Trains O Scale: March 2011

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Trains O Scale - Model Train Shows For April 2011

Here is the April 2010 list of the major and some minor model train shows which will happen all across the U.S. There are also swap meets and open houses hosted by local railroad clubs where you can browse around, check out trains for sale, view layouts and learn something about model railroading.

So, check out a model train show in your area. Then join me at Trains O Scale where you can learn more about getting started in building your own dream model railroad layout.

6th Annual Collis P. Huntington Model Train Show
Dunbar, West Virginia (April 1-3)

Delaware Train Show
New Castle, Delaware (April 2)

Bunker Hill Train Club Show
Ranson, West Virginia (April 2)

AMROC Model Train Show at Columbia Kids Day
Columbia, South Carolina (April 2)

Greenberg's Train & Toy Show
Edison, New Jersey (April 2-3)

Springfield Train Fair 2011
Springfield, Illinois (April 3)

Medina Model Railroad & Toy Show
Medina, Ohio (April 3)

Chicagoland Railroad Collectibles Show
Glen Ellyn, Illinois (April 3)

Norwalk & Western Railroad Spring Train & Toy Show
Milan, Ohio (April 3)

New England O Scale Train Show
Hudson, Massachusetts (April 3)

60th H&R Train Show
Pinellas Park, Florida (April 8-10)

35th Florida Rail Fair
DeLand, Florida (April 9)

Ozarks Model Railroad Association Spring Model Railroad Show
Springfield, Missouri (April 9)

9th Annual NC Railroad Expo
Hickory, North Carolina (April 9)

Great Scale Model Train Show
Timonium, Maryland (April 9-10)

Great Midwest Train Show
Wheaton, Illinois (April 10)

Spring Into Summer Train Show
North Tonawanda, New York (April 10)

Toms River Train Show
Toms River, New Jersey (April 10)

Nashua Valley Railroad Association 46th Annual Railfair 2011
Shirley, Massachusetts (April 10)

26th Annual Upper Valley Model Railroad Show
West Lebanon, New Hampshire (April 10)

49th Buckeye Train Show
Columbus, Ohio (April 16)

Regal Railways Presents Train Show & Swap Meet
Brooksville, Florida (April 16)

Western Reserve Model Railroad Museum Train Show
Mentor, Ohio (April 16-17)

Supertrain 2011
Calgary, Alberta, Canada (April 16-17)

Western Heritage Division NMRA Spring 2011 Show
Omaha, Nebraska (April 17-18)

Granite City Train Show
St. Cloud, Minnesota (April 30)

French Broad e'N'pire Spring Rails 2011
Hendersonville, North Carolina (April 30)

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Model Railway Layouts and DCC

When building model railway layouts you have the option of buying trains that use DCC (Digital Command Control). What DCC will do for you is allow multiple locomotives on the same track to move independently of each another.

Under the good old DC system two trains on the same track would move in the same direction and at the same speed, but with DCC that's a thing of the past. Not only can you control the trains speed and direction separately but you can also do the same with sound and lights.

Naturally, everything is not perfect with DCC. It's wiring is a bit more complex and it costs more especially if you want to add a bunch of options.

But if you want to have complete control of multiple locomotives on your model train layout then Digital Command Control is the way to go.

For more info visit: Railway Layouts

Sunday, March 20, 2011

An Incredible Indoor G-Scale Model Train Layout

Doug Wead is a presidential historian and was special adviser to President George H.W. Bush.

Doug Wead has authored more than 30 books.

Doug Wead is a philanthropist and organized the first Charity Awards event and co-founded Mercy Corps.

Doug Wead seems like a pretty cool guy.

So why am I writing about him? You guessed it, like Rod Stewart and countless others before him he is into model trains... Big Time.

By big time I'm not just referring to the size of his layout (which is immense) but also because he models in G-scale, the big boy of model trains.

I have never seen anything quite like his layout in terms of quality or elegance, it is simply magnificent.

Just watch the video below and enjoy.

Obviously most of us don't have the kind of money it takes to create something like this, but you can still build your own dream layout.

Check out Trains O Scale to learn how it's done.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Stopping Derailments in Model Train Layouts

It doesn't matter if you are an expert or a beginner at building model train layouts because sooner or later you are going to have a derailment or two, or three.....

There is nothing more frustrating than running your trains on your beautiful layout and having them derail (especially in front of friends).
So you ignore your friends and begin checking your layout to find out what's wrong. Eventually you find the cause of the derailment and fix it. You run your trains again and say "hallelujah" as your train passes over the problem spot without derailing.

But now it really gets annoying because a week later you run your trains again and they derail again... but in a different spot.

"Pass me the sledgehammer please."

Maybe that's a little too drastic, especially when you consider all the time and money that went into your layout. However, when your trains are not operating properly the fun is gone and the dark side tries to take over, but you can keep the dark side away by practicing a little bit of maintenance and following a few simple steps.

Check out the 8 steps for avoiding train derailments at: Model Train Layouts

Friday, March 11, 2011

A Model Train Will Improve Your Life

Finally there is irrefutable proof that model railroading will have a positive impact on the quality of your life... if you believe the video.

Just thought I'd share this entertaining short video with you. FYI, it hasn't worked out as well for me as for the guy in the clip.

Why not visit Trains O Scale after the video to learn all about model trains.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Choosing a Theme for Model Train Layouts

Model train layouts need a theme in order to tell the story of your display.

The theme will dictate the type of trains you run, what their function is, what the scenery, vehicles and figures will look like as well as the era you want to model after.

When choosing an era, it’s vital that the scenery around the layout matches the period. For example, the people, buildings and vehicles in the display must be accurate representations of the time frame you are trying to recreate.

There are a lot of factors that need to be taken into consideration when choosing a theme. Check out my article for more information: Model Train Layouts.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Trains O Scale - Model Train Shows For March 2011

Here are some train shows which will take place all across the U.S. in March. Many local railroad clubs also have open houses and meets where you can view layouts and learn about model railroading.

Why don’t you check out a model train show then come visit me at Trains O Scale to learn more about how to get started with building your own layout.

MARCH 2011

Maryland Steam Historical Society Train Show
Arcadia, Maryland (March 5)

TCA Great Lakes Division Train Show
Parma, Ohio (March 5)

Space Coast Train & Toy Show
Melbourne, Florida (March 5)

Greenberg's Train & Toy Show
Oaks, Pennsylvania (March 5-6)

The Great Train Expo
Columbus, Ohio (March 5-6)

High Wheeler Train Show
Palatine, Illinois (March 5-6)

Jersey Central Chapter NRHS Train Show
Clark, New Jersey (March 6)

Chicago O Scale Meet
Lombard, Illinois (March 11-13)

Columbia Model Train Show
Columbia, South Carolina (March 12)

Greenberg's Train & Toy Show
Rochester, New York (March 12-13)

The Great Train Expo
Wichita, Kansas (March 12-13)