Peter's Model Railroading | My Library | Magazine Authors
Magazine Articles By Jim Kelly

A Whitcomb Industrial Locomotive

A short article about a 30-ton Whitcomb switcher, which includes prototype photos and scale drawings.

ABCs of Boxcars

Describes the history and evolution of boxcars.

ABCs of Model Railroad Photography

This article provides the basic information needed to set up for photographing a diorama or layout.

ABCs of Switching Cars

This introductory article discusses what switching is, how to uncouple cars, and how to deal with trailing point and facing point turnouts

ABCs: Going Beyond the Train Set

A basic hand-holding article starting with the train set loop track and adding turnouts, flexible track, and dealing with derailments and buying new equipment.

Bill Wood's American Flyer Layout

Open as part of the 1988 NMRA convention, Bill Wood's 24'x35' walk-in U-shaped layout runs some of his 91 steam locomotives, 44 diesel locomotives, and well over 500 cars. Yes, he's a collector, too.

Branch Line for the Turtle Creek Central Part 1

In 2002 Model Railroader ran a series of articles building a 4x8 foot layout. This series of articles will add a 2' x 6' extension to that layout. However, the article includes diagrams of how just using this branch line module only, one could have operations.This installment covers the trackplan, the benchwork construction, and using foam to build the scenery foundation.

Build a Carolina Planing Mill

This group of N-scale structures is patterned closely after a planing mill in Carrboro, N.C. The mill belongs to Fitch Lumber Co., which has a large, modern lumberyard several blocks away. Includes prototype photos, scaled drawings, and some construction photos and diagrams.

Building a Foam Core Board Layout

The objective of this project was to build an HO-scale layout that uses only simple construction techniques, no messy materials, no power tools, lightweight materials, and all materials must be transportable in a small car. This installment covers the construction of the table, the "legs", and installing Unitrak track.

Building the Turtle Creek Central Part 2

Laying track and building foam hills.

Building the Turtle Creek Central Part 3

This installment shows how to add bridges, forests, rocks, and rivers.

Bull Session

Contains additional information about the GE 44-tonner described in the other articles listed for this issue.

Car Kits and Kadee Couplers

The author takes the beginner through the process of building freight car kits from several popular manufacturers. He also covers building and installing couplers.

Citibank Station: 1990

In 1986 Citibank wanted to create a "Christmas present to New York" in their 5-story atrium. Clarke Dunham was hired to build it. The huge triangular layout features two loops of HO-scale trains, and one each of S-scale and 3-rail O-scale.

Design a Better Layout

Article covers studying the prototype, preventing the spaghetti bowl layout, developing scenes, operations, providing people space, backdrops, staging, track interaction with roadways, viewing height, and sticking to your design criteria.

Introducing Scales and Gauges

This article describes most of the model railroading scales.

MR Workshop

Answers the question about why steam engines sometimes produce black smoke. Includes a simplified diagram on how a steam engine works.

MR Workshop

Bob Opie shares his construction of a track cleaning car that uses two blocks of wooden on trucks, with a block freely sliding vertically in between them, with a rubber band providing the downward pressure, which does the actual track cleaning work. The block can be Homasote or a Bright Boy.

MR Workshop

Jim describes a jig that can be used to consistently place grab irons' holes in the correct spots at the corners of freight cars. A diagram is included.

Narrow Gauge

Jim answers the question, What is "narrow gauge"? Includes terminology, how to model it in various scales, and why one might want to model in narrow gauge.

Ntrak Today

Photos of modules accompany this article where Jim covers the history of NTrak, how it influenced modular layouts in other scales, and why NTrak has been so successful. A sidebar about Jim Fitzgerald honors the man who spearheaded the NTrak movement.

Operations on Gil Freitag's Stony Creek & Western

After an introduction to Gil Freitag and his layout, the author covers how Gil treats operating his layout. Includes a track plan of Gil's layout, and lots of photos of his fantastic models.

Our Seaboard Central Part 1

The Model Railroader magazine staff built this layout in front of a live audience at the 50th anniversary of the NMRA. The new 4'-7" x 8'-6" layout is intended to extend the Kitty Hawk Central they covered starting with the December, 1981 issue of MR. The article includes behind-the-scenes photos, a track plan, and discusses the construction of the bench work, track and wiring. It also includes sidebars on creating and installing end-of-train devices, and the construction of their simple switch machine.

S scale SW1 Diesel Switcher Looks Good and Runs Smoothly

The author gave glowing reviews of the SW1 switcher engine model by S-Helper Service.

Scenery Colors and Textures

How to paint rocks and surrounding terrain using water-based paints.

Scratchbuilding Your First Wood Structure

The author takes us through the steps to build a small B&O Railroad station. Includes scale drawings, parts lists, tools list, and step-by-step instructions with photos.

Sponge Modeling

Using a sponge and joint compound to create rippled water and smooth roads.

The Orbisonia, PA Firehouse

Two prototype photos, scaled drawings, and a brief description of this two-story, 17' x 29' building. Shows how to make the curved rafter ends.

The Silver City Central

Jim focuses on building the cookie-cutter benchwork for this 3.5' x 8' layout. Includes benchwork diagrams and trackplan. Looks like a nice design that can later be integrated into a larger layout.

Total Layout Design

This article discusses some basics for designing satisfying model railroads. Topics covered are design decisions that affect operating and scenery.

Tracks and Rocks for Our Branch Line Part 2

In this installment the author discusses how to lay track, build a bridge, and cast rocks.

Trade Topics

The author provides a review of the Bowser PRR G5 4-6-0 model. Includes historical information, product photos, and the model's performance.

Turtle Creek Branch Line Part 4

In this part of the construction series the author builds the coal mine kitbashed from two kits, and adds other details. This is the last installment of this series.

Zero 1 for N Scale

The author describes how he managed to get command control into his N-scale engines. He used the Hornsby Zero 1 system.