In Memoriam: John Kunzie. John Paul Kunzie of Woodstock, Ill., passed away on November 29, 2022, at the age of 87. He founded John’s Lab, a model railroad supply company after working for Johns Mansville and R.R. Donnelley. In 1976 he purchased Castolite, Inc., a producer of liquid resin. He also became a great mentor […]
Section: News
Erie-Lackawanna Alco PA1 from American Z Line
Erie-Lackawanna Alco PA1 from American Z Line Scale: Z (1:220) Price: Contact manufacturer Era: Late 1940s+ Manufacturer: American Z Line, 6142 Northcliff Blvd., Dublin, OH 43016; 614-764-1703; americanzline.com Erie-Lackawanna Alco PA1 features: Prototype specific details 7mm can motor Dual flywheels Directional light-emitting diode lighting Six-axle trucks with blind middle axle Blackened metal wheels Traction tires Optional snowplow and front coupler […]
Tangent Illinois Central Centralia Shops caboose
Tangent Illinois Central Centralia Shops caboose Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $119.95 Era: 1960s+ (varies depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Tangent Scale Models, P.O. Box 6514, Asheville, NC 28816; 828-412-3886; tangentscalemodels.com Illinois Central Centralia Shops caboose features: IC-specific interior Era-specific body details for each scheme, including multiple body, side vents and side window combinations Three different era and […]
National Steel Car barrel ore hopper from Rapido
National Steel Car barrel ore hopper from Rapido Scale: N (1:160) Price: Single car, $42.95; three-pack, $128.85; six-pack, $257.70 Era: 1967+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com National Steel Car barrel ore hopper features: Two carbodies representing short and long barrel […]
Bowser Manufacturing General Motors Diesel SD40-2, SD40-3, and SD40-2f
Bowser Manufacturing General Motors Diesel SD40-2, SD40-3, and SD40-2f Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: DC with 21-pin plug, $229.95; DCC LokSound V5 decoder, $329.95 Era: 1972+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Bowser Manufacturing Co. Inc., 1302 Jordan Ave., Montoursville, PA 17754; 570-368-2379; bowser-trains.com General Motors Diesel SD40 features: Road name specific details Road name specific fuel […]
Rapido United States Railroad Administration single-sheathed boxcar
Rapido United States Railroad Administration single-sheathed boxcar Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Single car, $49.95; six-pack, $299.70 Era: 1918+ Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com United States Railroad Administration single-sheathed boxcar features: New tooling Details including roof and handbrake KC or AB brakes as appropriate Wood or […]
Meet Larry Burk
Meet Larry Burk What was your first train set (or locomotive)? My first train set was a Revell freight train set my father built for me when I was 12 years old. I remember the switcher locomotive was Atlantic Coast Line purple/silver. My father also had an American Flyer S scale layout when I was a toddler. […]
Alco RS3-M “Chop Nose” diesel locomotive from Bowser
Alco RS3-M “Chop Nose” diesel locomotive from Bowser Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: DC locomotive, $249.95; DCC locomotive with LokSound V5, $349.95 Era: 1975+ Manufacturer: Bowser Manufacturing Co. Inc., 1302 Jordan Ave., Montoursville, PA 17754; 570-368-2379; bowser-trains.com Alco RS3-M “Chop Nose” diesel locomotive features: Prototypically-accurate long hood height Prototypical dynamic brake location Separate, factory-applied air houses, windshield […]
United States Railroad Administration “clone” boxcar from Rapido
United States Railroad Administration “clone” boxcar from Rapido Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Single car, $49.95; three-pack, $149.85; six-pack, $299.70 Era: 1920+ (depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com United States Railroad Administration “clone” boxcar features: New tooling KC or AB brakes as appropriate Murphy […]
Walthers container chassis two-pack in HO scale
Walthers container chassis two-pack in HO scale Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $39.98; undecorated, $37.98 Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com Walthers Container Chassis two-Pack features: New tooling Detail appropriate for intermodal terminals, loading docks & highway scenes Three standard lengths for international and domestic service (20-foot, 40-foot and […]
Procor 5280 covered hopper in HO scale from Rapido
Procor 5280 covered hopper in HO scale from Rapido Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Single car, $54.95; three-pack, $164.85; six-pack, $329.70 Era: Late 1970s+ Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Procor 5280 covered hopper features: Three styles of roof hatches: round, round with ribs and 20” vented […]
Walthers vintage gas station
Walthers vintage gas station Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $54.98 Era: 1960s Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218, 414-527-0770, walthers.com Walthers vintage gas station features: Office interior with counter Two lifts for service bays – assemble in up or down position Two complete islands with period pumps, oil displays & nonworking […]