Obituaries: Jerry Williams 1937-2016

Jerome (Jerry) M. Williams, founder of Williams Reproductions, died November 1, 2016. He was born March 1, 1937. In 1969, he and Fred Mill founded Classic Models Corporation, producing new standard-gauge model trains. Several years later he parted with Mills to form Williams Reproductions Limited, which made reproductions of popular tinplate Ives and Lionel models. […]

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Meet members of the Model Railroader staff at Trainfest 2016

 Trainfest, America’s largest operating model railroad show, will be held on Saturday, November 12, and Sunday, November 13, 2016, from 9 AM to 5 PM at the Wisconsin Exposition Center at State Fair Park in West Allis, Wis. The show will feature more than 70 model railroad displays and more than 100 hobby manufacturers and […]

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New model trains for the week of November 3, 2016

Märklin HO scale Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe 2-8-2 Mikado steam locomotive

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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Member Video: Bob Murphy’s New Haven Railroad

Bob Murphy's New Haven Railroad

The video is of my New Haven layout. My father was a conductor and a trainmaster on the New Haven, so the layout brings back many fond memories of talking trains with him when I was youngster. The video was shot and edited by Jim Spavins who gets the credit for its professional quality. […]

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Member Video: Bob Murphy’s New Haven Railroad

Bob Murphy's New Haven Railroad

The video is of my New Haven layout. My father was a conductor and a trainmaster on the New Haven, so the layout brings back many fond memories of talking trains with him when I was youngster. The video was shot and edited by Jim Spavins who gets the credit for its professional quality. […]

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HO scale Western Pacific Railroad

HOscaleWesternPacificRR

Name: Western Pacific RR Layout owner: Jim Pendley Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 20 x 46 feet Prototype: Western Pacific Locale: California’s Sierra Nevada Time periods: 1960s, early 1970s, early 1980s, mid-1980s Style: walkaround Mainline run: 220 feet Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: no. 8 (main), no. 6 (yards) Maximum grade: 1.5 percent Benchwork: L-girder and […]

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HO scale Iowa Interstate RR Grimes Line

IowaInterstateRRGrimesindustrialTrack

Name: Iowa Interstate RR Grimes Line Layout designer: James McNab Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 12′-0″ x 18′-8″ Prototype: IAIS Grimes Industrial Track Locale: Greater Des Moines, Iowa Period: September 2008 Style: linear walkaround Mainline run: 52 feet Minimum radius: 22″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: none Originally appeared in Great Model Railroads 2015. Click […]

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Walthers HO scale SD45 diesel

Walthers HO scale SD45 diesel locomotive

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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Quick Look: Moloco HO General American 50-foot insulated boxcar

Moloco HO General American 50-foot insulated boxcar

Moloco HO General American 50-foot insulated boxcar Price: $49.99 Manufacturer Moloco 302-5025 Harvard Rd. Mississauga, ON L5M 0W6 Canada www.molocotrains.com Road names: Conrail, Milwaukee Road (Hydra-Cushion), Missouri Pacific, Rock Island, and Wabash. Four road numbers per scheme. Era: 1987 to late 1990s (as decorated) Comments: Moloco has released a new run of highly detailed HO […]

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Video: GoodDeals DCC Test Track

GoodDeals DCC Test Track

At the National Train Show 2016 held in Indianapolis, Ind., the Model Railroader staff came across a line of professionally built test tracks from Good Deals DCC. Gary Cohn, president of Good Deals DCC, custom-built a 15-foot long version for the Model Railroader workshop. Follow along as Gary shows senior editor Dana Kawala how to […]

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Video: GoodDeals DCC Test Track

GoodDeals DCC Test Track

At the National Train Show 2016 held in Indianapolis, Ind., the Model Railroader staff came across a line of professionally built test tracks from Good Deals DCC. Gary Cohn, president of Good Deals DCC, custom-built a 15-foot long version for the Model Railroader workshop. Follow along as Gary shows senior editor Dana Kawala how to […]

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Ask MRVP: Episode 18

David Popp standing behind a video camera pointing his finger.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page MRVP answer man David Popp is never afraid to field your tricky questions! This month, David, with help from MR’s Neil Besougloff and Cody Grivno, tackles topics related to adding decals, improving locomotive and rolling stock performance, selecting era-appropriate details, building bridges, turntable […]

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