Athearn Trains HO scale GE ES44AC GEVO diesel locomotive

Athearn Trains HO scale GE ES44AC GEVO diesel locomotive A mainstay of today’s main lines, the General Electric Evolution Series (GEVO) ES44AC is now available as part of the Athearn Genesis line of superdetailed HO scale locomotives. We tested a BNSF and a Union Pacific version. Both models feature prototype-specific detailing and a SoundTraxx Digital […]

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Reflections on the N scale convention

Each person who attended the N scale convention banquet received a special souvenir car compliments of Micro-Trains. That’s one mighty big wheel of cheese! The National N Scale Convention came to town this past June, so I spent a busy spring in the basement getting the layout ready for visitors. As usual, I made a list […]

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Sustainability for lasting enjoyment

When we start out, we intend to make our dream come true. Our piqued imagination and the enthusiasm of fellow modelers are necessary to sustain us through the long construction process. Long-term and second-go-round railroad gardeners have used strong building materials for their walks, retaining walls, railroad and structures. They researched the plants to find […]

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Sunset Valley Railroad curved switches

Kevin Strong Gauge 1, code-250 curved switch with 1:20.3-scale ties Sunset Valley Railroad21616 23rd St. Ct. E.Lake Tapps WA 98391Prices: Brass rails, $118; stainless rails, $129Website: www.svrronline.com Gauge-1, curved switch with either brass or stainless-steel rails; plastic ties; outer radius, 90″; inner radius, 38″; #4 frog; standard ties are 1:20.3 scale but 1:32 ties can […]

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Bowser HO scale C-630M diesel locomotive

Bowser HO scale C-630 diesel locomotive Modelers of Canadian roads in HO scale will be pleased with Bowser’s latest Executive Line locomotive release. The manufacturer has modified its Alco C-630 model with prototypically accurate details to represent C-630M locomotives built by Montreal Locomotive Works, Alco’s Canadian division. The M designation indicated that the engine had […]

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Aristo-Craft 2-8-0 Consolidation

Kevin Strong 1:29 scale, gauge-1 2-8-0Aristo-Craft Trains698 S. 21st St.Irvington NJ 07111Price: $891Website: www.aristocraft.com Plastic model of a 2-8-0, based on the Baltimore & Ohio E-27-class Consolidations. Dimensions: length, 29″ over couplers (70′ scale); width, 4″ (9.6′ scale); height, 6.5″ to top of stack (15.7′ scale). Minimum radius, 4′ (8′ diameter) Pros: Smooth, quiet motor […]

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A steam up in Nebraska

1. Scratchbuilt, battery-powered brass steam locomotive. The author could not bring his live steam engine because of airport inspection. Yukio Nakagawa 2. Durham Western Heritage Museum, formerly the Union Pacific, Omaha Station. Yukio Nakagawa 3. Present Amtrak Omaha Station. Just one passenger train a day stops here. Yukio Nakagawa 4.House of Trains store in Omaha. […]

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A steam up in Nebraska

1. Scratchbuilt, battery-powered brass steam locomotive. The author could not bring his live steam engine because of airport inspection. Yukio Nakagawa 2. Durham Western Heritage Museum, formerly the Union Pacific, Omaha Station. Yukio Nakagawa 3. Present Amtrak Omaha Station. Just one passenger train a day stops here. Yukio Nakagawa 4.House of Trains store in Omaha. […]

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Athearn N scale Bombardier bi-level cars

Athearn N scale Bombardier bi-level cars Price: Coach or cab car, $28.98; three-coach set, $84.98 ManufacturerAthearn Trains1600 Forbes Way, Suite 120Long Beach, CA 90810www.athearn.com Era: 1976 to present Road names: Northstar Commuter, Metrolink, New Mexico DOT (RailRunner), North County Transit District (Coaster), Trinity Rail Express, Utah Front RunnerN scale modelers have more options to model […]

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MTH trains Baldwin VO-1000 diesel-electric locomotive

Gary Raymond 1:32 scale, gauge 1, ready-to-run, Baldwin VO-1000 diesel-electric locomotiveMTH Trains 7020 Colombia Gateway DriveColumbia MD 21046Price: $429.95Website: www.mthtrains.com Plastic model of a Baldwin VO-1000 diesel-electric locomotive; modular electrical connections and car body; two, two-axle power trucks; one motor per truck; directional front and rear headlights; lighted number boards; interior cab light and details; […]

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Fox Valley Models N scale ES44AC diesel locomotive

Fox Valley Models N scale ES44AC diesel locomotive A General Electric ES44AC is the debut locomotive from Fox Valley Models. The direct-current ready-to-run N scale model, based on GE’s Evolution Series locomotive, uses a split-frame mechanism and features numerous railroad-specific details. A package of modeler- installed etched-metal and wire details is also included. The GE […]

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MTH O gauge French Railways 4-6-2

BEING A PROUD AMERICAN MODEL RAILROADER, I love our great heritage of O gauge 4-8-4 Northerns, and 4-8-2 Mountains, and the endless line of 4-6-4 Hudsons rolling along North American main lines. So let me note that it is really, really conflicting for me to say that the most intricately detailed die-cast metal locomotive that […]

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