Athearn HO Southern Pacific EMD SD40 diesel locomotive The Southern Pacific SD40 features many prototype specific details and see-through fan grills. Second-generation diesel modelers looking for a heavy-duty six-axle road engine would do well to take a look at Athearn’s new Electro-Motive Division SD40. The model has prototype-specific details, wire grab irons, see-through fan grills, […]
Section: Staff Reviews
Digitrax Evolution advanced DCC starter set
Digitrax Evolution advanced DCC starter set Digitrax adds another advanced command station, the DCS210, and a new DT500 throttle to its Digital Command Control (DCC) lineup. The new throttle and command station are also key components of the firm’s Evolution DCC starter set. [Another new Digitrax product, the DCS240 advanced command station, was reviewed in […]
Bachmann SoundValue HO scale EMD E7A
Bachmann SoundValue HO scale EMD E7A Our review sample is sharply decorated in the Pennsyvlania RR Tuscan five-stripe paint scheme. Separate detail parts include handrails, horns, and windshield wipers. For those modeling passenger service in the last half of the 20th century, General Motors’ Electro-Motive Division E-units are essential. This EMD E7A from Bachmann Trains […]
Quick Look: Kato N scale SDP40F diesel locomotive
Kato N scale SDP40F diesel locomotive Price: Direct-current, $125; with ESU LokSound Digital Command Control and sound, $250 Manufacturer Kato USA Inc. 100 Remington Rd. Schaumburg, IL 60173 www.katousa.com Era: 1988 to 1994 (as decorated) Road names: Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (three road numbers) and BNSF Ry./Maersk (one number) Comments: Yes, we reviewed the […]
Quick Look: Wheels of Time HO 62-foot bulkhead flatcar
Wheels of Time HO 62-foot bulkhead flatcar Price: Bulkhead flat: $38.95; 3-pack, $116.85; 12-pack, $467.40. Plain deck (no bulkheads): $35.95; 3-pack, $107.85; 6-pack, $215.70. Manufacturer Wheels of Time P.O. Box 846 Mountain View, CA 94042 www.wheelsotime.com Era: 1966 to 1998 (as decorated) Road names: With bulkheads: Southern Pacific, Golden West Service, St. Louis Southwestern (Cotton […]
MTH HO scale New York City subway cars
MTH HO scale New York City subway cars The MTH model includes working headlight, marker lights, and local and express indicators. The lead car in the four-car set is powered and houses the Digital Command System and Proto-Sound 3.0 electronics. The unpowered cars have a rudimentary interior and overhead lighting. Next stop, Dyer Avenue! You […]
Bachmann HO scale SoundValue USRA light 4-6-2 Pacific
Bachmann HO scale SoundValue USRA light 4-6-2 Pacific The HO scale model features many separate detail parts, including wire handrails and metal running gear. A SoundTraxx decoder and speaker are in the tender. A passenger workhorse of the steam era joins Bachmann Trains’ HO scale SoundValue lineup with this United States Railway Administration (USRA) light […]
WalthersProto HO scale PRR BM70n RPO-baggage car
WalthersProto HO scale PRR BR70n RPO baggage car The car has a detailed interior made of several plastic moldings. Contacts at one end of the car provide electrical pickup for interior lighting (sold separately). Fully-fledged post offices on wheels, Railway Post Office cars used to be called the most profitable cars in a railroad’s fleet. […]
Quick Look: Atlas N scale Norfolk Southern gondola
Atlas N scale Norfolk Southern gondola Price: Single car, $25.95; three-pack, $77.95; six-pack, $155.70 Manufacturer Atlas Model Railroad Co. 378 Florence Ave. Hillside, NJ 07205 www.atlasrr.com Era: June 1993 to present (as decorated) Road names: Norfolk Southern (with yellow conspicuity stripes, test roller bearings stencil, MW scrap tie loading stencil, and 263K GRL 1993 scheme […]
Rivarossi HO scale UP Big Boy 4-8-8-4
Rivarossi HO scale UP Big Boy The Big Boy’s tender features an operating backup light. The detailed pilot deck includes a swingout scale-size coupler One of the largest and most powerful steam locomotives ever built is now available in HO scale equipped with a top-of-the-line Digital Command Control sound decoder. Just like the prototype, Rivarossi’s […]
Quick Look: Micro-Trains True-Scale couplers
Transition cars with a Magne-Matic coupler on one end and a True-Scale coupler on the other end are available in several body styles. Left: True-Scale coupler; right: Magne-Matic coupler Price: Four-pack, $3.45; 20-pack, $15.95 Comments: Micro-Trains recently debuted its True-Scale line of N scale coupler kits in short- and long-shank versions. Each kit contains knuckles, […]
Athearn HO scale EMD GP39-2
Athearn HO scale EMD GP39-2 Engineer’s side of the Athearn Trains HO scale EMD GP39-2 helps identify its prototype as a phase 1 version. The Athearn Genesis series models features many separate parts, including wire grab irons and eyebolts as well as see-through etched-metal rooftop fan grilles. The motor and gearboxes are mounted on a […]