New model trains for the week of September 3, 2020

different angles of a diesel locomotive

HO scale locomotives Canadian National RSC-14 diesel locomotive. Canadian National (“wet noodle” herald and stripes schemes). Five road numbers per scheme. Redesigned chassis and shell for easier access and disassembly; operating headlights, rear lights, bi-color class lights, and illuminated cab control stand; metal side handrails with plastic stanchions; and detailed cab interior with control stand, […]

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Atlas acquires HO, N tooling from True Line Trains

Model Railroader

Atlas Model Railroad Co. announced that it purchased certain molds and tooling from True Line Trains. Among the HO tooling acquired include Fairbanks-Morse C-Liner and Montreal Locomotive Works RS-18 diesel locomotives, slab-side covered hopper, 50-foot newsprint boxcar, Fowler stockcar, bulkhead flatcar, Canadian National and Canadian Pacific cabooses, and Association of American Railroads 40-foot boxcar. In […]

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Ask MR: What’s a control point?

Model Railroader placeholder image

Question: I’ve been noticing the term “control points” (CPs) being used in train-watching videos and in your magazine. The article on John Schindler’s amazing St. Louis Junction [March 2020] mentions CPs including West Madison, Gratiot, and Chicago Throat. Canadian Pacific’s Paynesville Sub has CP 115 and CP 70. This tells me CPs can be designated […]

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Remembering the Great Northern Railway

Steam locomotive with boxcars on prairie

  In 1857 the Minnesota & Pacific Railroad was chartered to build a line from Stillwater, Minnesota, on the St. Croix River, through St. Paul and St. Cloud to St. Vincent, in the northwest corner of the state. The company defaulted after completing a roadbed between St. Paul and St. Cloud, Minnesota, and its charter […]

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New model trains for the week of August 27, 2020

Bachmann Trains HO scale United States Railroad Administration 0-6-0 steam locomotive

HO scale locomotives United States Railroad Administration 0-6-0 steam locomotive. Pre-production artwork shown. Baltimore & Ohio, Central RR of New Jersey, New York Central System, Pennsylvania RR, and Union Pacific. Dual-mode TCS WOWSound Sound Value decoder with Keep-Alive capacitor, operating headlight, metal side rods, and E-Z Mate Mark II couplers. $329. Release date to be […]

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Remembering Lehigh & Hudson River Railway locomotives

Camelback steam locomotive seen from above and behind at a dirt road crossing.

Classic Trains editors are celebrating the heritage, history, and lore of famed (and infamous) railroads. In August 2020, we celebrate the Lehigh & Hudson River Railway. Please enjoy a collection of locomotive images located in the David P. Morgan Library archives at Kalmbach Media that include the L&HRs iconic locomotives and classic scenic photos. […]

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New model trains for the week of August 20, 2020

Bachmann Trains HO scale Pennsylvania RR class K4 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive

HO scale locomotives Pennsylvania RR class K4 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive. Prewar with slat pilot and postwar with modern pilot. Two road numbers each. Dual-mode TCS WOWSound decoder with Keep-Alive capacitor; separate, factory-applied injectors, pump, and piping; metal uncoupling levers; operating headlight; all-metal chassis; die-cast metal trailing truck; blackened-metal side rods; painted engineer and fireman […]

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Accucraft Adams Revival 4-4-2T steam locomotive

Accucraft live-steam Adams Radial 4-4-2T steam locomotive

  The British really got their money’s worth out of many of their steam locomotives. The first copies of the Adams Radial 4-4-2T (denoting it as a tank engine) were produced in 1882. The last ones were retired from service in 1961. It’s named after locomotive designer William Adams. “Radial” refers to the design of […]

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