Trix, HO scale, NYC USRA 2-8-2

Trix HO NYC light Mikado

The Trix HO NYC light Mikado is excellent. Let’s just begin with the controversial part, okay? The new Trix 2-8-2 Mikado is the best-looking mass-produced HO scale steam locomotive I’ve ever seen. Plus, it runs like a precision instrument. Is it perfect? Not quite, but it’s awfully good. The New York Central was best known […]

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Kato, HO scale, GE AC4400CW diesel

Kato's HO GE AC4400CW diesel

Kato’s HO GE AC4400CW diesel locomotive is a heavy-duty hauler. This contemporary General Electric six-axle road freight locomotive is the latest addition to Kato’s lineup of modern HO diesels. It’s a well-detailed model of GE’s 4,400-hp AC4400CW and features a smooth 12-wheel drive, magnetic couplers, and easy conversion to Digital Command Control (DCC). The AC4400CW […]

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Atlas, N scale, EMD SD24 locomotive

N scale EMD SD24

Atlas’ N scale EMD SD24 is dressed to impress. This sweet-running, finely detailed ready-to-run N scale model of Electro-Motive Division’s SD24 is made by Atlas Model Railroad Co. It’s offered in both low and high-nose version with optional Digital Command Control (DCC) decoders. The SD24 (Special Duty 2400 hp) was a milestone in EMD’s history–the […]

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Bachmann, HO scale, USRA 2-6-6-2

Bachmann's HO USRA 2-6-6-2

Bachmann’s HO USRA 2-6-6-2 is a compact powerhouse. This chunky USRA 2-6-6-2 is a powerful model that’s capable of operating on 18″-radius curves. It’s the first HO articulated locomotive in the Bachmann Spectrum line. The model represents a prototype locomotive developed by the United States Railroad Administration (USRA) during the First World War. The USRA […]

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Atlas, HO scale, GE U30C

Atlas HO scale GE U30C

The DC version is fitted with an NMRA-recommended receptacle and jumper plug at the rear of the PC board for easy conversion to DCC. A powerful model of a General Electric U30C six-axle heavy-duty road switcher is now available ready-to-run with and without Digital Command Control (DCC) decoders. Like earlier Atlas HO models, the decoder-equipped […]

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Life-Like, HO scale, Alco RS-11

Life-Like's HO Alco RS-11

Life-Like’s HO Alco RS-11 features eye-catching detail. A whole new level of detail has been introduced in the Proto 1000 line with this ready-to-run HO scale Alco RS-11 road switcher. It’s detailed with dozens of individual parts that Life-Like formerly omitted on its more spartan Proto 1000 models. This RS-11 captures the rugged good looks […]

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Broadway Limited Imports, HO scale, PRR Duplex 4-4-4-4

Broadway Limited Imports' class T1 duplex-drive 4-4-4-4 steam passenger locomotive

Broadway Limited Imports’ class T1 duplex-drive 4-4-4-4 steam passenger locomotive. The T1’s single motor drives both driver sets while the dual-mode (DC or DCC) electronic controls and sound system are concealed in the tender. Air tanks, PRR train-phone antennas, the top end of the water scoop, and a pair of water hatches are included on […]

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LGB, 1:26 scale, New Orleans streetcar

LGB, 1:26 scale, New Orleans streetcar

This New Orleans streetcar captures the nostalgic look and feel of big city street transit from the 1920s to the present. Made by LGB, it’s a big, impressive traction model to run or display in your den. This weather-resistant model has some great details and features, and is decoder-equipped for ready-to-run action on analog DC […]

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Branchline Trains, HO scale, NYC coach

Branchline Trains' NYC passenger car

Branchline Trains’ NYC passenger car In an editorial on the state of the art in passenger car modeling (January 2000 Model Railroader), I wrote that we were still missing the passenger equivalents of the best plastic mass-produced freight car kits. The new HO scale heavyweight coach kit from Branchline Trains is an answer to that […]

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Hump Yard Purveyance mechanical lever kits for interlocking plants

Hump Yard Purveyance's interlocking levers

Hump Yard Purveyance’s interlocking levers are useful for all scales. These mechanical controls represent prototypes that once operated railroad interlocking plants. They can be used to control switch points or signals on a model railroad. Each kit contains a sprue of molded lever parts, six-foot lengths of Teflon tubing containing a push-pull wire, plus the […]

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Rivarossi HO scale UP Streamliner passenger cars

Rivarossi HO UP Streamliner passenger cars

Rivarossi HO UP Streamliner passenger cars Two new Union Pacific streamlined passenger cars of the 1950s have been released by Rivarossi. These classic smooth-side coach and dome-observation cars come ready-to-run with interior details, free-rolling plastic and metal trucks, and magnetic knuckle couplers. The book Union Pacific Streamliners, by Harold Ranks and William Kratville, includes UP […]

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