MTH and Atlas announce shared tooling deal

orange and black steam locomotive with passenger cars from MTH

MTH Electric Trains and the Atlas Model Railroad Company announced a shared asset deal that will allow each company to use select models from the other company’s O scale tools and molds. The first of these shared assets will be passenger car tooling that can complement locomotives being produced by the other company. The program […]

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Atlas N scale S4 diesel locomotive

Screen capture from video with N scale locomotive in blue and yellow paint.

The Atlas N scale Alco S4 diesel locomotive recently paid a visit to our N scale Milwaukee, Racine & Troy State Line Route layout. Join Model Railroader senior editor Cody Grivno and associate editor Bryson Sleppy as they discuss the features on this newly tooled model, demonstrate some of the sound and light functions, and […]

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Atlas N scale S4 diesel locomotive

Screen capture from video with N scale locomotive in blue and yellow paint.

The Atlas N scale Alco S4 diesel locomotive recently paid a visit to our N scale Milwaukee, Racine & Troy State Line Route layout. Join Model Railroader senior editor Cody Grivno and associate editor Bryson Sleppy as they discuss the features on this newly tooled model, demonstrate some of the sound and light functions, and […]

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5 tips for better scenes on your toy train layout

Toy train grade crossing depicting the transition era as a New York Central cab unit approaches a crossing and stopped traffic. Five numerals in red circles 1 through 5 highlight portions of the scene discussed in the text. Photo by Dennis Brennan

5 tips for better scenes on your toy train layout   Whenever someone asks me what makes a toy train layout special, I reply that detail is the key. Size and scope don’t matter as much as what a modeler does in the space available. Developing memorable scenes – “vignettes,” as they’re called – can […]

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New CTT products for September 2023

silver model of locomotive

New CTT products for September 2023 Locomotives and rolling stock An Electro-Motive Division SD70MAC road diesel locomotive has joined the Atlas O Premier Line. Paint schemes include BNSF Ry. (green and cream), CSX (dark blue and yellow), Lake State Ry. (blue and gray), Metra (blue, black, and orange), Paducah & Louisville (green and white), R.J. […]

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Five cabooses you can model

Color photo of steel wide-cupola caboose painted maroon and yellow.

With school back in session, the sun setting earlier, and the first hints of autumn showing up in the trees, it also means we’re getting back to peak model railroading season. Are you searching for some workbench projects to keep you busy this fall and winter? Here are five cabooses you can model. I just […]

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Atlas enters Z scale freight car market

Illustration of two-tone green boxcar with white and orange graphics.

In late August 2023, Atlas announced that it is entering the Z scale freight car market. The company’s debut car will be the Evans 53-foot double-plug-door boxcar, which it also offers in N, HO, and O scales. The Master Line model is scheduled for release in the second quarter of 2024. Road names in the […]

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Atlas HO scale EMD GP40

Title screen of Atlas HO scale EMD GP40 review video.

The Atlas HO scale EMD GP40 is back for another run, this time with ditch lights on select road names. Join Model Railroader senior editor Cody Grivno as he points out the features on the four-axle road switcher, demonstrates some of the light and sound features, and switches cars on the Jones Island section of […]

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Atlas HO scale EMD GP40

Title screen of Atlas HO scale EMD GP40 review video.

The Atlas HO scale EMD GP40 is back for another run, this time with ditch lights on select road names. Join Model Railroader senior editor Cody Grivno as he points out the features on the four-axle road switcher, demonstrates some of the light and sound features, and switches cars on the Jones Island section of […]

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Atlas O PS 4427 high-side covered hopper

Color photo of O scale three-bay covered hopper in Oxide Red paint with white graphics.

A Pullman-Standard 4427 high-side three-bay covered hopper is making its debut in the Atlas O Premier line. The model, acquired when Atlas O purchased select M.T.H. tooling in March 2021, features plastic and die-cast metal construction and a mix of molded and separate, factory-applied detail parts. Prototype history The PS 4,427-cubic-foot capacity three-bay covered hopper […]

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METCA Division custom-run models

Color photo illustration of diesel locomotive in red, silver, and black paint.

The Metropolitan Division of the Train Collectors Association (METCA) recently announced the following custom-run models from Atlas O, Lionel, and MTH Electric Trains. Here’s a rundown of the O gauge models the group is offering. Visit the News & Reviews section of the Classic Toy Trains website for the latest headlines in toy trains. Atlas […]

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Atlas O Amtrak Genesis P42 locomotive

a pair of atlas O amtrak genesis p42 locomotives

It’s the Atlas O Amtrak Genesis P42 locomotive, and not one of them, but two! We’re going to get up close to see some of the great features that these have. These are Premier line tooling, which means they are former MTH locomotives purchased when the company sold off some of its tooling a few […]

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