New model trains for the week of January 19, 2017

Atlas Model Railroad HO scale 1932 American Railway Association boxcar HO scale freight cars 1932 American Railway Association boxcar. New paint schemes: Soo Line (modern), Erie (1945 repaint), Pennsylvania RR (fictional paint scheme on two road numbers), Missouri Pacific (“Route of the Eagles” slogan), Roberval Saguenay, Seaboard Air Line (1934-37 scheme), and Western Maryland. Three […]

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New toy train products from the February 2017 issue

SPECIAL VALUE CARS: Three new cars have been added to the Menards line of O gauge rolling stock. The nos. 279-3178 Chesapeake & Ohio flatcar with die-cast metal concrete mixer and 279-3476 Pennsylvania RR flatcar with excavator. The excavator has lights and sounds that activate with the press of a button. The latest addition to […]

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New model trains for the week of December 1, 2016

Athearn HO scale Electro-Motive Division SD39 diesel locomotive HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division SD39 diesel locomotive. Illinois Terminal; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (four road numbers); Minneapolis, Northfield & Southern (two numbers); Norfolk & Western; and Southern Pacific (four numbers). Three road numbers per scheme unless noted; also available undecorated. Railroad-specific details, factory-installed and painted […]

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New toy train products from the January 2017 issue

44 TONNER TIMES TWO: Williams by Bachmann has added two road names to its list of General Electric 44-ton locomotives: nos. 23106 Canadian National and 23107 Union Pacific. The O gauge diesels require O-27 or wider-diameter curves and feature die-cast metal trucks and frame, dual flywheel-equipped motors, scale dimensions, and the True Blast Plus sound […]

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MTH HO scale EMD GP38-2

MTH HO scale GP38-2 diesel locomotive The HO scale locomotive’s die-cast metal frame encloses the motor, flywheels, and gear towers. The printed-circuit board is attached to the top. The MTH Ready-2-Rail model’s molded detail is well-defined and matches the prototype. The handrails are flexible plastic to resist breaking. A four-axle road switcher that would look […]

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Trainfest 2016 show report

Athearn Trains HO scale General Electric ES44DC HO scale locomotives General Electric ES44DC. BNSF Ry. (Heritage II and III schemes), CSX (primer gray and as-delivered schemes), Norfolk Southern (primer gray and horsehead silhouette). Four road numbers per scheme (primer gray in two numbers each). Detailed cab interior, illuminated ditch lights, and railroad-specific cab detail. Direct-current […]

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New model trains for the week of November 3, 2016

HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division SD39 diesel locomotive. Andesite Rock Co. (Denver & Rio Grande Western scheme, two road numbers); Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Boston & Maine (Guilford scheme); Southern Pacific; Minneapolis, Northfield & Southern (two numbers); and Progressive Rail (one number). Four numbers per scheme unless noted. Factory-installed grab irons, Flexicoil-C trucks with […]

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Trains Presents: CN in Stevens Point, Wis.

Trains Magazine Assistant Editor Brian Schmidt takes you to Stevens Point, Wis., for a day of Canadian National freight action in October 2016. You’ll learn the best places in town to watch trains, and see unique motive power from CN, Illinois Central, and Wisconsin Central. Learn more about CN’s Chicago to Winnipeg corridor in the […]

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Trains Presents: CN in Stevens Point, Wis.

Trains Magazine Assistant Editor Brian Schmidt takes you to Stevens Point, Wis., for a day of Canadian National freight action in October 2016. You’ll learn the best places in town to watch trains, and see unique motive power from CN, Illinois Central, and Wisconsin Central. Learn more about CN’s Chicago to Winnipeg corridor in the […]

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Walthers HO scale SD45 diesel

Walthers HO scale SD45 diesel locomotive From its flared radiators to its Flexicoil trucks, the HO scale SD45 from WalthersProto captures the look of this second-generation diesel. All the versions offered also feature roadname- and era-specific detailing. I tested a Wisconsin Central Ry. version that came equipped with a SoundTraxx Tsunami decoder. The prototype. With […]

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Early Amtrak trains in color

FULL SCREEN John F. Bjorklund, Collection of the Center for Railroad Photography & Art In its early days, Amtrak relied solely on equipment provided by its member railroads. The passenger carrier is barely two months old in this Independence Day view from Chicago in 1971, where train No. 18, the eastbound Super Chief-El Capitan, still […]

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