News & Products for the week of January 12th 2026

A gray streamlined model locomotive

News & Products for the week of January 12th 2026 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 January 12th, 2026. […]

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The Baltimore & Ohio Ridgely Division layout in HO scale

A track plan for the main level of the Baltimore & Ohio ridgely division layout

Facts and features Name: Baltimore & Ohio Ridgely Division Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: extension: 8 x 8 feet, entire layout: 20 x 28 feet Prototype: Baltimore & Ohio, Western Maryland Locale: central West Virginia Era: 1967 Style: around the walls Mainline run: NA Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnout: No. 6 Maximum grade: none on main […]

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News & Products for the week of January 5th 2026

A white and blue model hopper car

News & Products for the week of January 5th 2026 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 January 5th, 2026. […]

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Rapido celebrates 60 years of GO Transit

Color CAD rendering of EMD hood unit painted green, white, yellow, and black on white background.

Rapido Trains recently announced several HO scale GO Transit models to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Toronto-area transit service in 2027. Offerings will include a General Motors Diesel Division (GMDD) GP40TC, FP7 Auxiliary Power Control Unit (APCU), and Hawker Siddeley RTC-85 single-level commuter cars, as well as boxed sets. Leading things off is the […]

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Can DC and DCC locomotives run on the same layout?

Color photo showing two HO scale locomotive shells, one dark blue and one light blue, with mechanisms in foreground on white background.

Q: I have several On30 locomotives with Digital Command Control (DCC), but was recently gifted a passenger set that has a direct-current (DC) locomotive. If some DCC locomotives are sitting on the track, can I use a DC transformer to operate the DC engine on the same track without damaging the DCC locomotives? What would […]

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News & Products for the week of December 29th 2025

Color photo of O scale brick corner building with teal door, billboard on roof, sign on corner, figures, vehicle, and other details on scenicked base with white background.

News & Products for the week of December 29th 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 December 29th, 2025. […]

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Athearn Genesis HO EMD FP45 review

Color photo showing engineer's side of cab on HO scale diesel with cowl body painted orange and black on scenicked base with a sky blue background.

Athearn has released a new run of Electro-Motive Division FP45 diesel locomotives in its HO scale Genesis line. The six-axle unit features injection-molded plastic and die-cast metal construction, prototype-specific details, and McHenry plastic scale couplers. Prototype history Electro-Motive Division produced the FP45 in 1967 and 1968. During that time, 14 units were built, nine for […]

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Rapido Trains HO SD10 diesel locomotive

Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno reviews the Rapido Trains HO scale Milwaukee Road rebuilt SD10 diesel locomotive. Originally built as an EMD SD7, this 1,800-horsepower road switcher features see-through etched-metal steps, a detailed cab interior, and a signature Horst paper air filter. Equipped with an ESU LokSound V5 sound decoder, the model offers functions […]

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Rapido Trains HO SD10 diesel locomotive

Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno reviews the Rapido Trains HO scale Milwaukee Road rebuilt SD10 diesel locomotive. Originally built as an EMD SD7, this 1,800-horsepower road switcher features see-through etched-metal steps, a detailed cab interior, and a signature Horst paper air filter. Equipped with an ESU LokSound V5 sound decoder, the model offers functions […]

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Atlas HO REA steel express reefer

Color photo showing B end of HO scale REA steel express reefer painted weathered green with fresh dark green patches and white graphics on white background.

Atlas HO REA steel express reefer Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $46.95 Manufacturer: Atlas Model Railroad Co., 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205; 908-687-0880; shop.atlasrr.com Atlas HO REA steel express reefer features: 3/3 Improved Dreadnaught ends Arched roof Body-mounted Accumate couplers Metal wheels Separate, factory-applied ladders and grab irons Steam, air, and signal hoses Uncoupling levers […]

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