Introducing the all-new Trains.com Forum! Become a part of our Community! >>VISIT NOW
Bachmann’s E-Z Command system makes it easy to outfit a small HO layout with Digital Command Control (DCC). This new system was developed in partnership with Bernd Lenz, the inventor who gave his digital control system patent to the National Model Railroad Association (his system became today’s DCC standard). It’s a simplified “plug-and-play” package that’s […]
In 1920, when American railroads emerged from 26 months of government control, the prevailing philosophy of freight-train operation was to hang as many cars as possible behind a locomotive and send it out to drag its way along the line. Three locomotive types were ideal for drag freight: 2-10-2, 2-6-6-2, and 2-8-8-2. The 2-10-2 and […]
An eye-catching model of a super-size hopper is available ready-to-run from Walthers. It has E-Z Mate magnetic knuckle couplers and free-rolling roller-bearing trucks. It’s a replica of the high-capacity, 87-ton cars built by Greenville Steel Car Co. starting in the early 1970s. Each car can haul 7,526 cu. ft. of wood chips. This hopper is […]
LBF HO Trinity 100-ton covered hopper An excellent model of a modern 100-ton covered hopper for grain service has been released by LBF Co. It’s a ready-to-run HO scale model of the 5,161-cubic-foot prototype introduced by Trinity Industries in 1995. Our sample car was very close to the prototype dimensions in Simmons-Boardman’s 1997 Car & […]
Athearn Genesis HO scale Trinity 110-ton covered hopper Athearn is marketing a finely detailed HO model of a covered hopper commonly used to haul grain. It’s a replica of the 5,161-cubic-foot-capacity prototype introduced by Trinity Industries in 1995. This Genesis model comes ready-to-run with metal running boards, very fine carbody details, simulated roller bearing trucks, […]
Atlas HO International standard cupola caboose Atlas is producing a well-detailed, ready-to-run HO caboose based on the International Car Co.’s popular welded steel standard-cupola design of the 1960s and early 1970s. International’s specialty was building cabooses, and thousands of their products served railroads across North America. Standardized components gave International cabooses a family appearance, but […]
Atlas N scale General Electric Dash 8-40B diesel Atlas has released an N scale General Electric Dash 8-40B road diesel locomotive and it’s a beautifully detailed, fine-running model. From the exquisitely rendered m.u. cables on the front and rear pilots to the amber warning beacon atop the cab, this Dash 8-40B sets a high standard […]
Athearn Genesis HO 60-foot hi-cube boxcars Athearn has released a series of ready-to-run HO models of 60-foot hi-cube boxcars, which are part of the firm’s Genesis Line of limited-run models. Our samples represent prototype double- door cars with a variety of different sides, roofs, and ends built by Berwick, Gunderson, and FMC from the late […]
In the days before airlines and interstates began siphoning off rail freight and passenger business – and big railroads merged to form today’s even bigger mega-systems – virtually every large city and town was served by multiple railroads. Shippers had their choice of carriers to move goods between Points A and B. Passengers, too, had […]
Athearn HO SD40-2 diesel Athearn recently introduced a “new” SD40-2 to replace the firm’s earlier model, which has been available since 1983. Most notably, the new locomotive offers near-scale size plastic handrails, molded in appropriate colors. Also, there are three variations of dynamic brake housings as well as exhaust stack and radiator intake screens that […]
Norfolk Southern SD40-2 No. 3410, a former Conrail unit, pauses while switching the yard at Binghamton, N.Y., on the night of Aug. 15, 2009. Photo by Thomas Mik […]
The decades-long effort to advance the design and technology of steam locomotives constantly circled back to the idea of “make it bigger.” Articulated engines took that notion and doubled it both figuratively and literally. The results were roughly 3,000-built machines of epic proportions with the strength and flexibility to haul either slow drags through mountainous […]
