https://www.mprail.com Building the Mississippi & Pennsylvania Railroad — an HO scale shelf layout project. en-us Thu, 28 May 2026 16:40:09 GMT https://www.mprail.com/blog/layout-update-december-2025 https://www.mprail.com/blog/layout-update-december-2025 A quick look at where the MP Railroad stands at the end of 2025 — what got done, what didn't, and what's coming in 2026. Sat, 20 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT Layout UpdateProgress https://www.mprail.com/blog/digitrax-decoder-install-gp30 https://www.mprail.com/blog/digitrax-decoder-install-gp30 A walkthrough of my decoder install process for the ScaleTrains GP30, including sound, lights, and keep-alive setup. Mon, 10 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT DCCDecoder InstallSound https://www.mprail.com/how-to/getting-started-with-dcc https://www.mprail.com/how-to/getting-started-with-dcc Everything I learned the hard way about Digital Command Control — what to buy, how to wire it, and how to avoid the common beginner mistakes. Fri, 05 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT DCCBeginnersWiring https://www.mprail.com/how-to/ground-cover-techniques https://www.mprail.com/how-to/ground-cover-techniques My process for laying ground cover that looks good — from dirt and static grass to weeds and ground foam — without spending a fortune. Tue, 15 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT SceneryGround CoverBeginner Friendly https://www.mprail.com/blog/getting-started-on-the-workbench-part-1 https://www.mprail.com/blog/getting-started-on-the-workbench-part-1 The M&P Railroad shelf layout officially begins. Here's how I planned, cut, and assembled the first section of benchwork — solo, with a little help from my wife. Mon, 29 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMT BenchworkLayout BuildFrame https://www.mprail.com/how-to/follow-along-as-we-get-started-on-the-workbench-part-1 https://www.mprail.com/how-to/follow-along-as-we-get-started-on-the-workbench-part-1 At last, our long-awaited M&P Workbench journey begins! From my early model train aspirations to past layouts, this shelf layout is a first. Follow along as I share my layout’s unique details and materials, hoping it stands the test of time and inspires your own model railroad projects. Mon, 29 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMT workbench