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Model Railroading in Small Spaces
My focus is on building small and portable model railroads, usually in N scale. Come explore some of my recent projects.
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Kato Pacific Surfliner
It’s finally here! The Kato N Scale Pacific Surfliner! This is a beautiful new N scale passenger set from Kato. Note that the set does...

Stephen Strum
Mar 41 min read
206
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Kato NW2 Locomotives…Good and Bad?
A look at the two Kato NW2 locomotives that just arrived. One runs amazing and one is very loud. What is going on? Apparently something...

Stephen Strum
Jan 71 min read
510
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Kato Christmas Train!
A look at the little Kato Christmas Train! This tiny train can run on Kato’s compact 4.5” and 6” radius curve track. So, if you want to...

Stephen Strum
Dec 17, 20241 min read
395
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N Scale Christmas Train Set!
A look at Micro Trains 2024 Christmas train set. A great locomotive and passenger car set decorated in a Christmas theme for the holiday...

Stephen Strum
Dec 10, 20241 min read
338
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New Layout Project: The Helix Layout
I’m starting a new simple layout project that is based on a double helix kit from Precision Model Railroad. I plan to build the double...

Stephen Strum
Nov 12, 20241 min read
646
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How to Build a 1'x5' N Scale Switching Layout from Start to Finish
This compilation video shows how I built a 1’x5’ N scale switching layout in a wooden case. This layout was built over a couple of years...

Stephen Strum
Nov 5, 20241 min read
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How I Finished the N Scale Switching Layout
A look at how I installed the structures, ballasted and weathered the track, completed the scenery, and added the layout details to the...

Stephen Strum
Oct 22, 20241 min read
280
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A Quick Look at the Completed 1x5 N Scale Layout
A quick overview of the completed 1’x5’ N scale switching layout. The final structures are in place, the track is ballasted, ground foam...

Stephen Strum
Oct 8, 20241 min read
405
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Track Plans (Mostly N Scale)
An ongoing blog post with track plans that I will add to over time. I'll try to get the track plans for layouts I've actually built here...

Stephen Strum
Sep 5, 202428 min read
138,983
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More Structures for the N Scale Switching Layout
I've completed four more structures for the N scale switching layout including one with a rail door that opens. The layout is nearly done...

Stephen Strum
Sep 3, 20241 min read
304
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More Door Layout Ideas
I'm still working on ideas for a 36"x80" N scale layout that I plan to start building next year. Previously I've been playing around with...

Stephen Strum
Aug 27, 20242 min read
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Easy Custom Structures
In this week's video I show how I used modular structure elements to create a custom structure for my small N scale switching layout. I...

Stephen Strum
Jul 30, 20241 min read
306
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Ideas for an N Scale Layout on a Door
I’m considering building an N scale model railroad on a hollow core door sometime next year as one of my future projects. Here are some...

Stephen Strum
Jul 16, 20241 min read
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Running Trains One Last Time
A collection of the final video and photos I took of the 2’x4’ N scale layout before packing it up in a shipping crate and sending it off...

Stephen Strum
Jun 7, 20241 min read
502
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Atlas N Scale GP15 with a TCS Keep Alive Capacitor!
I picked up a DC versio of an Atlas GP15 and then added a TCS drop in decoder along with one of their small Keep Alive capacitors and...

Stephen Strum
May 28, 20241 min read
249
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Operating Session on the 2’x4’ N Scale Layout
A look at an operating session with a switch list on the 2’x4’ N Scale project layout. This was a simple operating session that only took...

Stephen Strum
May 21, 20241 min read
381
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Building a 2'x4' N Scale Layout from Start to Finish
The video at the bottom of the post is a compilation of the many-part tutorial series on building this 2'x4' N scale layout. I've...

Stephen Strum
Apr 2, 20242 min read
3,731
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The 2'x4' N Scale Layout is Done
The 2x4 foot N scale project layout is finally done*. See all the new additions to the layout in this video along with some trains...

Stephen Strum
Mar 19, 20241 min read
555
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Top Level Done! Adding Details
The removable top level of the 2’x4’ N scale model railroad project is complete! I added catenary poles, street lights, road striping,...

Stephen Strum
Feb 6, 20246 min read
193
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Battery Powered Controller for the Top Level of the 2’x4’ N Scale Layout
I added a Blue Line Snail controller to the top level of the 2x4 N scale model railroad and supplied power to it with a 9V battery. This...

Stephen Strum
Jan 30, 20241 min read
310
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