB current issue.
Photos of Bob Buschart's HO Model Railroad
Bob Buschart's multi-deck layout was a featured model railroad on the November 2009 Train Show home layout tour. CB&Q is the emphasis on this large 30'x26' HO railroad, although both the UP and Santa Fe make their appearance. Multi-cab lash-ups and long trains are frequent on this layout which features three yards, one of them primarily for reefers. A coal mine, diesel facility and other assorted industries are all online. Mountains and 900 feet of track provide a setting in which trains can appear and disappear seemingly at will. Hidden yards below the layout provide storage for several trains. The webpage has 33 photos taken during the layout tour.
Mark Your Calendar - November 13, 2010 Gateway NMRA Train Show
The next Annual Gateway Division NMRA Model Railroad Train Show and Model Contest will be held November 13, 2010, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Trinity Lutheran Church in West St. Louis County (Clayton and 141). The Gateway Division Train Show features clinics/presentations on model railroading, swap tables, model and photo contests, door prizes, running layouts on display, and self-guided home train layout tours. Note that this is a date change, the 2010 Train Show will now be held the second Saturday of November.
Winning Models and Photos from the 2009 Gateway Division Annual Contest
Seventy-three photos of the winning models and photographs from the 2009 Gateway Division NMRA annual contest on November 7, 2009 are now online. Winners were selected by the popular vote of those attending the Gateway Division Annual Train Show. Phil Bonzon won the Best of Show with his Cressmont, WV diorama. Other first place winners included Tom Trotter (Steam Locomotive category), Dave Roeder (Diesel Locomotive, Maintenance of Way, and Whole Train categories), John Carty (Traction and Diorama categories), Gregor Moe (Freight Car category), Tom Smith (Caboose category), Greg Gray (Off-Line Structure category), Ron Schlueter (Prototype Photograph category) and Phil Bonzon (Passenger Car, On-Line Structure and Model Photograph categories).
Playing Trains With The Kids
One common thread unites model railroaders - the love of trains. Children love to explore their world. Model railroading provides an excellent means for teaching kids about their world, while sharing the hobby with the children you love.
Notes on Operations - How Other Folks Do It
Rick and Venita Lake provide their observations on things they learned and saw during the Bayrails event on how to create great operating sessions for regular operators and especially for "boomers," or first-time guests. Apply these basic principles to improve your next operating session.
Operations and the Steel Industry
Curt Regensberger shares the switching operations on his HO scale steel mill centric railroad "The Streator Connection." He describes the industries modeled with their switching jobs and equipment, and illustrates it with four photos of his layout.
Frisco 1522 Steam Train Adventures
There is only one way to describe a steam locomotive - big, heavy and dirty. Dave Roeder recalls what he did with his weekends for two and a half years as part of the St. Louis Steam Train Association that restored and ran the Frisco 1522 Mountain-type steam locomotive. The locomotive is now once again on display as a restored piece of railroad history at the St. Louis Museum of Transportation, but Dave will always have fond memories of this unique once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Freight Car Scratch Building for the NMRA Achievement Program
The rolling stock category of the NMRA achievement program has a requirement that the applicant build a total of eight pieces of rolling stock, four of which must be scratch built. Dave Roeder describes the process he followed, and the parts used, to scratchbuild a Civil War era Carter Brothers flat car.
Overview of Interurban Railroads
This "introduction to modeling trains under the wire" by John Carty describes the types and infrastructure of interurban railroads, modeling techniques, general operating practices, St. Louis area interurban railroads, and typical (and not-so-typical) equipment used.
Stockyard Upgrades, Improving the Walthers Cornerstone Stock Yard Kit
Learn how to "dress up" the HO scale Walthers stock yard kit with simple painting techniques and added details. John Carty's article, and photos of the finished model, show how he created a eye-catching model for the National City (East St. Louis) stockyard on his train layout.
Building City Streets Using Walthers Cornerstone Street Systems
The Gateway Division has used the Walthers Cornerstone street systems on several of its annual project layouts. This article by Venita Lake describes the kits used, assembly methods, planning considerations, and painting, weathering and detailing tips.
14 New Backissues of The RPO are Now Available Online
Fourteen more backissues of the quarterly members newsletter of the Gateway Division NMRA, the RPO, are now available online in PDF (Adobe Acrobat) format.
Photos of Phil Bonzon's Buffalo Creek and Gauley Railroad
Phil Bonzon's Swandale module from his HO scale Buffalo Creek and Gauley Railroad won first place in modules at the Gateway Division 2008 Train Show. Phil's goal is to capture the character and surroundings of the ERC&L and BC&G and bring them back alive through his layout. Eight photos of his highly detailed Swandale module are now online.
Photos of Brad Joseph's Union Pacific Railroad
Experience the beauty of Brad's HO scale Union Pacific with seven highly detailed photo stops from Cheyene to Laramie. Linn Moedinger enhanced the depth of sharpness of these photos using multiple images taken with different focus points and stacked with Helicon Focus software.
Wabash, Frisco and Pacific Live Steam Railroad Train Picnic
The Gateway Division NMRA, and the National Rail Historical Society St. Louis Chapter, sponsored a member's picnic at the Wabash, Frisco and Pacific live steam railroad in Glencoe, Missouri (West St. Louis County). Enjoy these pictures of the railroad and the picnic. A fun time was had by all.
Greater St. Louis Area Layout Directory
Great model railroad layouts abound in the St. Louis area. We have home, club and garden layouts. From N and TT to live steam, narrow gauge, standard gauge, tinplate, short lines, mainlines, indoors and out, you'll find fine train layouts everywhere in Greater St. Louis.
Gateway Central Project Model Railroads
For over a decade, the Gateway Division has constructed small model train layouts for display and demonstrations at local train shows. See photos and descriptions of over fifteen small model railroad you can build.
Designing Model Railroad Operations
A primer for model railroad operations. Modelers enjoy visiting and running on model railroads that are realistic in appearance and operated in a realistic manner. This only happens when the model echoes the mission of a real railroad - cars move to transport freight and passengers.
Model Railroading Downloads
Photos of vintage metal signs, building interiors and exteriors that you can download and print for use on your model railroad.
Model Railroad Article Library
This is a directory to the clinics, photos, articles and reference materials of interest to model railroaders that are available on our website.
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