Rapido Trains HO General Electric U25B

Title screen from Product Review video featuring HO scale road locomotive painted blue and yellow.

Samples of the newly tooled Rapido Trains HO General Electric U25B diesel locomotive recently arrived at the Model Railroader offices. Join senior editor Cody Grivno as he points out features on the road units, demonstrates some of the sound and light functions, and operates a short freight train. We received samples decorated for Atchison, Topeka […]

Read More…

Rapido Trains HO General Electric U25B

Title screen from Product Review video featuring HO scale road locomotive painted blue and yellow.

Samples of the newly tooled Rapido Trains HO General Electric U25B diesel locomotive recently arrived at the Model Railroader offices. Join senior editor Cody Grivno as he points out features on the road units, demonstrates some of the sound and light functions, and operates a short freight train. We received samples decorated for Atchison, Topeka […]

Read More…

Menards releases two new train sets

box of train set

Menards has released an O gauge Santa Fe starter set (2759202). The set includes a locomotive, a caboose with lights, a wireless remote control, 8 sections of O-36 tubular track, 1 section of 10″ straight track, 1 section of 10″ straight track with power connection, and 1 18-volt power adaptor. The engine features two motors, […]

Read More…

How to store diesel locomotives in North America

Yellow diesel locomotives parked together in a line.

How to store diesel locomotives: The changing traffic levels of a railroad can affect the number of locomotives it operates. Outside of the effects of Precision Scheduled Railroading, which significantly reduces how many locomotives are needed, other factors such as losing a major contract to haul goods or the end of a cyclical demand, like […]

Read More…

News & Products for the week of October 9th 2023

Three model cabooses in various paint jobs

News & Products for the week of October 9th 2023   Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of October 9th […]

Read More…

Lionel E8/E9 AA unit set

turquoise engine on layout

The Lionel E8/E9s were one of several amazing announcements coming out the Volume 1 2023 catalog.  If you’re into passenger trains, these engines are definitely for you!  With speeds of up to 117 mph thanks to 2,250 hp [2,400 hp for the E9s—Ed.] , these E units were a staple for leading passenger trains over […]

Read More…

News photo: NJ Transit’s latest heritage locomotive

Black and yellow diesel locomotive

NJ Transit has unveiled its latest heritage unit, painted for the Erie Railroad, one of its commuter-rail predecessors. The commuter operator released the photo of GP40PH-2B No. 4210 this weekend in Erie’s black-and-gold paint scheme, noting the railroad “held a large presence in the North Jersey commuter rail scene” and operated on what are now […]

Read More…

Metra EMD F40C diesel locomotives

Blue, white, and silver EMD F40C diesel locomotives with red nose stripes

  EMD F40C diesel locomotives were six-axle, 3,200-hp units built for Chicago-area commuter service in 1974. They were found on two Milwaukee Road-operated routes out of Union Station, one west to Elgin and one north to Fox Lake. The units had a cowl body like the Amtrak SDP40F of 1973, but used an alternator to […]

Read More…

Pacific Southern Railway in HO scale

With a mainline run of more than 1,000 feet, this freelanced HO scale (1:87.1) club layout is quite impressive! But the fact that the established Pacific Southern Railway Club 501(c)(3) nonprofit raises funds for a local emergency services definitely makes this model railroad a stand-out/stand-up amongst some of the finest in the hobby! To learn […]

Read More…

Progress Rail delivers hybrid locomotives for freight use in Brazil

Blue and white locomotives exit building

PINHAIS, Brazil — Progress Rail has delivered two hybrid EMD GT38H locomotives to Rumo, Brazil’s largest railway operator, which will become the first hybrids in revenue freight service. The locomotives include both a diesel-electric system and battery packs, drawing energy to power the traction motors from the diesel generator and the bank of batteries. Rumo […]

Read More…

Pacific Southern Railway in HO scale

With a mainline run of more than 1,000 feet, this freelanced HO scale (1:87.1) club layout is quite impressive! But the fact that the established Pacific Southern Railway Club 501(c)(3) nonprofit raises funds for a local emergency services definitely makes this model railroad a stand-out/stand-up amongst some of the finest in the hobby! To learn […]

Read More…