If you love traveling around the country on the rails like I do, you probably want to know how to model modern Amtrak passenger train consists. Amtrak’s consists vary between regions and train-by-train. For instance, there is a height limit in the New York City area so any train going in or out of New […]
If you’re like me, you love riding Amtrak and modeling the trains you have ridden. But scale passenger equipment can get expensive, especially if you add lights and figures. The first two Amtrak cars that I got were Superliner coach and diner cars; I thought I needed to save up for a whole train. This […]
Q: I’m building a new layout using Kato HO scale Unitrack. I have read many different opinions on whether to solder all track joints. What’s the best practice? Some say that using terminal joiners on Kato Unitrack for connection to the DCC bus is OK, while others say they’re unreliable. I use terminal joiners every […]
Q: I was wondering, what would be a great way to get started in N scale? I have modeled in HO scale for a while, but I would like to have an N scale layout, since I’m downsizing. What would be some tips and tricks on N scale track and track laying, and what would […]
HO scale number 6 turnouts HO scale number 6 turnouts. Running trains in a circle or oval may hold your attention for a little bit, but eventually you’ll want your trains to go somewhere beyond that basic loop. That’s where turnouts enter the scene. Turnouts let you split one line into two, design yards, model […]
20 Amtrak locomotives featured in Model Railroader As we celebrate Amtrak week at Trains.com, we thought it would be fun to take a look back at 20 Amtrak locomotives featured in Model Railroader magazine over the past two decades. As I was compiling this list, I was surprised just how many Amtrak models were produced […]
What was your first train set (or locomotive)? In the second grade, I started reading Model Railroader in the school library. After a year of heavy lobbying, I got my first Tyco HO train set for Christmas in 1973. It had a powered Santa Fe F7A locomotive with a “dummy” F7B unit painted in the red-and-silver warbonnet […]
Learn about Kalmbach Books’ new Guide to Signals & Interlockings, Bachmann’s updated HO scale CB&Q offset caboose, Kato’s new N scale Gunderson Maxi-I five-unit articulated well car with containers, a modeling tip, and viewer mail in the new episode of Cody’s Office! […]
Learn about Kalmbach Books’ new Guide to Signals & Interlockings, Bachmann’s updated HO scale CB&Q offset caboose, Kato’s new N scale Gunderson Maxi-I five-unit articulated well car with containers, a modeling tip, and viewer mail in the new episode of Cody’s Office! […]
We take a look at Kato’s new 20th Century Limited train set. Learn how to get inside the passenger cars, and take a look at some of the cool details engineered into these all-new models. […]
We take a look at Kato’s new 20th Century Limited train set. Learn how to get inside the passenger cars, and take a look at some of the cool details engineered into these all-new models. […]
Electro-Motive Division GP38 and GP40 diesel locomotives. New numbers. GP38: Norfolk Southern (thoroughbred scheme, two numbers) and RJ Corman (red, silver, and white scheme). GP40: Baltimore & Ohio (blue and yellow) and Southern Pacific (speed lettering). New paint schemes. GP38: Conrail (American Revolution Bicentennial scheme in one road number, blue with white sill stripe in […]
