1:29 scale, gauge-1 diesel switcherUSA TrainsPO Box 100Malden MA 02148Price: $299.95Web site: www.usatrains.com 1:29-scale model of an Alco S-4 diesel switcher;two motors; eight-wheel drive; fan-poweredsmoke unit; directional headlights; cab light; cabinterior; opening doors; mostly plastic construction;control switches for motor, lights, smoke,and sound (sound system not included); suppliedwith hook-and-loop as well as USA’s knuckle couplers;some minor […]
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Roundhouse Trains HO EMD Model 40 The first time I saw this tiny four-wheel EMD Model 40 switcher, I wondered if a prototype really existed. I soon learned that it’s an industrial switcher. Then the model surprised me by pulling a prototype-size load of 15 free-rolling freight cars, and I was really intrigued. On first […]
Precision Craft HO Reading T1-class 4-8-4 This HO scale “T Hog” will bring back memories of the Reading Rambles steam excursions of the late 1950s and early 1960s for an older generation of steam fans and of Chessie Steam Specials for more recent aficionados. This well-detailed, well-proportioned engine includes a dual-mode sound system that works […]
Märklin’s Central Station Märklin’s new digital Central Station, which combines a rich menu of features with a clear and intuitive interface, is not only an excellent piece of work, but also a look into what I hope will be the future of digital control systems. While most digital systems force the user to choose between […]
Atlas HO scale roundhouse I’m sure this new HO roundhouse from Atlas will find a good home on many layouts, as it has that railroady, big roundhouse feel, yet can still fit on a small layout. Roundhouses and their associated turntables are without a doubt among the most “railroady” of structures, and many model railroaders […]
Nary a modeler remains alive who can remember a time before Atlas Controllers, Selectors, and Connectors. Though sometimes scorned by electrical purists, Atlas electrical components have allowed many modelers to wire complex layouts following a sort of paint-by-numbers approach. Thus Atlas’ leap into DCC (Digital Command Control) with the Atlas Master DCC System represents both […]
Bachmann HO Climax With whirring rods and driveshafts, the Bachmann 50-ton two-truck class B Climax offers accurate detail and operation. The Spectrum model is based on Greenbrier & Durbin RR no. 3, one of the last survivors of these unique geared steam locomotives. 4 x 4 of the rails. Over a 40-year period, Climax built […]
Athearn Genesis HO scale F unit diesel Sound and a dual-mode DCC (Digital Command Control) decoders are the latest additions to Athearn’s models of Electro-Motive Division F units. When this new electronics package is combined with the smooth-running Genesis mechanism, you get a locomotive that’ll pull a prototype-size train and sound like a hard-working EMD […]
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Trix HO N5c cabin car The new Trix N5c Pennsylvania RR caboose, or “cabin car” in Pennsy parlance, is just as distinctive as any of the Pennsylvania RR’s home-built locomotives. It’s a superb rendition of the prototype, and it comes ready-to-run. Prototype. The N5c cabin car was a refinement of the more numerous N5, introduced […]
Bachmann’s HO Acela HHP8 A nicely detailed HO model of Amtrak’s ultra-modern Alstom/Bombardier HHP8 has been released in Bachmann’s Spectrum line. The ready-to-run model has terrific pulling power and can operate using conventional track power or – just like its real-world counterpart – it can draw current from an overhead catenary system. Prototype background. Amtrak […]
