Railroad Links

Modeling reference sites:

Gateway NMRA - An excellent site with articles on a variety of topics:
  - Guides to Operations
  - DCC pages, including how to install decoders
  - Computers - how to use them in Model Railroading
  - Scenery, track & layout, yards, electronics, Prototype
  - Downloadable Vintage signs, Backdrops and Building Interiors
  And more!

Modeling Clinics on the White River and Northern Model Railroad
  - some subtly cool (and awe inspiring) animation projects
  - An N scale operating Hi-Rail pickup truck
  - Other articles on
     > lighting
     > weathering
     > painting
     > track laying
     > photography
     > and more

Alan Gartner's Wiring for DCC - as the name implies

Marcus’ DCC for Novices - as the name implies
   - Article on adding "Stay Alive" circuitry to decoders
   - NCE System and modifications to same
   - sound and lighting
   - address for NCE Cabs
   - and numerous other articles

Loy's Toys
  - one of the best simplified explanations of how DCC works
  - a list of other DCC Topics

Tony's Trains
  - more comprehensive DCC Primer
  - Decoder comparison table
  - other comparisons

Silicon Valley Lines
  - Mark Gurries' DCC presentations

Joe Fugate's Siskiyou Line
  - Forums on various topics
    including "forum clinics," such as these on
      - Operations
      - Scenery

HOseeker.Net  HO Train Reference Site
  - Assembly & parts diagrams for many different brand trains
  - Gallery of Athearn and other make trains from 1948-1990
  - Discussion forums

Ron Paisley Model Railroad & Misc. Electronics
 - dozens of electrical circuits you can build

M L Rollins collection of electrical circuits

TrainElectronics.com
 - A small selection of microcontroller based electronic circuits to build or buy

SignMaker
A free program to create realistic looking highways signs for your layout


Free download for your MP3 player or listen on your PC:

Green Valley Line
 - Old Time Radio Program, from about 1934.
   A Story of a small railroad line at the turn of the 20th Century.
   Complete 26 episode storyline, each one about 15 minutes long.
   Has authentic railroad sounds and "talk" that makes
       it even more entertaining for train buffs.
   To download all 26 episodes in one ZIP file, click here (~78 MBytes)

Podcasts with model railroading themes (free):
Taking a trip? Want something to listen to while you exercise or commute?  Instead of music, download the content from one of these links

Model Railcast Show
 - A Model Railroad focused podcast/blog. For railroading beginners and seasoned line veterans.

The Scotty Mason Show - The Original Model Railroad Podcast
 - Monthly Podcast dating back to December 2007

The Rip Track Podcast
 - An audio show that includes segments on railroad history, news,
   model railroad tips, reviews and almost anything else that has to
   do with prototype and/or model railroading
 - The first episode was uploaded on May 2, 2009

Model Rail Radio
 - Live internet radio devoted to model railroading
 - About 2 podcasts a month, originated September 2009

Let's Talk Trains
 - An internet radio talk show all about railroads broadcast live every Saturday
 - Freight, passenger, trolleys, light rail, museums, as long as it is rail / train related, they talk about it

The KitCast
 - The Model Railroad Structure Kit Podcast
 - Discusses structure kits and only structure kits


All Points North MRR Club Member Web Sites:

Bend The Irons
  - Prototype pictures
  - C/MRI interface software
  - Model RRing Topics
  - Printed Circuit Board (PCB) projects
  - Live streaming of Houston Railroad radio


Houston Area Hobby Shops
Here are some places to go in the Houston Area for Model Railroad supplies/service

For your convenience, click here for a map showing their locations

AJ Model Trains - Specializes in Z scale, also offers mail order sales

Dynamic Hobby Shop - Opening early 2009 - Model Trains and more

G & G Model Shop - Model Trains and more.  Open since 1945 - Houston's oldest hobby shop

JMS Model Trains - Repair & Restoration Service

Larry's Hobbies - Model Trains and more

M&M Hobby Center - Model Trains and more

Mike's Hobby Shop - Model Trains and more

Papa Ben's Train Place - Exclusively Model Railroading, also home to the Houston N'Crowd Club

Richard Plantz Hobbies - Mail order sales out of Katy, TX

Spring Crossing Trains - Exclusively Model Railroading.  Custom decals and custom backdrop printing service.


Houston Area Layouts
This is a very small sampling of the layouts in the Houston area -
   they number well over 100
We've included all that we could find on the Internet

Bob Barnett's River City Union Terminal RR (HO)

Gordon Bliss's The Santa Fe/All the Way (N)

Barry Bogs' Colorado & Western (Gn3 - 1:22.5 scale)

Art Borman's C&O New River Sub (HO)

Don Bozman's The Great Great Northern (HO)

Craig Brantley's Denver & Rio Grande Western - Spring Division (O/On3)

Paul Cesak's Pagosa Creek Timber Company (On3)

Ed Dibble's Midnight & Sometimes Later Model Railroad (HO)

Ted Doyle's The Great Northern Flyer (O)

David George's Golden~Blackhawk & Central City (Z)

Dennis Grigassy's The Waterside Railway (HO)

Steve Sandifer's ATSF Howard Branch (HO)

Jason Smith and Jim Brandenburg - Union Pacific Overland Route (N)
                                                        Under Mountain Route/Argentine Central (Fn3 - 1:20.3 scale)

Rick Townsend's Santa Fe in the 50's (N)

Jim Thompson's The Cashaway Valley Railroad (HO)

Peter Vanvliet's Bear Creek and Eastern (N)

Bob Werre's Railroad (S)

Bill Wright's Green Bay Southern (HO)

Joan and Frank Wyatt's UPIT Railroad (HO)


Houston Area Model Railroad Clubs:
We think what APN has to offer is unique, so we aren't afraid to provide links to the "competition"
(There are more clubs in Houston than listed here, but can't find their webpage - if they have one)

Fort Bend Model Railroad Club, Sugarland

Galveston County Model Railroad Club, Texas City

Galveston Model Railroad Club & Museum, Galveston Island
(four blocks away from the GMRRC&M is the Galveston Railroad Museum)

Houston N'Crowd, Houston

Houston Area "G" Gaugers Model Railroad Club, Houston

Houston Area Live Steamers (HALS), Hockley

Houston Railroad Museum, Gulf Coast Chapter - National Railway Historical Society - Houston

Houston S Gaugers

Houston Small Scale Live Steamers

Houston Tinplate Operators Society (HTOS), Houston

NASA Area N-Scale Operating Society (NANOS), Houston

Northwest Crossing Modular Railroad Club, Houston

Petticoat Junction Model Railroad Fellowship  alternate link, Houston

San Jacinto Model Railroad Club, Houston


Contact Information for other clubs can be found at the
NMRA Texas Gulf Division's website


Yahoo Groups of interest:

Computer/Model Railroad Interface - Bruce Chubb's invention

JRMI Users - DecoderPro and other free MRR software

NCE-DCC - NCE Systems & decoders for DCC control of your layout

RailOp - Model railroad program for realistic operations

Ry-ops-industrialSIG - the primary discussion list of the Operations SIG of the NMRA
                                   and the NMRA's Industries SIG - A forum for rail modelers to
                                   discuss railway operations as well as industries and their operations.


State and National Model Train Organizations:

National Model Railroad Association

Lone Star Region of NMRA

NMRA Lone Star Region Division 8

The Operations Special Interest Group (SIG) - Focusing on Realistic Prototypical Operation

NTRAK Modular Railroading Society

Train Collectors Association - Gulf Coast Chapter


Trains for riding or climbing on in the Area:

Full Size Trains:

Amtrak Sunset Limited - ride a train to Disneyland or Disney World!

Austin Steam Train Excursion Railroad - Austin, TX

The Burlington-Rock Island Railroad Museum - Teague, TX

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART)

Flatonia Rail Park - Flatonia, TX

McKinney Avenue Trolley - Dallas, TX

Museum of the American Railroad - Dallas, TX

New Braunfels Railroad Museum

New Orleans' Streetcar Lines

Galveston Island Railroad Museum

Galveston Island Trolley

Grapevine Vintage Railroad  Tarantula Train (near Ft. Worth)

The History Center - Diboll TX

Houston METRORail light rail line

The Houston Railroad Museum

Jefferson (operating narrow gauge steam) Railroad - Jefferson, TX

New Braunfels Railroad Museum

Old Hickory (operating narrow gauge steam) Railroad - Jackson, LA

Railroad Museum of San Angelo - San Angelo, TX

Rosenberg Railroad Museum (just southeast of Houston)

Six Flags over Texas (narrow gauge steam) Railroad - Arlington, TX
They also have a train ride at their San Antonio Park

Southern Forest Heritage Museum - Longleaf, LA (SW of Alexandria)

Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum - Temple, TX

Texas & Pacific Railway Museum - Marshall, TX

Texas State Railroad - Palestine & Rusk, TX

Texas Transportation Museum - San Antonio, TX

DeQuincy Railroad Museum - DeQuincy, LA

List of surviving Steam locos in Texas

List of surviving Steam locos in Louisiana

Miniature Trains:

Aquarium Restaurant Shark Voyage Train Ride - Downtown Houston

Brackenridge Eagle Miniature Train - San Antonio

Cedar Rock Railroad - north of Austin

Forest Park Miniature Railroad - Ft. Worth

Hermann Park Miniature Train - Houston, TX

Houston Area Live Steamers (free train rides to the public)

Kemah Boardwalk Miniature Train - Kemah, TX

Landa Park Miniature Train - New Braunfels, TX

Oil Ranch - Houston

Zilker Park Train - Austin, TX