Taconite pellets roll south through Marion, Ohio, on Oct. 19, 2014, bound for AK Steel in Ashland, Ky. Photo by Brian Schmidt […]
Steel makin’ train
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New products from the September 2016 issue of Classic Toy Trains
A REGULAR ROAD RUNNER: Czech train maker ETS has announced a unique motorized unit to help cut costs on your transit line: the no. 200 Rail-Road-Bus. The model is rigged with rail wheels to provide your O scale patrons with a smooth and comfortable commute into Traintown. The vehicle costs $159 in two- or three-rail […]
O gauge Burlington Northern SD40 from Lionel
O gauge SD40 diesel from Lionel Price: $649.99 (no. 82276) Min Curve: O-54 Cmd Low: 3.6 smph Cnv Low: 5.8 smph High: 73.6 smph Drawbar pull: 2 lb., 5 oz. Features: Two can-style motors, coil couplers, Lionel Legacy command and sound system. Current-production road names: Burlington Northern, Chessie System (B&O), Clinchfield, Conrail, Conrail (Buy Bonds), […]
Atlas HO scale GE Dash 8-40BW diesel locomotive
Atlas HO scale Dash 8-40BW In August 2001, then-associate editor Jim Hediger lauded the HO scale Atlas Dash 8-40B for its performance and detail. With this 2016 release, the locomotive is available with a dual-mode ESU LokSound Select decoder, so it sounds as prototypical as it looks on both Digital Command Control (DCC) and direct-current […]
Quick Look: Menards HO scale assembled structures
Menards HO scale Dakota Cabinet Works Price: Dakota Cabinet Works, $69.99; Hobby Shop, $59.99 Manufacturer Menard Inc. 5101 Menard Dr. Eau Claire, WI 54703 www.menards.com Era: 1940s to present Comments: Menards, a Midwestern home-improvement store chain that’s seen success with its line of O scale model railroad cars and structures, is taking on the HO […]
ScaleTrains.com HO scale crude oil tank car
ScaleTrains.com HO scale crude oil tank car The Rivet Counter car (foreground) features a higher level of detail and printing than its Operator Line counterpart in the background. An HO scale TrinityRail 31,000-gallon crude oil tank car is the first freight car in ScaleTrains.com’s Operator and Rivet Counter product lines. The ready-to-run injection-molded plastic models […]
Tipping on trains
A dining car crew sets up for breakfast on the ‘Auto Train’ in 2012. Al DiCenso Q Having been a tipped employee, I know how important service and tips are to customers and employees alike. What would be an appropriate tip for average service for one guest in a roomette? What about tipping for meals […]
Kato N scale SDP40F and Amtrak Southwest Limited passenger train set
Kato N scale Electro-Motive Division SDP40F When Amtrak began operations in 1971, it inherited a mixed bag of locomotives and passenger cars from participating railroads. In order to survive, the decades-old equipment needed to be replaced. Amtrak’s first all-new locomotive was the General Motors’ Electro-Motive Division SDP40F. This locomotive is now offered by Kato in […]
Quick Look: Walthers HO scale American Car & Foundry 50-foot boxcar
Walthers HO scale American Car & Foundry 50-foot boxcar Price: $24.98 Manufacturer Wm. K. Walthers Inc. 5601 W. Florist Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53218 www.walthers.com Era: mid-1990s to present (as painted) Road names: Railbox (mid-1990s repaint and original schemes); Ashley, Drew & Northern; Minneapolis, Northfield & Southern; Port Huron & Detroit; and Vermont Ry. (SSI scheme). […]
Short line, short train
Pioneer Railcorp GP16 No. 1603 leads a westbound Napoleon, Defiance & Western train at Antwerp, Ohio, on Oct. 17, 2014, with just seven cars in tow. Photo by Brian Schmidt […]
MR Insider: July 2016
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page MR Insider host Jenny Maaske takes the show on the road to preview some of the videos set to arrive on MR Video Plus in July! You’ll see that Jenny isn’t the only MR or MRVP staffer out of the office, as Neil, […]
2016 National Train Show report, part 1
Athearn HO scale Electro-Motive Division GP40P-2 diesel locomotive HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division GP40P-2 diesel locomotive. Southern Pacific (American Revolution Bicentennial scheme in one road number, scarlet and gray in two numbers). Single rear headlight, detailed cab interior, long hood with steam generator, split fuel tank with steam generator water tank, and train indicator number […]
