Four Battery Powered Controllers for your N or Z Scale Model Trains (and maybe HO too)
I look at four different battery-powered controllers in the video below that you can use to power your model trains. Three of the four...
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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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Stephen Strum
- Jan 10
- 1 min
A Van Down by the River
My brother-in-law jokingly asked for a van down by the river for Christmas, so I made him a simple HO-scale diorama depicting one as a ...
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Stephen Strum
- Dec 21, 2022
- 1 min
A Model Train Yule Log
I put together a video with one hour of trains running on some of the layouts I built during the past decade along with background...
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Stephen Strum
- Dec 16, 2022
- 1 min
Bachmann On30 Norman Rockwell Christmas Trolley Set
Here is a video on the Bachmann On30 Norman Rockwell Christmas Trolley Set. This is a battery powered set that has a point-to-point track...
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Stephen Strum
- Dec 3, 2022
- 1 min
Progress on the Portable N Scale Switching Layout in a Case
In the video below, see how I added some roadway areas and structure bases that have various metal brackets and washers embedded within...
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Stephen Strum
- Aug 5, 2022
- 1 min
Take a Ride on a San Francisco Cable Car
Watch the video below to take a ride on one of the San Francisco cable cars and learn a little on how they work. My family and I recently...
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Stephen Strum
- Jun 18, 2022
- 1 min
Build a Scale Model of any Location on Google Maps!
I built a scale model of a ski resort. You can do the same for any location you can find on Google Maps. Watch the new video and find out...
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Stephen Strum
- Jun 1, 2022
- 16 min
N Scale Switching Layout in a Portable Case!
This is the first post in a series on building an N scale switching layout in a portable wooden case that runs on DCC and contains a...
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Stephen Strum
- May 4, 2022
- 1 min
1’x5’ N Scale Switching Layout in a Wooden Case Sneak Preview
I’ve been working on a new N scale switching layout built into a nice wooden case that I made. Once I have the wiring finished, I’ll...
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Stephen Strum
- Feb 7, 2022
- 1 min
3x5 Layout Compilation Video
I put together a compilation video of the 3x5 N scale layout. This video combines the series into one video, with the beginnings and ends...
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Stephen Strum
- Jan 30, 2022
- 4 min
Athearn 50' PS-1 Plug Door Boxcars and a Quick 5-Minute Weathering Technique
A few months ago I had a post on some new Athearn 50' PS-1 boxcars: https://www.steves-trains.com/post/new-athearn-boxcars-and-3x5-n-scal...
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Stephen Strum
- Dec 25, 2021
- 1 min
A Tiny Winter Scene Micro Layout
I built this tiny winter scene in N scale on a serving tray (flipped upside down). Check out the video below of the tiny layout and a...
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Stephen Strum
- Dec 19, 2021
- 12 min
Building a 3.5' x 5.5' N Scale Layout Part 4: Adding trees, water features, and final details
The 3.5' by 5.5' N scale layout is finally done! Here is the 4th and final part of the construction of this layout. Ok, so when we left...
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Stephen Strum
- Oct 26, 2021
- 1 min
New Athearn Boxcars and 3x5 N Scale Layout Update
I recently posted a video on some nice Athearn 50' N scale boxcars that are now available as well as an update on the 3x5 N scale layout...
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Stephen Strum
- Sep 24, 2021
- 20 min
Building a 3.5' x 5.5' N Scale Layout Part 3: More Scenery, Structures, Signals, and Lighting
This is the long-overdue part three in a four-part series on building this three and a half by five-and-a-half-foot N scale project...
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Stephen Strum
- Aug 28, 2021
- 1 min
3x5 N Scale Layout Update
A quick update on the 3x5 N Scale Layout Project. I hope to have the full Part 3 of this 4 Part series out in a couple of weeks. I've...
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Stephen Strum
- Aug 18, 2021
- 1 min
Union Pacific Big Boy Visits Oklahoma Again on August 12, 2021
I was lucky enough to see the UP Big Boy travel through Oklahoma during October 2019. Since I enjoyed seeing the massive steam locomotive...
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Stephen Strum
- Aug 18, 2021
- 1 min
Roomettes: Cheap, Easy, and Fast Interiors for Your Structures
I recently purchased a Roomettes kit so I could add some interiors to a couple of structures on my N scale project layout. The kits are...
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Stephen Strum
- Jun 27, 2021
- 2 min
Z Stuff for Trains Signals
I recently purchased some Z Stuff for Trains track and crossing signals to use on my current project layout. I really like these, and...
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Stephen Strum
- Jun 2, 2021
- 1 min
Athearn Big Boy!
I just posted a video review of the N scale Athearn Big Boy which you can see at the bottom of the post. This is a fantastic locomotive...
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