Menards concrete blocks

pile of gray blocks

Menards has released an accessory that just about any layout, big or small, could use: concrete blocks. Each package contains 100 pieces of scaled blocks measuring 1¾” x ¾” x ¾”. A standard size block measures a nominal 8” x 8” x 16”, with an actual size of 15⅝” x 7⅝” x 7⅝”. At 1:48 […]

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News & Products for the week of November 24th 2025

A navy blue model locomotive with yellow lettering and a yellow stripe

News & Products for the week of November 24th 2025   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 November 24th, […]

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MTH Track Cleaning Car with Power Meter

yellow model boxcar

When I saw the press release for this product from Ross Custom Switches, it caught my interest. This 40-foot boxcar is an MTH custom run that includes both a voltmeter and a track cleaning system from Many New Products (MNP). A voltmeter is an instrument that measures voltage between two points in a circuit. This […]

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Sunset Models 3rd Rail announces 2026 catalog club

catalog image with steam locomotive on the cover

Sunset Models 3rd Rail has announced a 2026 Sunset Models 3rd Rail Catalog Club. For $59.99 per year, members will receive the following benefits: two printed, full-color catalogs (spring and fall) mailed to your home two days before the public online release  early access to new product announcements a chance to win free product by […]

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News & Products for the week of November 17th 2025

White model passenger rail equipment with a blue stripe and tan interiors

News & Products for the week of November 17th 2025   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 November 17th, […]

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Train Guys Christmas Toy Train exhibit dates set for 2025

section of colorful layout

The Elizabethtown Public Library in Elizabethtown, Pa. has announced dates and times for the popular annual Train Guys Christmas Toy Train exhibit.  The display is 65 feet long by 18 feet wide and capable of running 20 trains simultaneously. It features 53 pushbuttons on the display’s perimeter, where visitors can activate trains and accessories. New […]

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Hafner toy trains

six vintage colorful locomotives

Former Editor Neil Besougloff purchased this manuscript in 2002, and wondered why it hadn’t been used. I found the answer while scanning the slides–the photo quality is not great. While the photos are not usable in print, I hope they find some value in this online version. I’ve also learned that author Peter J. Corrigan […]

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Custom runs in the toy train hobby

maroon model boxcar

The idea of a custom run product — a manufacturer creating a special item for a retailer not sold in its catalog — is nothing new. Custom toy train products have existed for more than 100 years. “Custom run cars filled a gap in the market,” said Contributing Editor Bob Keller. “Manufacturers generally [produced products […]

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Sunset Models | 3rd Rail Siemens SC-44 Charger locomotive

Trains.com Staff Writer Lucas Iverson reviews the highly-anticipated Sunset Models | 3rd Rail precise O scale (1:48, 2-rail & 3-rail options) Siemens SC-44 Charger locomotive, Amtrak Midwest No. 4630! This video review features an up-close workbench inspection of the model’s incredible prototype fidelity, from the well-detailed cab interior to the iconic cooling grills to the […]

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