Hi, and Welcome to My Website
About Model Railroads.

My goal is to help you build a better,
more satisfying model railroad

Webmaster Bill Hambly rainfanning
at Revelstoke, British Columbia museum

If you're already a model railroader, beginner to old-hand, you know that information about model railroads covers many subjects; architecture, history, geography, geology, woodworking, plasters, painting, crafts, electricity, electronics, computers, photography, railfanning, travel ... and I haven't even mentioned the word "trains"!

I personally feel it's unfortunate that model railroading has become mainly a hobby for adults and retirees. Perhaps it's because we have nostalgic memories of steam engines and railroads played a bigger part in our lives. Or maybe it's because we have developed more patience and don't mind puttering at some task for hours, traits that are sadly lacking in many young people. Of course, we don't encourage youngsters to play with our highly prized models and equipment for fear of them being wrecked.

I say it is unfortunate because there's nothing like learning from practice and empirical study compared to studying from a school book. For example, I never understood algebra and geometry in school. It all started to make sense when I had to plan grades and track curvatures and learn to read electronic schematics in order to build the latest pulse-power, momentum power pack some clever railroader published in Model Railroader or Railroad Model Craftsman. Along the way I learned to put up studs and cantilevered benchwork, how to drywall, install lighting and even fix a toilet. That's when I was building the "flushing tunnels" through two feet of rubble masonry in a century-old home in Montreal. I had to break through the walls to get from one room to another, over a toilet that was in the way. We model railroaders will attempt anything.

Utopia Downtown

So we may wander a little from the core subject of model railroading tips and techniques as we take our journey together.

I'll try to keep it all organized to make it easy to find what you're searching for and I'll have a place where you can add your good ideas to mine.

I started building this website in September, 2008. I plan to keep adding to it as time permits. I have been fortunate over the years of being associated with many fine modellers who have taught me many techniques. I'm still learning. Also my collection of railroad magazines goes back to the 1950s. I'll be digging back into my archives to find items that interested me in the past and may be of help to you in building your own layout.

All aboard. Let's have some fun together.

• Be sure to check out the Photo and Video Galleries
• The Navigation Bar on the left is your Quick Link to subjects
• The Sitemap can always help you find pages within subjects
• Sign up for RSS. It's anonymous and will let you know when I add or change information
• Bookmark my site in your Favorites. Visit often. There's always something new.
• Support our advertisers. It's the best way to keep our hobby healthy
• Be sure to check out Site Build It (SBI). You can get there easily by clicking on "Powered by Site Bulld It" at the bottom of this page. You may have an idea for a website (even if it has nothing to do with trains). SBI makes it easy and fun.

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