An inspection pit is a feature commonly found in model railway layouts that mimics real-life railway workshops. It is essentially a recessed area in the ground that allows for easy access to the underside of trains or rolling stock for maintenance...

The term 'Jinty' refers to a specific type of steam locomotive that was commonly used in the United Kingdom. Officially known as the Fowler 3F Class, the Jinty locomotives were a class of small, tank engines that were designed for shunting and...

A Y-shaped turnout, also known as a wye turnout, is a type of track configuration that allows a train to diverge onto different tracks. It gets its name from its resemblance to the letter "Y". This type of turnout can be useful in various...

Tree armatures are a popular tool used by model railway and scale modellers to create realistic trees and foliage for their dioramas and layouts. They are essentially wire frames or skeletons that act as the structure for the trees, onto which...

Contra-rotating propellers, also known as counter-rotating propellers, are a type of propeller system that consists of two propellers mounted on the same shaft, with one rotating clockwise and the other rotating counterclockwise. This...

The term "Co-Co" refers to a specific wheel arrangement used in locomotives. In this arrangement, each Locomotive has two bogies, each in turn having three axles, with each axle powered by its own electric or diesel motor. The term "Co-Co" comes...

Vacuform model kits (sometimes called vacform kits or simply vac kits) are a type of scale model kit that is made using a process called vacuum forming. In this process, a heated sheet of plastic is placed over a mould and then vacuum pressure is...

The term 'Bolster Wagon' refers to a type of railway wagon specifically designed for the transportation of long and heavy loads. Bolster wagons feature a flat deck with a centrally positioned bolster, which is a long beam or platform extending...

Servo motors offer several advantages over solenoids when it comes to operating points and semaphore signals on a model railway layout.Here are some key advantages of using servo motors:Precise control : servo motors provide precise...

A 7-plank wagon had several advantages over a 5-sided version. Here's why:Increased capacity : the additional planks in a 7-plank wagon provided higher side walls compared to a 5-sided version. This increased the overall capacity of the...

The term "Conflat" is a contraction of the words "container" and "flat" and refers to a type of container flat wagon used for transporting goods in containers. Conflat wagons feature a flat deck with fixed or removable fittings specifically...

The rods in question are actually locking rods that are used to hold the smokebox door in place and closed. The smokebox is right at the front of a steam locomotive and is where hot fumes will accumulate after having been drawn through boiler...