Ask Trains from September 2007

Q Lately I have noticed that many freight cars, including tank cars, boxcars, and hoppers, have five to seven vertical reflective strips on their sides. What’s the deal? — Frank C. Darling Jr., Wolcott, N.Y. A The objective is better nighttime visibility. In January 2005, the Federal Railroad Administration issued “The Final Rule on Reflectorization […]

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Ask Trains from May 2008

Q As a boy, I used to watch the magnificent Southern Pacific cab-forward steam locomotives on their way to Donner Summit in Northern California. Someone referred to them as Mallets. What’s the true definition of a Mallet? — C.W. Haffey, Bakersfield, Calif. A By definition, a Mallet (mal-LAY) is an articulated, meaning the two engine […]

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1948 20th Century Limited is Next Walthers Name Train

Walthers is pleased to officially announce its newest HO Scale name train – the world-famous 20th Century Limited. Like its famous prototype, the First Edition 20th Century Limited is completely “New from Diesels to Lookout Lounge!” For the first time, modelers can build a complete and affordable Century fleet with authentic replicas of the 1948 […]

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Athearn HO scale SD60M

Athearn Trains HO scale EMD SD60M A well-proportioned HO scale SD60M diesel locomotive with a dual-mode Digital Command Control (DCC) decoder with sound, detailed cab interior, and separately applied details is now part of the Athearn Genesis line. This newly tooled model (this isn’t an upgraded Rail Power Products shell) is based on the General […]

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News & Products for July 3, 2008

HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division SD40-2 diesel locomotive. Mexican National Ry., Milwaukee Road, Missouri Pacific, Montana Rail Link (one road number), and Norfolk Southern. Three road numbers unless specified. Prototype-specific details, 8-pin Digital Command Control socket, and McHenry scale magnetic knuckle couplers. $99.98. November 2008. Ready-to-Roll. Athearn Trains Southern Pacific Electro-Motive Division F7 diesel locomotive. […]

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News and products for the week of May 15, 2008

HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division FP9 and F9B diesel locomotives. Algoma Central (two numbers available for A unit, one for B unit), Canadian National (A and B units, four numbers each), Chicago & North Western (A unit only, four numbers), and CP Rail (A and B, four numbers each). Etched-metal details, wire grab irons, and […]

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Factory Direct Trains HO scale Trackmobile

Factory Direct Trains HO scale Trackmobile A ready-to-run die-cast metal Trackmobile 4850TM with a three-pole can motor, detailed cab interior, and acetal handrails is available from Factory Direct Trains. The bi-modal vehicle is the firm’s first model and is offered as a direct-current model and with Digital Command Control (DCC). The latter uses a North […]

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Athearn HO MP15AC diesel switcher

Athearn HO MP15AC diesel switcher The eagerly anticipated Athearn Genesis HO Electro-Motive Division MP15AC switcher is here, and its performance is worth the wait. This great-looking model is offered in a DC version without sound or with a dual-mode Digital Command Control (DCC) decoder that produces sound effects in either mode. These models have excellent […]

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Tom Danneman’s ideas for restyling BNSF

When Editor Wrinn mentioned his idea for an upcoming editorial (“BNSF, CSX, Please Buy a Vowel,”page 4, February 2008), I was in total agreement. I mentioned to him that since we were going ahead and renaming BNSF to Great Western, why don’t I fix their paint scheme while I’m at it. Jim thought that an […]

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News & Products for the week of December 27, 2007

HO scale locomotivesElectro-Motive Division F7A diesel locomotives. Western Pacific. Five-pole skew-wound motor with dual flywheels, screw-mounted chassis, and operating headlights and Mars lights. A-A set without sound $279.98, with dual-mode sound decoder $419.98. April 2008. Ready-to-run. Genesis. Athearn Trains HO scale freight carsEvans 50-foot double-plug-door boxcar. Wisconsin & Southern Strides Against Cancer. RP-25 contour metal […]

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News & Products for the week of November 21, 2007

HO scale locomotivesAlco C-424 and C-425 diesel locomotives. New paint schemes on C-424 are Canadian National (black-and-white stripes), Canadian Pacific (Action Red; maroon and gray), and Cuyahoga Valley Scenic RR (special edition). New paint schemes on C-425 are Burlington Northern, Pennsylvania RR (Brunswick Green), and Seminole Gulf (special edition). New road numbers on C-425s decorated […]

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