Atlas Classic HO Alco RS11

HO scale diesel painted black and yellow on scenicked model railroad with video title bar in lower left corner.

The Atlas Classic HO Alco RS11 is back in new paint schemes and road numbers. We recently received a sample decorated for Burlington Northern, and our resident BN fan, Senior Editor Cody Grivno, is here with the scoop. Learn about the full-size Alco RS11 and Burlington Northern 4183; get a close-up look at the factory-applied […]

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Atlas Classic HO Alco RS11

HO scale diesel painted black and yellow on scenicked model railroad with video title bar in lower left corner.

The Atlas Classic HO Alco RS11 is back in new paint schemes and road numbers. We recently received a sample decorated for Burlington Northern, and our resident BN fan, Senior Editor Cody Grivno, is here with the scoop. Learn about the full-size Alco RS11 and Burlington Northern 4183; get a close-up look at the factory-applied […]

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50 years ago in Trains: A kid wearing gym shoes

A magazine spread from June 1975 features a large photograph of an Electro-Motive SD40 diesel speeding down the track

REMEMBER the ads for Uniroyal’s “Tiger Paw” tires? When I was with the Southern Railway, some of us there referred to SR’s U-boats as “Whisperjets” (for the turbocharger noise) and to its SD40s as “Sport Models” (for the platforms). Now, I suggest tagging the Dash-2 SD40s “Tiger Paws.” Those HT-C trucks look as though they’re […]

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Atlas HO scale Alco RS11

Color photo of HO scale diesel locomotive painted black, yellow, and red on white background.

Atlas HO scale Alco RS11 Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin plug, $174.95; with ESU LokSound V5 sound decoder, $289.95 Era: 1970 to 1975 (as decorated) Manufacturer: Atlas Model Railroad Co., 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205; 908-687-0880; shop.atlasrr.com Atlas HO scale Alco RS11 features: Die-cast metal frame Directional, golden-white light-emitting-diode lighting Factory-installed […]

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Burlington Northern renumbering

Color photo of red and gray HO diesel on scenicked base.

Q: I’m building a layout based on the early Burlington Northern in Idaho. I’ve seen a number of photos of renumbered locomotives and cabooses. Most have white numbers and reporting marks, but I’ve seen a few prototype photos online with the data in black. Did BN have a standard font and size for renumbering equipment, […]

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How to build a freight train

Train passes a grass-lined pond

The first step in building a freight train is understanding what railroaders mean by “compliance.” A freight train is said to be “in compliance” when it’s assembled properly and is operating according to the railroad’s rules. In practice, crews need to devote as much attention to the big picture of compliance as they do to […]

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Athearn N 45-foot Fruehauf trailer

Color photo of N scale trailer painted white and silver with green graphics

Athearn N 45-foot Fruehauf trailer Scale: N (1:160) Price: $31.99 Era: 1970s to 2000s Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Athearn N 45-foot Fruehauf trailer features: Factory-applied mud flaps Factory-printed builder’s plates on sides and ends Free-rolling plastic tire and wheel assemblies One-piece injection-molded plastic body Red rear-facing lights and […]

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Rapido HO tie-service flatcar

Rapido HO tie-service flatcar Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Single car, $64.95; six-pack, $389.70 Era: 1990s to present Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Rd., Unit 21, Markham, Ontario, Canada L3R 5H5; 905-474-3314, rapidotrains.com Rapido HO tie-service flatcar features: Based on ex-TTX cars purchased by Burlington Northern and converted to crosstie cars Body-mounted metal couplers Two […]

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WalthersMainline HO EMD SD60

Screen capture from product review video showing HO scale diesel in blue and white paint on layout with title bar in lower left corner.

The WalthersMainline HO EMD SD60 is back, this time with new features. Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno uses this six-axle road unit to switch cars on our Winston-Salem Southbound Tar Branch project layout. In addition, he shares a condensed history of the Electro-Motive Division road unit and Oakway Leasing No. 9009; highlights the detail […]

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WalthersMainline HO EMD SD60

Screen capture from product review video showing HO scale diesel in blue and white paint on layout with title bar in lower left corner.

The WalthersMainline HO EMD SD60 is back, this time with new features. Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno uses this six-axle road unit to switch cars on our Winston-Salem Southbound Tar Branch project layout. In addition, he shares a condensed history of the Electro-Motive Division road unit and Oakway Leasing No. 9009; highlights the detail […]

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