News & Products for the week of January 16th 2023

An image of a model locomotive

News & Products for the week of January 16th 2023 Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. Here are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of January 16th 2023.   […]

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Modeling Amtrak’s “rainbow” fleet

Red and yellow locomotives leading passenger train with cars of several colors.

What is Amtrak’s “rainbow” fleet? Amtrak began operations on May 1, 1971, and at the time had only one piece of equipment sporting Amtrak’s first logo, E8 No. 4316. This engine is currently offered by Rapido. All of the passenger equipment came from the railroads that joined to form Amtrak, including over 400 from the […]

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Walthers container chassis two-pack in HO scale

Container chassis two-pack: Two blue container chassis against a white background

Walthers container chassis two-pack in HO scale Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $39.98; undecorated, $37.98 Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com Walthers Container Chassis two-Pack features: New tooling Detail appropriate for intermodal terminals, loading docks & highway scenes Three standard lengths for international and domestic service (20-foot, 40-foot and […]

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Walthers vintage gas station

Vintage gas station: A vintage model gas station in white with yellow and red details is shown against a white background

Walthers vintage gas station Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $54.98 Era: 1960s Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218, 414-527-0770, walthers.com Walthers vintage gas station features: Office interior with counter Two lifts for service bays – assemble in up or down position Two complete islands with period pumps, oil displays & nonworking […]

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HO scale modernized gas station from Walthers

Modernized gas station: A greay gas station with a green roof against a white background

HO scale modernized gas station from Walthers Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $59.98 Era: 1990s+ Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218, 414-527-0770, walthers.com Walthers modernized gas station features: Printed convenience store interior Modern service island with updated pumps Cashier counter interior detail Includes separate soda and ice machines, wastebasket, tire stands, […]

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Trinity 3281 hopper from Walthers Mainline

Trinity 3281 hopper: A pink model hopper car is shown against a white background

Trinity 3281 hopper from Walthers Mainline Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $31.98 Era: Late 1990s+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218, 414-527-0770, walthers.com Trinity 3281 hopper features: Separately-applied brake gear, running board, discharge gates, inlet hatches, and end ladder cages Correct 36″ RP-25 metal wheelsets Proto-Max […]

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Walthers Mainline 60-foot Pullman-Standard bulkhead flatcar

Walthers Mainline 60-foot Pullman-Standard bulkhead flatcar Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $34.98 Era: 1968+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218, 414-527-0770, walthers.com Walthers 60-foot Pullman Standard bulkhead flatcar features: 8′ 6″ tall bulkheads with bolt attachment details Detailed brake gear with piping 70-ton roller-bearing trucks 33″ […]

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Walthers Mainline Electro-Motive Division F40PH

Electro-Motive Division F40PH: white, red and blue model locomotive against a white background

Walthers Mainline Electro-Motive Division F40PH Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin plug, $159.98; with dual-mode ESU LokSound 5 sound decoder, $219.98. Era: 1976+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com Walthers Electro-Motive Division F40PH features: Based on Phase-2b prototype Factory-installed vertical handrails […]

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Walthers gas station details in HO scale

Walthers gas station details Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $19.98 Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com Walthers gas station details features: Includes two styles of small gas pump islands (with or without safety bollards), oil can display racks, air compressor, tires & display stands, soda vending machine, and ice […]

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Drive-in oil change in HO scale from Walthers

Drive-in oil change in HO scale from Walthers Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $44.98 Era: 1980s+ Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218, 414-527-0770, walthers.com Walthers drive-in oil change station features: Two drive-through service bays Inspection pit openings in garage floor Detailed office area Includes separate soda machine, air-conditioning unit, and gas […]

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Walthers HO scale asphalt parking lot

Asphalt parking lot: a model asphalt parking lot against a white background

Walthers HO scale asphalt parking lot Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $19.98 Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com Walthers asphalt parking lot features: New paving style Molded in textured dark gray styrene with stress crack details Assemble like sectional track to build a detailed parking lot big or small […]

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Five ways to clean track

Photo of two track cleaning blocks on HO scale layout

In this article we’ll look at five ways to clean track. If you want to get a lively debate started amongst model railroaders, ask them the best way to clean track. Some prefer abrasive blocks, like the Bright Boy, while others turn to any number of cleaning solvents, homemade or commercial cleaning cars, or off-the-shelf […]

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