Athearn Ready-to-Roll HO scale SD40T-2

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Athearn Ready-to-Roll HO scale SD40T-2 More prototype-specific detail and a dual-mode SoundTraxx Econami decoder highlight this HO scale SD40T-2 “tunnel motor” diesel from Athearn Trains. The plastic model has many enhancements compared to the previous Athearn Ready-to-Roll SD40T-2 that we reviewed back in the January 2008 issue. Prototype. In 1972, General Motors Electro-Motive Division and […]

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Quick Look: Kadee HO scale early PS-1 boxcar

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Kadee HO scale early PS-1 boxcar Price: $39.95 Manufacturer Kadee Quality Products Co. 673 Ave. C White City, OR 97503-1078 www.kadee.com Era: 1947 to 1980s Road names: Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; New York Central; New York, New Haven & Hartford (with 7-foot door); Southern Ry.; and Union Pacific Comments: Kadee has released an early-production […]

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Walthers Cornerstone N scale bridge kits

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Wm. K. Walthers, which added easy-to-build HO scale railway bridges to its Cornerstone line a few years ago, is now doing the same in N scale. The single-track arched Pratt truss bridge kit is the latest in that line. I assembled and painted the bridge along with its matching pier and abutment kits, which are sold […]

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Quick Look: WalthersMainline HO scale Budd 85-foot dome coach

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WalthersMainline HO scale Budd 85-foot dome coach Price: $39.98 Manufacturer Wm. K. Walthers Inc. 5601 W. Florist Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53218 www.walthers.com Era: 1954 to present Road names: Amtrak (phase 3); Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Southern Ry.; Union Pacific; and VIA Rail Canada. Also available undecorated. Comments: Wm. K. Walthers Inc. has added an […]

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Bus arrives at the Depot

Model bus parked at depot

Sometimes more than trains arrive at the depot on model railroad layouts! Here’s a short preview scene of a bus arriving at Maryville Depot, from a video currently in production. Being very new to Stop Motion filming, this was a test and there are a few flaws. This preview also showcases very recent (and yet […]

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Bus arrives at the Depot

Model bus parked at depot

Sometimes more than trains arrive at the depot on model railroad layouts! Here’s a short preview scene of a bus arriving at Maryville Depot, from a video currently in production. Being very new to Stop Motion filming, this was a test and there are a few flaws. This preview also showcases very recent (and yet […]

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In Memoriam: Randy Kennie

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Randy Kennie during his career at Bachmann Trains. Lloyd “Randy” Kennie, a longtime sales manager in the hobby industry, passed away on April 14, 2019. Randy served in the Navy as a Radioman 2nd Class in his younger years. After leaving the military, he worked at several companies in the hobby/crafts industry, including Felix V. […]

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Distributed power braking

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BNSF Railway distributed power pushes an eastbound empty coal train at Hathaway, Mont., in June 2014. Tom Danneman Q In two recent issues, Trains stated that distributed power helps maintain trainline air for brakes. How can this be without giving up lead unit control of the brakes? – Jay Noyes, Lowell, Ind. A In distributed […]

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Illinois DOT bows to opposition on sidings for Hiawatha expansion

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Bowing to opposition from the communities of Glenview and Lake Forest, the Illinois Department of Transportation will no longer support plans for two sidings that are part of a plan to increase Amtrak Hiawatha service between Chicago and Milwaukee. Patch.com reports that acting IDOT Secretary Omer Osman said in a letter, released […]

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New model trains for the week of May 16, 2019

Accurail HO scale sssorted freight cars

HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division SDP40F. Amtrak (phase 1 and 3 schemes); Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (blue and yellow warbonnet); and BNSF Ry. (Maersk Sealand in one road number, Santa Fe patchout in two numbers). Four numbers per scheme unless noted. Prototype-specific details, factory-installed and painted wire grab irons, and McHenry scale couplers. Direct-current […]

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