MTH HO scale DM&IR 2-8-8-4 Yellowstone The MTH HO scale DM&IR Yellowstone features many separately applied detail parts. One of the last giants of the steam era, a Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 2-8-8-4 “Yellowstone,” comes to life in HO scale complete with sound, smoke, and pulling power that does its prototype proud. The MTH […]
Section: Staff Reviews
BlueRail Trains Bluetooth control board
Used in speakers, smartphones, and many other devices, Bluetooth is a technology that allows electronic devices to wirelessly communicate with one another. BlueRail Trains uses Bluetooth technology to allow model railroaders to control trains using an Android or Apple iOS smartphone or tablet. I reviewed a BlueRail-equipped Bachmann HO scale E-Z App Alco RS-3 in […]
ScaleTrains.com HO scale UP water tenders
ScaleTrains.com HO scale UP water tenders Both ends of the ScaleTrains.com tenders feature independently controlled lights. Union Pacific’s steam excursion program began almost as soon as the use of regular steam power ceased on the railroad in 1960. Over the years, the UP has operated FEF-3 4-8-4 no. 844 and Challenger 4-6-6-4 no. 3985 in […]
Broadway Limited Imports N scale PRR 4-8-2
BLI N scale PRR class M1b 4-8-2 steam locomotive Broadway Limited Imports N scale Pennsylvania RR class M1a 4-8-2 steam locomotive Detailed and smooth-running steam locomotives are cause for celebration among N scalers. They’re even more so when the engines in question feature onboard Digital Command Control (DCC) and sound. That’s the case with the […]
Atlas HO scale GE Dash 8-40BW diesel locomotive
Atlas HO scale Dash 8-40BW In August 2001, then-associate editor Jim Hediger lauded the HO scale Atlas Dash 8-40B for its performance and detail. With this 2016 release, the locomotive is available with a dual-mode ESU LokSound Select decoder, so it sounds as prototypical as it looks on both Digital Command Control (DCC) and direct-current […]
Quick Look: Menards HO scale assembled structures
Menards HO scale Dakota Cabinet Works Price: Dakota Cabinet Works, $69.99; Hobby Shop, $59.99 Manufacturer Menard Inc. 5101 Menard Dr. Eau Claire, WI 54703 www.menards.com Era: 1940s to present Comments: Menards, a Midwestern home-improvement store chain that’s seen success with its line of O scale model railroad cars and structures, is taking on the HO […]
ScaleTrains.com HO scale crude oil tank car
ScaleTrains.com HO scale crude oil tank car The Rivet Counter car (foreground) features a higher level of detail and printing than its Operator Line counterpart in the background. An HO scale TrinityRail 31,000-gallon crude oil tank car is the first freight car in ScaleTrains.com’s Operator and Rivet Counter product lines. The ready-to-run injection-molded plastic models […]
Kato N scale SDP40F and Amtrak Southwest Limited passenger train set
Kato N scale Electro-Motive Division SDP40F When Amtrak began operations in 1971, it inherited a mixed bag of locomotives and passenger cars from participating railroads. In order to survive, the decades-old equipment needed to be replaced. Amtrak’s first all-new locomotive was the General Motors’ Electro-Motive Division SDP40F. This locomotive is now offered by Kato in […]
Quick Look: Walthers HO scale American Car & Foundry 50-foot boxcar
Walthers HO scale American Car & Foundry 50-foot boxcar Price: $24.98 Manufacturer Wm. K. Walthers Inc. 5601 W. Florist Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53218 www.walthers.com Era: mid-1990s to present (as painted) Road names: Railbox (mid-1990s repaint and original schemes); Ashley, Drew & Northern; Minneapolis, Northfield & Southern; Port Huron & Detroit; and Vermont Ry. (SSI scheme). […]
Walthers HO scale Capitol Limited
The Walthers HO scale Capitol Limited is lead by two prototype-specific Electro-Motive Division E units EMD E9A, EMD E8Bm, PS baggage-dormitory-coffee shop-lounge, and Budd Slumbercoach sleeper Pullman-Standard 56-seat coach, Pullman Standard Strata-Dome coach, Pullman-Standard kitchen-dormitory, and Pullman-Standard 56-seat diner Budd Strata-Dome sleeper, Budd 16-4 sleeper, Pullman-Standard 10-6 sleeper, and Pullman-Standard 5-bedroom buffet lounge observation car […]
Rivarossi HO scale U28C diesel locomotive
Rivarossi HO scale U28C The 2,800-horsepower General Electric U28C was a transitional locomotive. As such, it shared components with its predecessor U25C in its early production, and its successor U30C in late production. Rivarossi is taking advantage of this circumstance to offer an early production U28C based on its previous U25C. Dimensions matched published figures […]
Model Rectifier Light Genie lighting controller
Model Rectifier Corp. Light Genie lighting controller Adding special lighting effects like flashing signals, flickering gas lamps, warning strobes, and rotating beacons to your model railroad has never been easier, thanks to Model Rectifier Corp.’s new Light Genie. The compact receiver can control 12 light outputs, each of which can power multiple bulbs or light-emitting […]