Why do railroads use signals?

A train passes in front of a large mountain in the background

A common question newcomers to model railroading ask is “Why do railroads use signals?” The quick answer is to keep trains moving safely. But the topic of railroad signals deserves more of an explanation. The evolution of railroad signals When trains are running in the same direction on the same line, in opposite directions on […]

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News & Products for the week of September 3rd 2024

A black model steam locomotive

News & Products for the week of September 3rd 2024   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 September 3rd […]

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News & Products for the week of August 26th 2024

A collection of model cabooses in various paint schemes

News & Products for the week of August 26th 2024   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 August 26th […]

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Tom Kaiser’s O gauge layout

overview of toy train layout

Name: Tom Kaiser’s O gauge layout Dimensions: 10½ x 11 feet Track: Lionel FasTrack (diameters range from 31 to 60 inches) Motive power: Atlas O, K-Line, Lionel, MTH, Ready Made Trains, Williams Rolling stock: K-Line, Lionel, Menards, MTH, Ready Made Trains, Williams Controls: MRC transformers (2) Accessories: K-Line, Lionel, Marx Structures: Bachmann, K-Line, Lionel, MTH, Plasticville U.S.A., scratchbuilt   See more in the […]

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Walthers HO scale EMD SD9

Side view of HO scale diesel painted orange, green, yellow, and black.

Wm. K. Walthers Inc. has released a new run of its Proto-series Electro-Motive Division (EMD) SD9 road switcher. The HO scale model features an injection-molded plastic body; die-cast metal chassis; and a mix of plastic, etched-metal, formed wire, and cast brass detail parts. Prototype history Electro-Motive Division produced the SD9 from January 1954 to June […]

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News & Products for the week of August 19th 2024

A black and orange model caboose

News & Products for the week of August 19th 2024   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 August 19th […]

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Art Volz’s O gauge layout

overview of toy train layout

Name: Art Volz’s O-27 gauge layout Dimensions: 10 x 20 feet Track and switches: Lionel (diameters range from 27 to 31 inches) Motive power: Lionel (postwar, modern) Rolling stock: Lionel (postwar, modern), Menards Controls: Lionel Nos.1033, 1034, type-ZW transformers Accessories: Lionel, MTH Structures: Atlas O, Lionel, Menards, MTH, scratchbuilt, Woodland Scenics See more in the Fall 2024 issue of Classic Toy Trains! See Art’s track […]

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News & Products for the week of August 12th 2024

A navy blue and yellow model locomotive

News & Products for the week of August 12th 2024   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 August 12th […]

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News & Products for the week of August 5th 2024

A red and white model locomotive

News & Products for the week of August 5th 2024   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 August 5th […]

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A real-world industry you can model

A freight crane is posed above multiple freight shipping containers in various colors

While on a recent trip to the National Model Railroad Association’s Southeast Regional Convention in Decatur, Ala., I was fortunate enough to go on a trip to Huntsville’s International Intermodal Center. Right when our van arrived in the parking lot, I knew that this would be a perfect real-world industry that anyone can model on […]

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News & Products for the week of July 29th 2024

A gray and yellow model locomotive against a white background

News & Products for the week of July 29th 2024   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 July 29th […]

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News & Products for the week of July 22nd 2024

A model locomotive in a green and yellow paint scheme

News & Products for the week of July 22nd 2024   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 July 22nd […]

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