Model Power HO scale Dockside Switcher

David Schoedel This is a great engine made by Model Power. It has an illuminated headlight and taillight, four-wheel electrical pickup and magnetic knuckle couplers. It can’t pull that many cars which is rather unfortunate. I got it to pull only three to four free-rolling freight cars on straight and level track. I would certainly […]

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Railbuses & Motor cars: Would you ride one of these?

Alaska Railroad

Railbuses & Motor cars Railbuses and motor cars have run all over North America. Here are some other outrageous conveyances rail passengers have sampled over the years. This Kalamazoo, Mich., railbus was operated by the Alaska Railroad during summers to transport passengers between Portage and Whittier, south of Anchorage. Known as the “Ice Worm,” the […]

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Great Northern Ry.

Name: Great Northern Ry. Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 21 x 35 feet Theme: freelanced GN Locale: Pacific Northwest Date: September 15, 1955 Style: walkaround Mainline run: 344 feet Minimum radius: 32″ (main), 18″ (industrial areas) Minimum turnout: no. 6 (main), no. 4 (industrial) Maximum grade: 2.5 percent (main), 3.5 percent (branch lines) Originally appeared in […]

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The Pender Steel & Iron Supply Co.

Name: The Pender Steel & Iron Supply Co. Scale: 1:24 proportion, 15″ gauge Size: 2 x 4 feet Theme: urban industry Locale: Vancouver, B.C., Canada Era: 1950s Style: island Mainline run: none Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: Peco no. 4 Maximum grade: none Originally appeared in the September 2009 issue of Model Railroader. Click here […]

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News & Products for July 23, 2009

Bachmann HO scale Union Pacific Electro-Motive Division DD40ax Centennial diesel locomotive

HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division GP38-2 diesel locomotive. BNSF Ry., CSX, Illinois Central, Iowa Interstate, Louisville & Nashville, and Penn Central. Two road numbers each. Factory-installed wire grab irons and McHenry scale magnetic knuckle couplers. $69.98. November 2009. Ready-to-Roll. Athearn Trains Bachmann HO scale Union Pacific Electro-Motive Division DD40ax Centennial diesel locomotive Union Pacific Electro-Motive […]

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Video: History according to Hediger 3

Freight cars by gray wooden depot

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Model Railroader Senior Editor Jim Hediger also has experience working on the real railroads. In this episode Jim talks about his job as a telegraph operator for the Wabash RR. You’ll also see some vintage photos of some places where Jim worked, including […]

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National Train Show 2009 final report

Athearn Trains HO scale Electro-Motive Division GP15 diesel locomotive

The National Model Railroad Association’s annual National Train Show was held in Hartford, Conn., from July 10-12. What follows is a list of new products announced by model railroad manufacturers exhibiting at the show. This list includes items not announced before the show; products revealed to Model Railroader before the show were listed in our […]

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Walthers HO scale transfer table

An operating transfer table is now part of the Cornerstone Series Built-Ups line from Walthers. The motorized plastic model also features operating lights. Common at railroad back shops, a transfer table makes it possible for equipment to be moved laterally, eliminating the need for turntables and complex switching moves. The Walthers transfer table has a […]

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Con-Cor International HO scale Electroliner

With a sharp looking model of the Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee’s iconic Electroliner interurban, Con-Cor has captured the romance of what some call the golden age of the streamliner. The HO scale ready-to-run model is accurately detailed inside and out and can be easily converted to Digital Command Control (DCC). A desperate gamble. The […]

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M.T.H. HO scale class J steam locomotive

Available in accurate early or late versions, the HO scale Norfolk & Western class J from M.T.H. Electric Trains is a great-looking model of one of the most recognizable locomotives to run on North American rails. The model includes the M.T.H. Digital Control System (DCS) for realistic lights, sounds, and smoke on DC, DCS, or […]

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