ScaleTrains, Virtual Railfan support Hurricane Helene relief efforts

ScaleTrains logo

Model railroad manufacturer ScaleTrains and railroad live streaming website Virtual Railfan have announced their support for Hurricane Helene relief efforts. Their offices, located at 4901 Old Tasso Rd., Cleveland, Tenn., are serving as a drop-off location for food, hygiene, and supply contributions. ScaleTrains and Virtual Railfan have also pledged financial support for hurricane relief efforts. […]

Read More…

News & Products for the week of October 7th 2024

A blue model locomotive against a white background

News & Products for the week of October 7th 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 October 7th […]

Read More…

Athearn N ACF 2970 Center Flow

Color photo showing B end of N scale covered hopper painted gray with black graphics.

An American Car & Foundry 2,970-cubic-foot capacity two-bay Center Flow covered hopper is now part of Athearn’s Genesis series. The N scale model, which we last reviewed in the June 2010 issue, still features injection-molded plastic construction, body-mounted couplers, and metal wheelsets. Among the product upgrades are rubber train line hoses; separate, factory-applied uncoupling levers; […]

Read More…

Stencils on the rail

Color photo of railroad track with yellow stencil on web of rail.

Q: In all my 74 years of  looking at train tracks this is the first time I noticed a “No trespassing” stencil on the web of the rail of the Union Pacific tracks that run by my home in Fort Dodge, Iowa. I’m curious if this is standard procedure for the UP or if other […]

Read More…

News & Products for the week of September 30th 2024

A white and green model passenger car against a gray background

News & Products for the week of September 30th 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 30th […]

Read More…

How do mechanical passenger car washers work?

Black-and-white image of streamlined passenger car by trackside mechanical washer.

Q: How do mechanical passenger car washers work? — Steve Moore A: Keeping passenger cars clean is a never-ending battle as they’re subjected to the same dirt, dust, and grime as locomotives and freight cars. While spot cleaning, such as windows, is handled en route, extensive cleaning is handled at coach yards and larger terminals. […]

Read More…

News & Products for the week of September 16th 2024

News & Products for the week of September 16th 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 16th […]

Read More…

Take Amtrak to see a model railroad

A color photograph of the interior of a train station

If you’re like me and enjoy riding Amtrak, but also enjoy model railroading, you’ve likely asked yourself “can I take Amtrak to see a model railroad?” The answer is yes! Four model railroads call Amtrak stations their home Durand Union Station Model Railroad Engineers Inc. Durand Union Station 200 Railroad Street Durand, Mich. 48429   […]

Read More…

News & Products for the week of September 9th 2024

A green and white model locomotive against a gray background

News & Products for the week of September 9th 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 9th […]

Read More…

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 […]

Read More…

Jacksonville Terminal N scale container flatcar

A 60-foot intermodal container flatcar has joined Jacksonville Terminal Co.’s growing N scale freight car lineup. The newly tooled car features Very Real Knuckle (VRK) couplers and insulated metal wheelsets. Prototype history The sample we received is decorated as Trailer Train car VTTX 91927. The proto­type VTTX cars were a mix of Pullman-Standard 60-foot bulkhead […]

Read More…