Athearn HO scale General Electric C44-9W diesel locomotive

Red and gray train locomotive with "BNSF" on the side

General Electric C44-9W diesel locomotive Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin NEM connector and factory-installed speakers, $169.99 Era: 1990s to mid-2000s+ (varies depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com General Electric C40-9W diesel locomotive features: Body-mounted McHenry knuckle couplers Road-name-specific horn, snow plow, rear grills, trucks, and antennas Factory […]

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40-foot intermodal chassis from Athearn

Blue, flat semi trailer

40-foot intermodal chassis Scale: HO (1:87:1) Price: Two-pack, $39.99 Era: 1980s to present Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com 40-foot chassis features: Rubber tires Printed mud flaps Raised and lowered landing gear Release date: September 2023 Paint schemes: American Presidential Lines (blue), Flexi-Van (black), TRAC Intermodal (black), Genstar (orange), “K” Line […]

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Athearn HO scale intercity bus

Red and orange 1940s intercity bus

HO scale intercity bus Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $31.99 Era: 1940s to 1970s+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822, 800-338-4639, athearn.com Features: Rubber tires Windshield wipers Interior detail Available: September 2023 Paint schemes: Pacific Electric (red and orange with Long Beach destination board), band on tour (green and […]

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Rapido Trains HO scale barrel ore hoppers

Screen capture of two HO scale freight cars

Rapido Trains HO scale barrel ore hoppers Join Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he reviews the new HO scale National Steel Car barrel ore hoppers from Rapido Trains. The models are offered in 35- and 42-foot versions and are decorated for Canadian National and Ontario Northland in various paint schemes. The ready-to-run barrel ore hoppers […]

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Rapido Trains HO scale barrel ore hoppers

Screen capture of two HO scale freight cars

Rapido Trains HO scale barrel ore hoppers Join Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he reviews the new HO scale National Steel Car barrel ore hoppers from Rapido Trains. The models are offered in 35- and 42-foot versions and are decorated for Canadian National and Ontario Northland in various paint schemes. The ready-to-run barrel ore hoppers […]

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ScaleTrains debuts Pullman-Standard 5,820-cubic-foot capacity covered hopper

Photo of blue HO scale covered hopper on scenicked base.

Pullman-Standard 5,820-cubic-foot capacity covered hopper A Pullman-Standard 5,820-cubic-foot capacity covered hopper was unveiled at the ScaleTrains booth during the St. Louis Railroad Prototype Modelers Meet in Collinsville, Ill., on July 29. The HO scale freight car, scheduled for release in February 2023, will be offered in the company’s Rivet Counter and Operator lines. Road names […]

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Tangent Scale Models unveils new HO scale freight car

Photo of orange HO scale boxcar on white background

Gunderson Bros. HO scale freight car Tangent Scale Models unveiled a Gunderson Bros. 50-foot 6,089-cubic-foot capacity high-cube double-plug-door boxcar at the St. Louis Railroad Prototype Modelers meet in Collinsville, Ill., on Friday, July 29. This is Tangent’s second new freight car release in 2022. The model, in stock now, is decorated for Denver & Rio […]

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Modeling Bushes | Let’s Make a Scene: Spring & Fall, Part 4

Modeling Bushes – In this episode of Kathy Millatt’s Let’s Make a Scene video series on Trains.com, follow along as she shares her quick-and-easy technique for shaping low-growth bushes that help fill in the gaps of a forest floor. Even better, Kathy has also documented many of her expert modeling processes in the Kalmbach Media/Model […]

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Why I love the 2-8-4 Berkshire locomotive

Berkshire 2-8-4 locomotive: When I was a kid, my dad once showed me his childhood Lionel set. He had a Lionel no. 726RR Berkshire set with a few extra pieces stored in a metal crate. I never got to see it set up or operate, unfortunately. I had no idea what a Berkshire was back […]

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MR&T Jenks Blue HO scale diesel fleet

MR&T Jenks Blue locomotives: Photo of six HO scale diesel locomotives on white background

MR&T Jenks Blue diesel locomotives: The Milwaukee, Racine & Troy, Model Railroader’s staff layout, has been around for more than 45 years. Similar to many full-size railroads, the freelanced MR&T changed paint schemes on its diesel locomotives over the years. The railroad’s third – and current – paint scheme is Jenks Blue, which was introduced […]

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