Trackside Academy

Run better trains. Build better scenes.
Practical, no-nonsense guides from a modeler-owned hobby shop, for beginners and experienced hobbyists alike. Find the fix, learn the technique, then get the parts.
Browse all guidesStart with your goal

What do you want to do?

Pick a goal to see our guides and the products that go with them.

🔧
Fix running problems
Derailments, stalling, and cars that won't track. Find the cause and the fix.
Read the guidesTrack care
⚖
Upgrade your cars
Make rolling stock run like it should with proper weight and better parts.
Read the guidesWeight kits
🏠
Build scenes & dioramas
Small towns, industrial scenes, and miniature worlds, with or without trains.
Read the guidesBuildings
🚂
Find hard-to-get trains
Out-of-production locomotives and rolling stock you won't find on the shelf anymore.
Shop out-of-productionLocomotives
🌱
Get started
New to the hobby or to HO scale? Start with the basics.
Beginner guidesWorkbench essentials
🎁
Find a gift
Ideas for the model railroader in your life, at every budget.
Gifts under $50
Free shipping at $99
Flat $9.95 under $99. Ships from Crown Point, Indiana in 1–2 business days.
Modeler-owned
Run by people who build, run, and fix trains themselves.
Questions? Ask us
Not sure what fits your car or layout? Contact us before you order.

Latest Guides

  • How to Build a Miniature World

    How to Build a Miniature World

    Learn how to plan and build a realistic miniature world, from choosing a scale and picking a story to adding scenery, buildings, vehicles and figures.

    How to Build a Miniature World

    Learn how to plan and build a realistic miniature world, from choosing a scale and picking a story to adding scenery, buildings, vehicles and figures.

  • What Is HO Scale?

    What Is HO Scale?

    HO scale is 1:87, so a 6-foot person stands about 21 mm tall. This guide explains HO sizes, how to convert measurements, how HO compares with other scales, and how...

    What Is HO Scale?

    HO scale is 1:87, so a 6-foot person stands about 21 mm tall. This guide explains HO sizes, how to convert measurements, how HO compares with other scales, and how...

  • How to Add Weight to Freight Cars

    How to Add Weight to Freight Cars

    Light freight cars wobble, derail, and run inconsistently. This guide covers why weight matters, where to place it, and how to install it correctly for smoother, more reliable operation on...

    How to Add Weight to Freight Cars

    Light freight cars wobble, derail, and run inconsistently. This guide covers why weight matters, where to place it, and how to install it correctly for smoother, more reliable operation on...

  • Why Is My Model Train Derailing?

    Why Is My Model Train Derailing?

    Derailments are one of the most common frustrations in model railroading — and most have a simple fix. This guide covers the seven most likely causes, from underweight cars and...

    Why Is My Model Train Derailing?

    Derailments are one of the most common frustrations in model railroading — and most have a simple fix. This guide covers the seven most likely causes, from underweight cars and...

1 4