/r/modeltrains
A place for all model trains enthusiast AND new people curious about the hobby.
/r/modeltrains rules -- Please read before posting!
The short form: Post something that you would like to discuss! If posting a photo, video or link, please include a relevant comment to start conversation. Blogspam and For Sale posts are not welcome here.
Model Trains - the hobby and lifestyle.
A place for photos, videos, and discussion of all things related to Model Trains!
Share your work, share others work (with proper credit), ask questions.
Promote independent makers, except via For Sale or advertisement posts. You're welcome to share details via comments and deal through private messages.
Track Layout Software
A non-comprehensive list in no particular order
How to get started and other resources
special thanks to aboynamedsu and the art god for making the logo in /r/redditlogos
/r/modeltrains
It ain't much but it's a start. I haven't had trains since I was in my teens, I'm 37 now. I got my own place after living with friends for the past 8 years. I ordered a KATO starter set off Amazon but they cancelled the order, so I drove over to my local train store and bought from them instead. Got a nice little switcher and some intermodal rolling stock. I know they don't match but I wanted some intermodals anyway for when I plan on picking up a proper diesel. These were all on sale. Grabbed a starter pack of KATO unitrack to expand on later. I'm just happy to have a train again, don't even care that all I have is a loop for now.
Hi guys, So I've been collecting model trains for quite some time now and I want to build a shelf layout but to be honest I do not know where to start. I just know that I want to do some switching operations and have a couple of industries. Any advice? How did you build yours? Thank you very much
I have an ho scale rivarossi and this is the part that clips the bogie into the tender. I'm missing one of the rivets / pins and having trouble finding a replacement.
Im hoping someone can help me with this, as searching google and youtube were not particularly clarifying.
Is it possible to run a 3 rail lionel train set in australia's 220v/50hz power system? I can find some switching power supplies that can do 50/60hz, but its unclear if this will cause sound/communication issues or not. this would not be a big set up, just a thomas starter kit with a little bit of extra track for my nephew for christmas. I am US based, so I've never encountered the power issues on a model train over seas before. this is the set I was looking at https://www.trainworld.com/lionel-683510-6-83510-o-thomas-lionchief-passenger-set-with-bluetooth.html
I'd be grateful for any suggestions.
Hope you like it!
So I do believe if you repair vintage locomotives it is almost a must to have a 3D printer. It is amazing what you can do with it if you know how to make it.
So I’ve got two locomotives here, both of them Jouef BB 9201 from 1965. The one with the damaged body has completely original gears, The second one, with the pristine body I found on a flea market for €2. It was missing the entire motor mount and almost all of its gears, I replicated the drive from engine one to engine two to replace the missing pieces.
The interesting thing I noticed is that both locomotives run like a dream, even though the second one with the 3d printed gears is way louder than the OG, it is still almost just as fast and just as reliable.
This is also how I fixed a BR52 that had multiple split gears.
It also helps if you want to get a cheap bachmann. If you know what I mean.
I'm new to this community, and would like to say hello to everyone, been in to the model railway industry since I was a kid, I model in 00 gauge, 80s 90s era, big fan of Network Southeast and Intercity, hopefully I can learn new skills and teach what I have learned as well, love to discuss model railway stuff.
I recently purchased a IP engineering Jesse locomotive on eBay for £132 with a WiFi Loco Remote, this kit retails for £210 on their website plus £45 for the remote, I was pleased to get this at a good price, I'm looking forward to building a garden railway that will hopefully go through my shed that I will be making soon.
I'm in northern VA if that helps at all. I've looked up quite a few shops in the area, hoping to find one I could just walk into and get what I need, or maybe get a couple things (like a track and maybe an engine and caboose - if those would be good starting points) and maybe a gift certificate for my husband to go back or go online to pick out more.
This started as a combination of my love of Christmas (yes, I'm Jewish and love the Christmas season for many nostalgic reasons) and I was originally trying to kill 2 birds with 1 stone and get a Christmas tree mountable track and train set. I saw a lot of interesting options last season, but anything I had my eye on a few months ago is now out of stock and the items I can find available online all have terrible or mixed reviews.
So now I'm on a quest to just do a tabletop train that we can have in our holiday decorated den that will eventually be moved down to the basement for my husband to play with our son in the off-season. Lionel is the one brand I'm aware of as being classic and maybe more approachable in price and quality. I know next to nothing about model trains and would really love some advice.
I don't want to spend a ton of money, $500 is probably my limit for the starter pieces and gift certificate combined, and even that seems like a lot. I am aware that isn't actually a lot of money when it comes to model trains, so I'm hoping for some advice that will keep me within that budget while still getting some fun stuff together. My husband is more of a nostalgic enthusiast, not a collector, and our son is still a toddler who will only have access to the set with direct supervision.
Buenas! Tengo mi propio diorama, me gustaría añadir porfin un tren a escala O, me gustaría saber dónde poder comprar un kit inicial y algunos trenes extra para añadir a mi diorama. Gracias!
Hello there, I'm here to ask if DCC fitting is worth it, and what chips to get. I'm looking to DCC my engines but am scared about the cost and accidentally breaking my engines. I'm looking into some expensive ones like 655 terrier Stepney and flying Scotsman and I'm scared Incase if I break them
Have a Hornby starter set for my son, the set has never been reliable, the train struggles at the intersection and as you'll see in the video, struggles on various parts. All track well connected, can't figure out the issue. Any tips? TY
Dunno what to put here