New large-scale products for February 2014

Bachmann boxcar Ozark Miniatures Inc. boxcar kit DeAgostini and ModelSpace locomotive Locomotives & rolling stock Bachmann Trains, 1400 East Erie Avenue, Philadelphia PA 19124, is offering Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey rolling stock for separate sale, as follows: Jackson & Sharp Coach #73 ($135); Water Tanker ($110); a choice of two Tableau Wagons on […]

Read More…

O gauge armored train by Lionel (MTH)

Armored trains have quite a history, dating back as far as the American Civil War. Trains offered speed and flexibility for the movement of troops and supplies and could serve as artillery platforms. Of course, once that advantage was realized, opponents sought ways to interdict the movement through placement of mines, destruction of bridges and […]

Read More…

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 […]

Read More…

Kato N scale SD40-2 diesel locomotive

Kato N scale SD402 diesel locomotive When Electro-Motive Division ­introduced the SD40-2 in January 1972, it quickly became the most popular 6-axle road switcher in history, selling almost 4,000 units to numerous railroads across North America. Kato USA is reissuing an N scale model of the SD40-2 the company originally introduced in 2000. The SD40-2 […]

Read More…

iHobby Expo show report

Atlas Model Railroad Co. HO scale Alco C-424 diesel locomotive HO scale locomotives Alco C-424 and C-425 diesel locomotives. New paint schemes. C-424 Phase II: Erie Mining (one road number); Springfield Terminal (Guilford scheme); and Toledo, Peoria & Western (two numbers). C-424 Phase III: Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, and Morristown & Erie (two numbers). C-425 […]

Read More…

MTH O gauge TRAXX F14 Electric

Let’s face it. Electrified mainline railway operations in the United States have been small potatoes on the world scene. Sure, the Pennsylvania, New Haven, and Virginian lines were neat and functional, but the rest of the globe embraced electric traction far more extensively than did the United States. Innovation in the realm of electrics belongs […]

Read More…

Norfolk Southern heritage: then and now

FULL SCREEN Top, photo courtesy of Norfolk Southern Corp.; bottom, Robert Palmer photo Top: The first NS heritage unit, ES44AC No. 8098, poses in Conrail blue at Altoona Shops on March 15, 2012. Bottom: Conrail SD60 6702, GP40-2 3220, and an unidentified GE lead a Philadelphia-to-Bethlehem iron ore train out of Black Rock Tunnel near […]

Read More…

Railroad timeline, 1950-1989

1950: Dieselization – Ten Class 1 railroads had already dieselized before this year, including the Atlanta & St. Andrews Bay; Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville (Monon); Columbus & Greenville; Detroit & Mackinac; Elgin, Joliet & Eastern; Gulf, Mobile & Ohio; Lehigh & New England; New York, Ontario & Western; New York, Susquehanna & Western; and Texas-Mexican. […]

Read More…

Miniature Garden Guidebook

Miniature Garden Guidebook by Nancy Norris Published by Kalmbach Publishing Co. PO Box 1612 Waukesha WI 53187 112 pages, 8¼” x 10¾” Softbound, color photos throughout Price: $21.85 Website: www.kalmbachbooks.com Nancy Norris, Horticultural Editor for this magazine, has put together this handy guidebook that railroad gardeners, from novices to green-thumbers, will find useful. It is […]

Read More…

Atlas Model Railroad Co. NRE Genset diesel switcher

Its basic lines may look like just another switcher, but this new Atlas HO scale model is of a 21st century locomotive with a unique, environmentally friendly design. The National Railway Equipment 3GS21B Genset switcher is in service on today’s railroads. The direct-current Atlas Genset has an eight-pin plug for a Digital Command Control (DCC) […]

Read More…