NMRA

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Overview Of The NMRA - National Model Railroad Association
By B. Murphy

Model railroading and prototyping is a wonderful hobby that doesn't really require that anyone share in it with you – but the enjoyment of seeing others reactions to your special diorama or the ability to pose questions on specifications and historical references to a group of friends for many causes them to seek out other like-minded enthusiasts.

Fortunately there are many clubs and organizations that have sprung up around model railroading, hundreds in the USA alone – but one of the largest and most prestigious is the NMRA, the National Model Railroad Association, a non-profit educational association designed to promote model railroading, and to influence standards within the industry.

The NMRA sets its focus on its members all across the globe with over 150 divisions or groups of members spread out in 18 regions across the globe. With their yearly convention and the "National Train Show" the NMRA manages to continue building excitement in the industry for model train hobbyists to enjoy. A leading group for the advancement of train hobbyists for over 70 years the NMRA has been there for its members and will continue to be there for many years to come.

Founded in 1935 the NMRA helped to set many of the standards that exist today and still maintains a list of Standards and Recommended Practices available to manufacturers and hobbyists. The NMRA also helps maintain the Kalmbach Memorial Library which is one of the larger railroad reference centers in the world. Holding more then 100,000 prototype photos, more than 50,000 modeling, prototype and historical society magazines and more then 5,000 books the Kalmbach Library is a great resource for hobbyists of prototype railroading.

A few resources that the NMRA makes available to its members include:

- Access to the Kalmbach Memorial Library, perhaps the best resource available on railroads and model railroads
- Fellowship with other modelers and a monthly magazine
- Access to Regional and National conventions
- Access to the Members' Aid Program forum, where you can discuss tribal knowledge of model trains as well as the Data Sheets for existing train specifications

Are you looking for more information about building and operating a model railroad? The Model Railroader website offers many helpful tips and ideas for getting started with your model railway, building scenery, landscaping and plenty of other information.

Visit http://www.themodelrailroader.com to get your free copy of our special course "Model Railroad Design Secrets".

Home Made Model Railroad Scenery

If you want to learn about making scenery for your model train layouts, you need to look in on the scratch building section of the model train forum.

 

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Electronic Model Railroad Scenery: Make Your Railroad Complete
By Dave Faulkner

Anybody that has a model railroad will know just how exciting it can be to actually maintain it and use it. However, without one thing, the railroad would not be half as much fun! The scenery that is placed around the train tracks is often quite simply breathtaking, especially if it is highly detailed and very lifelike. Of course then you have your electronic model railroad scenery, which just takes it to the next level.

Electronic model railroad scenery is extremely popular with the railroad modelling fanatics. Of course, the trains and the tracks are both electronic but the electronic model railroad scenery simply blows the trains out of the water! There are model figures, tunnels and buildings for individuals to use at their own discretion to enhance the trains and tracks immensely as well as give you the feeling that you really are there with them! Obviously, all of the electronic model railroad scenery is scaled down to size, although they are made to represent all full sized features accurately. This is a practice well honed by architects, movie directors and other similar individuals that want to create an accurate representation of what their eventual structures would look like.

Model railroading became popular in the 1960s, but back then it was literally just the trains and tracks. Electronic model railroad scenery was not as popular then and would rarely be found on an enthusiast’s track! However, as it was gradually introduced later, it caught the imagination of children and adults alike because it made the tracks look more realistic and sent their imaginations running wild! It is till extremely popular now, all these years on, as a result of the electronic model railroad scenery. As a result of technological innovations, it just keeps getting better and better.

Electronic model railroad scenery can be bought for all shapes and sizes of track, from the minute to the quite realistic and an eight life sizes ones that you find in major toy stores. The latter is the biggest you can possibly get and is commonly called the G scale amongst enthusiasts. No matter what size your particular model railroad, I guarantee that there is electronic model railroad scenery out there for you! It can work out expensive though if you buy it all at once and fail to effectively shop around first!

Electronic model railroad scenery has captured the hearts and minds of many individuals over the years and will continue to do so well into the future. The models are simply gorgeous, whatever scale you have them on. You can let your imagination run riot and really experience the railroad, which is what it is all about!

You can also find more information at Model Railroad Supplies and Model Railroad Track . Modelrailroadshelp.com is a comprehensive resource to know more about model rail roads.

on30 Scale

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Model Train Scales
By Jason A. Martin

When you get into model railroading, you quickly learn about model train scales. Every model train that is produced has a scale letter associated with it, such as: HO, O and so forth. The scale lets you know how true to life it is and more importantly, the physical size of the train itself. The scale refers to the size in comparison with the real thing. For example, 1:220 means the real version of the model train is 220 times larger. If you are a newcomer to model trains, the amount of space will be the first factor in determining which scale to go with. For the hardcore model railroader, mixing scales is a great joy when space permits. Let’s take a look at some of the model train scales and minimum space requirements.

Z Scale trains are 1:220, which means they are very small. I call these “cute” trains and they are perfect for those with an extremely limited space. As with any scale, you can expand the layout as large as you want to go.

Next up is the N Scale, which is 1:160. N scale trains are semi-popular and are great if you want your focus to be on your layout and not the train itself. They are small as well, so you can fit these trains into minimal space.

HO Scale model trains are 1:87 and the most popular scale of model train with model railroaders. They offer a good level of detail and allow you to fit a nice size track into an average size space. I like HO scale trains because they blend in great with any type scenery and you get a good balance as a result.

The O Scales, my favorite, are 1:48 and very popular as well. Lionel has been making great O scale model trains for many decades. These model trains are larger and require a good amount of space for a proper layout. It is possible to setup a small oval track in about a 5-foot by 5-foot area. Although the track will seem small because of the train’s size, it is better than nothing. If your layout is smaller, the O scale train will dominate the view.

There are a couple other scales, such as S and G, but these are the main ones I choose to discuss in this article. Only you can decide which scale is right for you. Some, with limited space, prefer the O scale model trains, even though they dominate the layout, because of their detail and size. O scale trains are “meatier” and are really great for pacifying the children.

All trains have a variance in quality so one scale is not necessarily more expensive than another. Although, I have found O scale model life to be a little bit pricier. You really can’t go wrong with model railroading. It is highly rewarding and wholesome. In the end, you might find yourself collecting model trains across the entire scale spectrum. Get out there and ride the rails!

Jason A. Martin is a model railroading enthusiast. You can read more about Model Trains at TrainTraffic.com.

Model Train Power

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Powering Your Model Trains By John Vanse

Of the early model trains made primarily for the toy market, most were powered by clockwork. Actual control of the model trains was only possible by means of levers on the locomotive itself, which enabled the operator to make the train stop, to go, and, in many models, to reverse.

Although this made control of your model train rather crude, the models were sufficiently large and robust enough that grabbing the controls on the locomotive as they ran around the track, was quite practical. Some accessory manufacturers also developed special tracks fitted with slowing and stopping devices which triggered levers on the locomotive thus automating these aspects of control.

The early electrically operated model trains used a three-rail system with the wheels resting on metal tracks with metal sleepers that conducted power and a separate middle rail. This middle rail provided the power for the train through a skid under the locomotive. This form of model train control was only possible because most of the materials used in manufacturing the model trains were metal at that time as the plastics used in some present day manufacture were still many years away. This all-metal manufacture meant that the tracks and locomotive readily conducted electricity.

When manufacturers began to develop more accurately detailed model trains, accuracy in all the associated accessories also became more important as an increasing number of makers attempted to gain share of the rapidly growing market of model train enthusiasts.

As a result of this, some model train systems adopted two-rail power where the wheels were isolated from each other and the two rails carried the positive and negative supply or the two sides of the power supply. Other model train systems used instead a row of small metal studs to replace the central rail, allowing existing three-rail models to use tracks which resembled the more realistic two-rail systems which were coming into widespread use.

Today the most common control method uses DC [Direct current] power with the positive and negative charges on the two rails. Some model systems however use AC power [Alternating current as used in your general household devices] on the three-rail system. Marklin and Lionel are examples of this control method. American Flyer is yet another exception, using AC power on a two-rail track.

The very earliest electric model trains ran on battery power as few homes were wired for electric power in the late 19th or early 20th Century. It is interesting that inexpensive model train sets running on battery power are becoming more common once again. But most model train operators regard these as toys and they are seldom used by real enthusiasts. These battery powered model trains can make a valuable contribution however to this absorbing hobby. They can introduce young children to the joys and pleasures of being a model train operator. Many of the older model train enthusiasts today recall that their first experiences with model trains were with toy trains given to them as presents and which became the delightful beginnings of a lifetime hobby.

Many garden railway and larger scale model train systems still use battery power today. This is necessary because of the difficulty in obtaining a reliable power supply through the rails located outdoors where safe wiring and insulation can be a problem. The high level of power consumption and the subsequent high current drawn by large scale garden model trains is thus more easily and more safely met by using lead acid batteries, like those used in modern cars.

John Vanse has two websites for model train enthusiasts:
The Model Train Guide
Scale Model Trains

Toy Trains

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Toy Trains vs Model Trains - What's the Difference?By B. Murphy For people who aren't involved in the model railroading hobby, there's really no difference between "toy" trains and "model" trains. After all, both hobbies involve small trains that are controlled by some sort of power pack. There is a significant difference, however, to anyone who is an enthusiast. Calling a model railroad a "toy train" is like calling a classic piece of literature a "novel". Toy trains are generally marketing to children, and are the way many of us were introduced to the hobby. They tend to be quite plain looking and not based on any real-life trains. Model trains, on the other hand, are often a true art form with scale reproductions of real or potential trains and layouts (a technique known as prototyping). Some of the earliest toy trains were available in the early 19th century. They often had wind-up motors or even steam-powered locomotives and were generally made from cast iron. In the 1850's a German company named Marklin, who made dollhouse accessories, introduced a box set of a train and track to try to broaden its market to include boys as well as girls. They also made extra tracks, rolling stock and building that were available as accessories. Electric trains followed soon after, commonly believed to have been introduced by Carlisle and Finch in 1897 in the United States. The Lionel corporation revolutionized these model and they rapidly gained popularity and sophistication. Things such as lighting, ability to change direction and "real" smoke were some of the earliest realism features that were added. There was still little distinction between "toy" and "model" trains until the 1950's, however, when the modern emphasis on realism really started to take hold. Today there are various gauges of model railroads, with a vast array of accessories available. They can be controlled by computer and entire railyards can be operated exactly the way they would be in real life. Many model railroading enthusiasts spend thousands of dollar and hundreds of hours creating prototypes of actual railroad lines, both past and present. There are clubs and associations that offer resources for beginners and experienced railroaders alike. The internet has also helped to make it easier to find information on model railroading, as well as a much larger selection of trains and accessories than the average hobby store could hope to stock. Bill Murphy writes about DCC control, analog control and other model railroading topics for the Model Railroader website. Read more and sign up for our free newsletter at http://www.themodelrailroader.com