Q: Many of Model Railroader’s articles, reviews, and advertisements focus on products representing the “modern” era, say the 1940s to the present. That’s OK, and much of your audience obviously enjoys modeling contemporary railroading. However, I’m interested in modeling the railroad industry as it was in the 19th century. Can you suggest the names of a few manufacturers or dealers who offer models of engines, rolling stock, or other items representative of that earlier era? — Tom Williams, Malta, NY
A: Though model trains for the 19th century aren’t as common as items for the steam-to-diesel transition era, they’re out there, but you may need to do some hunting. In “Modeling America’s first oil boom” by Richard Senges in the January 2007 issue of Model Railroader, there was a sidebar that listed sources of HO scale models for the mid- to late-1800s. Locomotive manufacturers included Bachmann (American 4-4-0), International Hobby Corp. (IHC, American 4-4-0), Mantua (4-4-0), and Rivarossi (2-4-0). Rolling stock and passenger cars were available from LaBelle Woodworking, Mantua, Roundhouse, and Ye Olde Huff-N-Puff. Figure and detail sources included Alexander Scale Models, Campbell Scale Models, Fun & Games, Grandt Line (now San Juan Details), Morse Productions, Musket Miniatures, Preiser, Selley Finishing Touches, and Woodland Scenics.
In his September 2015 article “American history on an N scale diorama” Mike Blumensaadt listed sources for the 1:160 model trains for the 19th century that he used to populate his diorama depicting Manassas Junction, Va. The model railroad had locomotives from Atlas and Bachmann, freight cars from Bachmann, Micro-Trains, and Roundhouse (Athearn), and structures from Micro-Trains, Jerry’s Hobby Junction, and Republic Locomotive Works. Figures and details came from Musket Miniatures, GHQ, Old Glory Miniatures, Micro-Trains, Model Power, Preiser, Republic Locomotive Works, and Thoroughbred’s Eagle Tens.
Time has passed since those articles were published and some of the companies mentioned have changed ownership or ceased operations. However, you can still find model trains for the 19th century from these manufacturers at swap meets, online auction websites, and occasionally at antique stores.
For even more ideas on model trains for the 19th century, I’d encourage you to check out articles by the late Don Ball. He modeled the Stockton & Copperopolis circa 1895 in HO scale and regularly contributed articles to MR. His 37 x 40-foot layout was featured in the Model Railroad Planning 2011.
Don also contributed a number of how-to articles to MR, including:
- “Build an 1880s refinery” (August 2012)
- “Model horses and wagons for a steam-era layout” (July 2015)
- “Building a model railroad telephone system” (November 2015)
- “Scratchbuild a wood trestle and truss bridge” (August 2016)
- “Build dispatcher and operator desks” (October 2017)
- “A signal for flag stops” (January 2018)
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