Athearn Genesis HO scale EMD GP40-2

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Athearn Genesis HO scale EMD GP40P-2 No longer solely the province of kit­bashers, Electro-Motive Division’s GP40P-2 is available in HO scale from Athearn Trains. Part of the Genesis line of superdetailed locomotive models, this HO scale Geep is especially good news for those modeling Southern Pacific’s “commute” trains of the 1970s and ’80s. Our review […]

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Passenger car beds

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A sleeping berth shown set for feet first in the direction of travel on an Amtrak long-distance train. Bob Johnston Q I previously understood that the safest position to sleep while traveling by train was with feet first, but the past Amtrak trips I took had the bed set up head first. Is there an […]

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ScaleTrains.com HO scale Thrall carbon black covered hopper

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ScaleTrains.com HO scale Thrall carbon black covered hopper A Thrall 4,727-cubic-foot capacity carbon black covered hopper is the latest addition to the ScaleTrains.com Rivet Counter line of superdetailed models. The injection-molded plastic model features roadnumber-specific details, photo-etched stainless steel running boards and crossover platforms, and Barber S-2 70-ton trucks with rotating bearing caps. Carbon black […]

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WalthersMainline HO scale GE ES44 diesel

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WalthersMainline HO scale GE ES44 diesel General Electric Evolution Series (GEVO) diesel-electrics lead today’s freight trains throughout the North American rail network. Available in a variety of prototypical road names, an HO scale GE ES44 joins the value-priced WalthersMainline series. Along with an accurately dimensioned body shell and some roadname-specific details, the model features the […]

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Gail Komar’s West Virginia Northern Eastbound

Cab view of model railroad

Owner: Greg & Gail Komar (MMR 349) Prototype Modeled: C&O Reporting Marks: WVN Layout Era: 1950s Theme: Coal hauling RR through the New River Valley of West Virginia Scale: HO Dimensions: 18’ x 25’ modeled area / 10’x 18’ staging area, track level from 47” to 57” All trackwork and turnouts are handlaid code 83, […]

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Gail Komar’s West Virginia Northern Eastbound

Cab view of model railroad

Owner: Greg & Gail Komar (MMR 349) Prototype Modeled: C&O Reporting Marks: WVN Layout Era: 1950s Theme: Coal hauling RR through the New River Valley of West Virginia Scale: HO Dimensions: 18’ x 25’ modeled area / 10’x 18’ staging area, track level from 47” to 57” All trackwork and turnouts are handlaid code 83, […]

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New model trains for the week of March 8, 2018

Rapido Trains HO scale General Electric B36-7 diesel locomotive

HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division SD40 diesel locomotive. CSX (Chesapeake & Ohio patchout, one road number); Gulf, Mobile & Ohio (red and white, four numbers); and Southern Pacific (SD40R in peeled paint and stencil lettering, one number each; Roman lettering in three numbers). Prototype-specific details, vinyl m.u. hoses, and photo-etched stainless steel windshield wipers. Direct-current […]

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The “middle” order

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Baldwin road-switcher 1615 passes the Hertford, N.C., depot with Norfolk Southern freight 88 in January 1965. A few months later, removal of a siding here would cause some confusion. Harry Bundy Telegraph operators working from the extra list rolled with the punches. They were on call 24/7, as they say now, to fill vacancies created […]

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Where diesels go to the doctor

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Home for the heaviest rebuild, repair, and repaint work on the Norfolk Southern system is the sprawling former Pennsylvania Railroad Juniata Shops in Altoona, Pa. The backshop is the heart of this operation in the Keystone State. Alex Mayes Diesel locomotives are amazing. They are built to withstand the rigors of service, running 24 hours […]

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Colored dots on freight cars

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Dots painted on trilevel auto racks indicate clearance heights. Rob Burnet Q I have seen colored painted dots on freight cars, mostly multilevel auto rack cars. What do they signify? – Rob Burnet, Etobicoke, Ont., Canada A Colored marks on auto multi-levels are to designate slightly different deck height clearances on trilevels. Orange dots indicate […]

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A layout for all seasons

S & O gauge layout with multiple themes

Name: Richard Foltz Forum User Name: Richard Railroad Name: American Flyer-Lionel All seasons Location: Sykesville, Maryland Scale: S & O Theme: All seasons Description: Garden for all seasons, circus, Halloween, Christmas, summer […]

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Plans for a fertilizer blend plant

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Click on the photo or link to download the prototype plans for this fertilizer blend plant. Rich Cobb Fertilizer blend plants have been common rail-served industries since the 1950s. Rich Cobb describes the prototype for his HO model of one of these trackside structures in the April 2018 Model Railroader. Click on the link below […]

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