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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 13, 20233 min read
Exciting New 2’x4’ N Scale Project Layout!
I'm starting work on a few new N scale project layouts, the largest being 2x4 feet. While still small, this layout will feature four...
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Stephen Strum
Dec 3, 20221 min read
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
Jun 1, 202216 min read
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, 20221 min read
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, 20221 min read
3x5 Layout Build From Start to Finish
There are four main blog posts for this layout going over the entire construction process. Part 1 Benchwork: https://www.steves-trains.co...
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Stephen Strum
Jan 30, 20224 min read
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, 20211 min read
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, 202112 min read
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, 20211 min read
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, 202120 min read
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 27, 20211 min read
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, 20211 min read
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 2, 20211 min read
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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Stephen Strum
May 25, 20212 min read
Athearn N Scale Airslide Hopper Cars
Athearn recently sent me three of their new 2600 cubic foot Airslide covered hopper cars to take a look at. One was a GATX modeled after...
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Stephen Strum
Apr 3, 202115 min read
Building a 3.5' x 5.5' N Scale Layout Part 2: Track and Wiring
A lot has been completed on the layout and will be covered in this post (once I have all of it finished in a week or two): All track has...
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Stephen Strum
Feb 23, 202110 min read
Building a 3.5' x 5.5' N Scale Layout Part 1: Benchwork and Base Scenery
Ok, so this new 3.5" by 5.5" foot N scale project layout you can see here features a double track, twice around design. The size of this...
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Stephen Strum
Jan 21, 20213 min read
Athearn 53' Bulkhead Flatcars and How to Make Easy Lumber Loads
In this post, we are going to take a look at the Athearn 53' bulkhead flatcars in N scale as well as an easy and basically free way to...
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Stephen Strum
Jan 12, 20214 min read
The Executive Switching Layout
A very simple, easy to build, and fun to operate, N scale Inglnook switching layout that you can put together with about an hour of work....
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Stephen Strum
Oct 23, 202013 min read
Colorado Loop Layout Build
A 2x3' N Scale Mountain Layout Ok, so this project started back in the spring as part of a simultaneous build of four layout projects....
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Stephen Strum
Oct 15, 20201 min read
Colorado Loop: a 2x3 Foot N Scale Layout Preview
A preview of a small mountain-themed N scale model railroad layout. I've completed another small N Scale layout project. This layout is...
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