Rail :: Transportation and Logistics
Railfans :: Railroad

Kids and model railroading

Safety Suggestions for Children
J&S RR Fri, 22 May 2009 19:49:49 -0000
     I am currently involved with HO Scale modeling as a family project.  I have found that this hobby has really enhanced "family time" and brought us all closer together. My main partner is my fiance's little girl (Skyler) who is 6 yrs old.  I am very suprised at the level of accuracy such a young child has to details in general.  The best example I have is scratchbuilding trees.  I have difficulty in identifying the trees I have built and painted compared to the ones she has built (I actually have to mark them to see who made what).  Needless to say I am very proud of the talent and patience shown by such a young child.       The main purpose of this thread is to discuss the more subtle safety precautions involved with HO scale modelling.  Obviously, all benchwork will be conducted by me, so no powertools for Skyler yet.  I want very much to keep her interested in this hobby and make it as fun as possible, as it affords so many ways to enhance being a family.    Any suggestions are welcome and appreciated.
Introducing young ones to the hobby
Phoebe Vet Fri, 08 May 2009 20:34:05 -0000
I started my grandchildren by buying Bachmann's Thomas the Tank Engine in HO.  Later I added Hogwart's Express.  Now they prefer the REAL trains.
Thomas Mad Bomber 'widescreen' & extra scenes
rollingstockvid Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:55:14 -0000
Please enjoy a very reworked Mad Bomber, now in 16:9 wide screen, new music, new character with extra scenes linking onto the second episode. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6F6ckqYfg9A&feature=channel_page Thank you.
episode VI
Gino Tue, 24 Mar 2009 23:45:53 -0000
This one is a little more low key, because Michael is really mellow.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVJoxIJYEaA
Looking for a good, short, inexpensive HO steam switcher.
HolbrookBill Thu, 12 Mar 2009 02:10:23 -0000
My eight year old son and I attended the local train show last weekend and when we got home he pulled out all my old train stuff. We found a small place in his room to put up a 2' x 4' switching layout and I've got the board together and even have some track in place.  The biggest problem, though, is that with the track plan we have, there's not a lot of room for cars and an engine on the sidings. I have a 70's Mantua 0-4-0 tank switcher that would be the perfect engine for switching this track IF it ran well ( and it NEVER ran well as a switcher ). Even an 0-4-0 with a tender is a little too long for this layout. I'm looking for something similar in size, and it HAS to be a steam engine ( so my son says ). Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can use? I'd like to keep costs down, but I'm willing to pay a little more for quality... It also needs to be pretty smooth, since I know that if the engine is jerky and/or too fast that he'll lose interest.  THANKS!  
2yr Old w/train addiction
HEdward Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:38:48 -0000
Every chance he gets, Kevin lines up his toy cars, trucks, and whatever he has that has wheels, into a train.  If I go to the basement, both boys follow and insist that I run the train.  The poor old Marx engine has had more miles put on it this year than in it's prior history.  If they wander off to do other things, I'm still not allowed to shut off the train or they throw a fit.  At the LHS they have 3 Thomas tables near the back of the store.  In the front window there's an HO display layout.  Kevin looked in the window, locked onto the scene and resisted going around to the door to go inside.  When inside, he gave us a hard time getting him away from the layout.  finally, we pried him away and took he and Eddie to the Thomas displays.  After twenty minutes while Mommy sat with them, Daddy was done shopping and it was time to go.  One would think we were torturing a dozen babies with the noise they made.  Back at the car, I let go of Kevin's hand for a second to open the door and he immediatly turned his attention to heading back to the store.  Good thing I've got long arms. 

 

Subscribe to Trains_and_Railroads RSS feed

Eastern Railroad - The Unofficial Web Page.

Information on Railroads - Information, news, modeling details on trains, railroads, locomotives, maps and info on shortline railroads.

Josh Lubchansky's Train Photography - Pictures of various freight and passenger railroads throughout the United States.
Meta Description: [ Railroad and train photography by jeff and josh lubchansky including amtrak, conrail. ns, csx and more ]

'railways online' - UK railway news including photos and information about companies ticketing and infrastructure.
Meta Description: [ The number one site for railway information, news and photos. Includes pictures and information about multiple units and locomotives, as well as the latest railway news and information on a wide range of subjects ]

A Lehigh and Hudson River Railway Scrapbook - Information, photos, and articles relating to the railroad's past and present.

A look at Sydney's past, Australia's present, the World's future. - This site covers New South Wales steamtrains, general history, humour, electronics, sci-fi and Australian politics.
Meta Description: [ A look at living, in Australia, back in the Steam-Train age, with train recordings, photos, a look at modern politics, humour, astrophotography, electronics and Sci-Fi. ]

404 Abbey Light Railway Movies - Movies, originally on 8mm, of the Abbey Light Railway. This is a 2ft (600mm) gauge railway at Kirkstall Abbey near Leeds in West Yorkshire in the UK. Runs every Sunday most of the year.

Alec's Rail Pages - Information about preserved lines in the UK, rail tours and the ex-LMS speed signalling system.

Bill Wood's Train Pages - Travel stories and photos of South Africa, the New Old Colony, Sri Lanka, Quebec and central Labrador.

British Railway Signalling - Railway Signalling in the United Kingdom.

British Railway Signalling pages - A collection of railway signalling and track layout photos, principally of mainline British railways.

Buckinghamshire's Railways - Information about the railways of South Buckinghamshire UK.
Meta Description: [ Railways of Buckinghamshire and Chilterns - the routes and their history ]

Caledonian Railways - The Caledonian Railway - Past, Present and Imaginary.
Meta Description: [ CaleyRail - The Caledonian Railway and railways in general ]

404 Canadian Train Photographs - Photographs of Canadian trains and information covering the period 1972 to the present.

CarrTracks - has Santa Fe, Burlington Northern, Union Pacific, Southern Pacific, train symbol schedule history and photographs
Meta Description: [ The CarrTracks web site has western railroad train symbol schedule information, photographs, and videos. ]

China Rail by Allen Zagel - An unofficial site promoting China Railways. Photos, maps and information.
Meta Description: [ China Rail,trains,railways,bus,trolley bus,subway ]

Choo Choo - Train graphics, animations, clipart, pictures, and links to other train sites.
Meta Description: [ animations; clip art and pictures of trains and images relating to train or train travel ]

Climax 1694 Restoration - News and updates on the restoration of Climax locomotive 1694 at the Puffing Billy Railway, Melbourne Australia
Meta Description: [ Climax 1694 Restoration Project and Locomotive Information, News, Updates and Fundraising, Climax Restoraton Committee ]

500 Dadaw's Scrapbook - Collectors' rail pass scrapbook

David Jones Jr Pueblo Rail Fan - Pueblo railroad history. D RG railroad history. Photos and links.
Meta Description: [ pueblo railroads ]

Eagle Lake, Texas Depot - History and restoration of the former Gulf, Colorado Santa Fe depot in Eagle Lake, Texas. Also included is a brief history of the predecssor Cane Belt Railroad.

Erik's Rail News - Searchable archive, press releases and other information from over 60 organisations.

European Branchline Railways - Information and pictures from European railways.
Meta Description: [ Research, Bayesian Belief Networks, Systems Engineering, Safety, railways, bus preservation, Bristol RE ]

Existing Railroad Stations in New York State - Devoted to the classic railroad stations still standing in New York State.
Meta Description: [ A Web site devoted to the classic railroad stations still standing in New York State. ]

Fallen Flag Railroad Photos - Photos of a large amount of railroads around the country. Also includes information, rosters, and facts about each railroad.

Finally! a website for Railfans' Significant Others! - Told from the perspective of a railfan's girlfriend, this site attempts to document, explain, and understand the idiosyncrasies of the railfan.
Meta Description: [ Told from the perspective of a girlfriend, this site attempts to document and understand the idiosyncrasies of the railfan. First ever-- Railfan Significant Others' (RSO) Support Group... ]

Frederic Delaitre Railway Pages - Reference pages on world railways with emphasize on lost subways, forgotten tunnels, strange railways, narrow gauge and railway modelling.

404 Gordon Rushton's Train Gallery - Pictures of steam diesel electric locomotives from around the world. Narrow gauge and preserved locomotives.

Grizzly Flats Railroad - Information about Walt Disney's Animator Ward Kimball, Firehouse five plus 2, and railroading.
Meta Description: [ This page is about Ward Kimball's Grizzly Flats Railroad. ]

Harmans Cross Railway Station - Preserved railway station on Swanage Railway in Dorset. Current activities and photographs.
Meta Description: [ Railway Preservation Group ]

Indian Railways Videos. - Jay Balakrishna's collection of Indian Railways Videos. Downloadable videos of Diesel(ALCo) and Electric traction of passenger trains shot in and around Bangalore and Mysore, India.
Meta Description: [ Jay Balakrishna's collection of Indian Railways Videos available for download. Features videos of passenger trains hauled by Diesel(ALCo) and AC Electric Locomotives shot in and around Bangalore, India. ]

500 Iranian Railways - Timetables and service information for the Iranian Railways-unofficial
Meta Description: [ Rah_ahan_Iran ]

John Fryar's Nickel Plate Road - The New York, Chicago, and St. Louis Railroad Company - the Nickel Plate Road. Articles, pictures, and links.
Meta Description: [ Tribute to the New York, Chicago, & St. Louis Railroad - the NKP. Nickel Plate Railroad information and pictures. Train show dates and info. Numerous links to railroad web sites. ]

JST's Railroad page - Pictures and reports of railroad museums, museum trains, and steam trains in Germany, The Netherlands, Austria, and Slovenia.
Meta Description: [ Bildeberichte von Eisenbahnmuseen, Museumsbahnen und Nostalgiefahrten in Österreich, Deutschland, Italien, Schweiz, Niederlande, Slovkei, Slovenien, Kroatien, Ungarn, Polen. Pictures of railroad Museums and steam trips ]

Lackawanna Railroad Site - Information about current passenger railroads, as well as railroads of the past with pictures, mostly taken in New Jersey.

Light Iron Digest - Pertinent information for the narrow gauge, shortline, industrial rail enthusiast.
Meta Description: [ Magazine for the Narrow Gauge, Shortline and Industrial Railroad Enthusiast. ]

LMS Jubilees - Information about LMS Jubilee locomotives, with technical descriptions and photographs.
Meta Description: [ A site dedicated to LMS Jubilee locomotives, with decriptions and photographs. ]

Mallets in the Tall Timber - Dedicated to the history of Mallet type steam locomotives built by Baldwin for use on logging railroads.

Monon Railroad - Includes maps, photographs, articles, and historical information about the Hoosier Line in Indiana.
Meta Description: [ Monon Railroad Historical Information, __DESCRIPTION__ ]

Mooters - A look at commuting, written for commuters by commuters who got away in time to write.
Meta Description: [ A hilarious look at commuting, written for commuters by commuters who got away in time to write. ]

Nariz Del Diablo - A visit through Ecuador with the train that passes to the marvellous 'Nariz Del Diablo'.
Meta Description: [ voyage en train a travers l'equateur avec passage par la nariz del diablo ]

narrow gauge locomotives (Moës and Windhoff) - Information about two narrow gauge diesel locomotives.

ne - Details of international travel routes using rail and sea, including ticketing and timetable information.
Meta Description: [ How to travel by train and ship from the UK to Europe and beyond... Train times, fares, and how to buy your ticket. ]

Network SouthEast Page - Network SouthEast was a sector of the former British Rail. Contains facts figures and a picture gallery.

New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut Rail Page - Provides information and photographs related to railroading in the New York area.

New York and Atlantic Railway - Courtesy home page for the New York and Atlantic Railway, lessor of freight operations and properties of the Long Island Rail road.

Niagara Railways - Covering the Niagara Region of Ontario and surrounding areas. Includes news articles, track maps, large photo library, links, train gifs, and spotter's guide.
Meta Description: [ Covering the Niagara Region of Ontario and surrounding areas. Large photo library, Train Gifs, Photo Maps, local information, links, and much more. ]

Norfolk Southern Railway - Information and pictures of the Norfolk Southern Railway which became part of the Southern Railway in 1974.

North American Train Travel - Articles on train travel in the United States and Canada.
Meta Description: [ ,My articles will focus on train travel in the United States and Canada (and eventually internationally, I hope). I will include tourist train jaunts (eg dinner trains, short runs), destinations which can be reached by train and practical information about optimizing the long distance train trav... ]

500 Northwest Railscan Live Streaming Audio from Eugene, OR - Live railroad action from Eugene, OR. Listen to Union Pacific, Central Oregon Pacific and Portland Western.

O's Piedmont Subdivision - Chronicles the history and development of the Piedmont Subdivision of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway in Central Virginia; includes photos, maps, and modeling information.
Meta Description: [ The Piedmont Sub was the oldest section of the C&O: it was chartered as the Louisa Railroad in 1836. This site is intended to chronicle the history and development of the Piedmont Sub. Each town has its own page with photos and maps. ]

OhioRails - Railroad operations in Ohio. Includes photos, links, audio recordings and timetables.

OldNYC - Features various photo tours of areas in the New York City area. Includes several old railroad route walking tours.

Pennsylvania Railroad Pass Collection 1912 to 1956 - Site displays clickable Pennsylvania Railroad pass collection of former PRR head clerk George Markle, Renovo, Pa.
Meta Description: [ This site is dedicated to historical railroad passes issued by the Pennsylvania Railroad. Featured is a clickable collection of Pennsylvania Railroad passes from 1912 to 1956. These passes were issued to G. Markle, a clerk and retired-clerk working out of Renovo, Pennsylvania. ]

Rail Around Birmingham - Railways in and around Birmingham and the West Midlands, past and present. All disused and operational railway stations and lines are covered in detail.
Meta Description: [ Rail Around Birmingham takes a look at the changing face of the railway in and around Birmingham and the West Midlands, past and present. All disused and operational railway stations and lines are covered in detail with both historical and contemporary maps provided, photographs of the present... ]

Railroading in the North East - Railroad Photos organized by engine model, specializing in Northeast Pennsylvania.
Meta Description: [ Railroad Photos organized by Engine Model, specializing in NE Pennsylvania ]

Railway History Home Page - Includes facts and stories about railways, trains, locomotives and the engineers, who built and ran them.

Railway Page for Norway - Unofficial Norwegian Rail information and links in English.

Rob Armstrong's Rail Industry Pages - Business and technical links compiled and regularly updated by a UK-based consultant.

Rod's Railroads - Photos, timetables, and articles about the Erie-Lackawanna Railroad.

Royal Hudson - Information and photos of steam journey between North Vancouver and Squamish.
Meta Description: [ Everything you ever wanted to know about the Royal Hudson Steam Train. Photos, specifications, history, roster, excursion information. ]

Run 8 - Railfanning the Seattle and Puget Sound area, with maps and travel advice. Current railroad photos, historical railroad information.

SCR The Cranleigh Branch Line - Discussing restoration of the Branch line between Slinfold, Rudgwick, Baynards,Cranleigh and Bramley on the former London, Brighton and South Coast Railway.

Stan's Railpix - A rail photo gallery of hundreds of original images, with most taken in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area.

Steam on the CLC in Liverpool 1948-68 - Database, photos, and information relating to steam on the former CLC lines in the Liverpool area.

Steam Safari - A series of railway adventures on the preserved steam railroads of Europe and North America, including the Bluebell, the Talyllyn, the Ffestiniog, the East Broad Top, and the Strasburg.
Meta Description: [ A series of railway adventures on the preserved steam railroads of Europe and North America, including the Talyllyn, the Ffestiniog, the East Broad Top, and the Strasburg. ]

Steam Tales - The aim of Seam Tales is to record, for present and future enthusiasts, as many stories as possible from the great age of steam to the present.
Meta Description: [ If you worked on the railways, steam shipping or any other steam industry, anywhere around the world, or you know someone who has, and have a similar tale to tell that you would like to share with the world of steam enthusiasts, please send your story for inclusion. ]

Steamlocomotive dot Com - Lists of surviving US steam locomotives, photos and railfairs. Java applet to design your own steam locomotive.
Meta Description: [ North American Steam Locomotive Information ]

Swedish Railways (SJ) - Personal site with links to SJ and other Swedish transport related information.

The Fairmont Help Line - The history, some technical advice, operational pictures and sources for the Fairmont Railway Motors, motor section/gang cars in Australia.

The Mastrou Steam train - French steam railwa in Vivarais, Ardeche.

The Section Car Page - Information about some of the different section cars run in Australia.

The Thompson B1 website - Listing information concerning the Thompson B1 Steam locomotive 61264. Details of its past and future activities, and tours.

The Train Club - Commuting by train in England's North West. Never a dull moment.

Touring the Kettle Valley Railroad - A pictorial tour of the abandoned Kettle Valley Railroad which runs through Southern British Columbia, Canada.
Meta Description: [ A photographic tour of the Historic Kettle Valley Railroad in Beautiful British Columbia Canada ]

ToyTrains1's Train Pages - Dedicated to railroading, both real and model. Lots of photos of trains, both the models and the prototypes.

Train Gifs - These little trains scroll across your screen. With real-looking effects and great backgrounds.
Meta Description: [ Train Gifs scene/Layer Contest Entry w/five changing background - Traingifsstation ]

TrainBlog - News and opinions about train-related topics.
Meta Description: [ >TrainBlog by Marcel Marchon - Blogging about passenger trains, railroads, transit, public transportation, passenger rail advocacy and related politics. ]

Trains, ferries, buses - Photos of steam and diesel trains on heritage lines and the mainline, some going back 30 years. Also photos of buses of the 50's and 60's and Channel ferries.
Meta Description: [ Photos of steam trains, heritage and mainline diesel trains, buses of the 60's, Channel and other ferries. ]

Western Connecticut Railroads - Information about railroading in the Western Connecticut area including videos, historical images and present day chase pictures. Also pictures from the Strates Shows train and an open forum for messages.
Meta Description: [ News Western Connecticut Railroads ]

Wickhams in Australia and New Zealand - A history of D Wickham of Ware trolleys and section cars found in Australia and New Zealand.

Williams Grove Steam Locomotive PRR #643 - Photos of Williams Grove Historic Steam Engine Association's steam traction engines and Pennsylvania Railroad Locomotive # 643, a 100-year-old engine built in the PRR Altoona shops.

Wizzle on Rails - Travelogues, pictures and hints for rail travel on Amtrak and tourist lines. Specializing in the west coast.