Closing Soon, But Still Alive!

MacArthur Center (Mall) will be closing soon, which is a real shame because it is still such very nice mall, always clean and very well-maintained. Unfortunately, our Model Railroad Museum will be collateral damage since we will have to close as well. We have received notice that we have to vacate the area on or before June 27th. In order to have enough time to dismantle all of our layouts, we will close on June 1st to begin the process. We have several people who have volunteered to help us. If we need more, we can hire a moving company.

After moving most of our equipment into storage, and before we manage to get into a more permanent place, we will maintain a small office temporarily at 750 Lord Dunmore Dr. Unit #109, Virginia Beach 23464. This will contain a small store offering new and used items for sale and probably one or two small layouts just for fun. 

We are actively looking for a larger space and hope to have a new full museum all set up before the holidays. So, don't lose faith. We will continue to keep you informed of our progress.

Train Stores in the Area Are Few and Far Between

Model Railroaders are having trouble obtaining supplies to build and maintain their train layouts. The number of model train stores in the area are dwindling fast. The long term number one train store in Tidewater, Dale's Trains in Norfolk, had to close recently, apparently due to problems with their building. It is not known when or whether they will open again. There are still some train supplies at HobbyTown in Loehmann's Plaza in Virginia Beach and also a few pre-owned items in the Antique Mall on Bonney Road, also in Virginia Beach. The only other option is our Museum store, owned and operated by a separate company, BYMRR (Building Your Model Railroad), with whom we have established a partnership. We provide the space they need for a physical store and they provide regular donations to help keep the museum active and operational. I think our customers like the fact that every item they buy from the store contributes to the growth and maintenance of the Museum. So if you need a new locomotive or more rolling stock, we've got it, and your purchase if you make one, also serves as a donation to the Museum. I always love a win-win situation. It makes everybody feel better.

Train Song of the Month

Boxcar ‘s My Home (1986)

Boxcar Willie with Willie Nelson

https://youtu.be/tht-tLVjos4?si=ogC6n_BL760sn81X

"Boxcar’s My Home" was written by Lloene Martin, the wife of Boxcar Willie (Lecil Travis Martin). The song was famously performed by Boxcar Willie and often featured in his performances during the 1980s, including his 1986 King of the Freight Train album.

A hobo is a migrant worker in the United States. Hobos, tramps, and bums are generally regarded as related, but distinct: a hobo travels and is willing to work; a tramp travels, but avoids work if possible; a bum neither travels nor works. While there have been drifters in every society, the term became common only after the broad adoption of railroads provided free, though illegal, travel by hopping aboard train cars (so-called “freighthopping"). With the end of the Civil War in the 1860s, many discharged veterans returning home began to hop freight trains. Others looking for work on the American frontier followed the railways west aboard freight trains in the late 19th century.

Lecil Travis Martin (September 1, 1931 – April 12, 1999), whose stage name was Boxcar Willie, was an American country music singer-songwriter, who sang in the “old time hobo” music style, complete with overalls and a floppy hat. "Boxcar Willie" was originally a character in a ballad he wrote, but he later adopted it as his own stage name. His early musical career was parallel to service as an enlisted flight engineer in the US Air Force.

Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, actor, and activist. He was one of the main figures of the outlaw country subgenre that developed in the late 1960s as a reaction to the conservative restrictions of the Nashville sound.

For more “train songs” check out the “Train Songs for Model Railroad ” YouTube playlist at

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL07n2-n5FoRHYzhKfA--soywuLOFvEv1l&si=IODFaTIeOe7OBQ7G

By Frank Reed

Getting Started in Model Railroading: What are the Decisions You Need to Make?

Getting started in model railroading is a lot like planning a miniature world. The good news is that you do not need to figure out everything at once. The best first layouts are the ones that are simple enough to finish and fun enough to keep you excited.

Here are the big early decisions that shape everything else:

1. What Interests You Most?

This is the foundation of your railroad.

Some people love:

• Watching long trains roll through scenery
• Switching industries and realistic operations
• Building scenery and structures
• Collecting locomotives
• Historical railroads
• Modern freight
• Steam-era railroading
• Passenger trains
• Narrow gauge or logging lines

A great starting question is:

“What kind of trains make me stop and look?”

If giant steam locomotives fascinate you, that points one direction.
If modern Norfolk Southern freight trains excite you, that points another.

For many beginners, choosing an era helps:

2. How Much Space Do You Have?

• 1940s–1950s = steam and early diesels
• 1960s–1970s = colorful first-generation diesels
• Modern era = big freight, containers, Amtrak, modern industries

This is the most important practical decision.

Your available space determines:

• Layout size
• Scale
• Track plan style
• Train length

Typical options:

• Small shelf layout
• 4x8 table
• Around-the-wall layout
• Spare room empire
• Portable modules

Even a small layout can be fantastic.

Common beginner spaces:

Coffee table or shelf --> Z or N

4x8 sheet plywood --> HO or N

Spare bedroom --> HO, N, O

Large basement --> Any scale

3. Which Scale Should You Choose?

This is usually the next major decision.

HO Scale: Most popular beginner scale.

Advantages:

• Huge selection
• Easier to work on
• Good detail
• Widely available
• Great beginner support

Downsides:

• Needs more space

N Scale: Smaller trains, more railroad in less space.

Advantages:

• Fits more scenery and longer trains
• Great for apartments/smaller rooms
• Excellent for big western scenery

Downsides:

• Smaller parts can be trickier

O Scale: Large and impressive.

Advantages:

• Big, rugged, dramatic
• Easier to handle
• Great sound systems

Downsides:

• Requires substantial space
• More expensive

Other Scales:

G Scale: Large. Best for garden railroads

Z Scale: Very Small. Can put a layout on a desk or in a suitcase.

HOn30 Scale: Narrow gauge, for running HO equipment on N scale track. Good for mountainous railroads with sharp curves.

4. What Kind of Layout Do You Want?

• HO = best all-around choice
• N = best if space is limited

There are several classic approaches.

Continuous Running: Train runs in circles endlessly.

• Relaxing
• Watching trains
• Family layouts
• Beginners

Switching Layout: Focuses on industries and operations.

Great for:

• Realistic railroad work
• Smaller spaces

Point-to-Point

• Train travels from one town to another.

Great for:

• Realistic operation
• Scenic railroads

Hybrid Layout

Most people eventually combine these.

5. DC or DCC?

This is about train control.

DC (Direct Current): Traditional system.

• Simpler
• Less expensive
• Fine for one-train operation

DCC (Digital Command Control). Modern standard.

Advantages:

• Control multiple trains independently
• Sound locomotives
• Lighting effects
• More realistic operation

Downsides:

• Higher startup cost
• Slight learning curve

Most new hobbyists today eventually choose DCC.

6. What Is Your Budget?

A model railroad can be:

• Very affordable
• Moderately expensive
• A full-scale lifetime investment

You absolutely do not need everything immediately.

A smart beginner budget usually focuses on:

1. Good locomotive
2. Reliable track
3. Quality power/control system
4. Simple scenery

Cheap track and poor wiring create frustration faster than almost anything else.

7. Temporary or Permanent?

This matters more than beginners realize.

Ask yourself:

• Will this move later?
• Is this a learning layout?
• Is this my dream railroad?

Many experienced hobbyists recommend:

Build a “learning railroad” first.

You learn:

• Track laying
• Wiring
• Scenery
• Operations
• What you actually enjoy

Then your second layout becomes dramatically better.

8. Do You Want Realism or Fun?

The secret:
You can absolutely have both.

Some hobbyists pursue exact historical realism.
Others run steam locomotives beside modern diesels through fantasy scenery.

Both are valid.

Your railroad should make you happy. "It's YOUR railroad. You can do whatever you want."

A Simple Beginner Path That Works Very Well:

Many beginners succeed with:

• HO scale
• Small 4x8 or shelf layout
• One railroad era
• One or two locomotives
• DCC starter system
• Simple scenery first

That keeps the project manageable and enjoyable.

9. Beginner Mistakes to Avoid:

Trying to build too large: Big unfinished layouts are common.

Buying too much too early: Start small and learn what you enjoy.

Using tight curves with large locomotives: Big steam engines need broader curves.

Ignoring wiring quality: Reliable wiring makes everything better.

Expecting perfection immediately: Every model railroader learns by doing.

10. The Most Important Decision

The single best thing you can decide is:

“I’m going to enjoy the process.”

Because model railroading combines:

• Art
• Engineering
• History
• Electronics
• Carpentry
• Storytelling
• Operations
• Collecting

…and nobody masters it all at once.

That’s part of the fun.

Hint: Start with a train set in your chosen scale. Then start adding things, like buildings, branch lines, industries, scenery, etc. A little at a time.

Reference on how to build a model railroad: BYMRR.com

Volunteer

We are proud to be members of the following organizations:

The Virginia Association of Museums

The Train Collectors Association

Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce

Hobby Manufacturers Association

National Railroad Historical Society

(Endorsed advertisement)

Welcome to

New Tracks Modeling!

New Tracks Modeling is an exciting digital opportunity to obtain mentoring to help you improve your modeling.  You will meet talented modelers and manufacturers from all over the world who will share their model building expertise and artistic advice.  New Tracks Modeling is open to all modelers of all skill levels in any scale or gauge.

Our Shows are live every Wednesday evening at 7pm Eastern/4pm Western on Zoom and YouTube. By subscribing to our website newtracksmodeling.com you’ll receive email notices containing links to both the Zoom and YouTube presentations.

New Tracks Modeling Mentoring Scholarship

Your donation will help to provide scholarships for model railroaders who are HS graduates and continuing their education in a STEAM field.Your generosity is greatly appreciated!

To donate click on this link.

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/038439bf-a552-44e2-9b46-ef54aaa0e274

We Are Open for Group Tours

If you have a school group, senior group, church group, assisted living residents, etc. that you would like to get out to explore the world of model trains, let us know. We'd be happy to schedule a group tour for you anytime at no cost. To make the arrangements, call 757-816-8399, or 757-904-1379.

Model Railroader's Guide to Steam Engines

🚂 Model Railroader's Guide: “Modeling 1940s–1950s Steam: HO & N Scale Guide”

If you want to recreate the golden age of steam on your layout, here’s how to match locomotive types to HO and N scale models—with practical tips.

🚛 Freight Locomotives:

Mikado (2-8-2)

Berkshire (2-8-4)

Santa Fe (2-10-2)

🚆 Passenger Locomotives:

Pacific (4-6-2)

Hudson (4-6-4) ⛰️

Heavy Power: Articulated (2-6-6-2, 2-8-8-2, etc.)

🏭 Yard Operations:

Switchers (0-6-0, 0-8-0)

🧩 Layout Planning Tips:

🎯 Beginner Setup Recommendation:

If starting fresh:

• 1 Mikado (freight)
• 1 Pacific (passenger)
• 1 switcher (yard)

👉 This gives you a complete, realistic operating railroad.

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The Birth of Virginia Beach

We have created and published a new historical document on the Birth of Virginia Beach. This has been written by our historian Warren Leister after researching the era and the people involved for several years. Excepts have been published here in our newsletter previously, but the information is now available all together in a 99 page document that you can purchase in our store. It factually explores the events, the dedicated people and the interesting culture in which they lived. Pick up your copy today!

The Model Railroad Museum of Hampton Roads is a fantastic community center based on running, operating and even building your own model railroads! There's something for every age here.

Learn about the real history of this area and how important it was in the building of America. Watch how railroads were built, the people involved, where America's roots were formed. 

As they build their own railroads, students will be learning about science, electronics,  architecture, technology, engineering, mathematics, and the art of 3 dimensional model landscaping. They can earn rewards for completing projects and winning contests.

Try to solve yardmaster problems on a switching layout like getting the lumber from the forest to the furniture store, by way of the saw mill and the lumber yard.

Run your train around blockades and other trains to get to the station on time without speeding or crashing.

Play railroad monopoly using model railroads. Winner is the one who can collect the most cars into his yard within an hour.

There will be programs for autistic and special needs kids, disabled adults and veterans.

School tours. Holiday Shows. Library and video rooms.  Even youngsters will have their own wooden models to enjoy. There are classes and hands-on clinics for adults. Learn how to get started in the hobby. Or just enjoy the fun.

Everybody loves trains and this will prove it!  Just click on the either the blue DONATE button below to make it happen... 

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