Football is getting underway, pumpkin spice everything is showing up on store shelves, and the thermometer has given a few hints that autumn is just around the corner. Of course, that means we’re heading into peak model railroading season. In the September 2025 episode of Cody’s Office, we feature three new products, a modeling tip, and viewer mail questions that are sure to get fired up to work on your layout.
We’ll get things started with the always popular product segment. Kicking things off is the HO scale Johnstown America BethGon Coalporter from Athearn Trains. The model features a newly retooled body, a removable plastic coal load, factory-installed wire grab irons, and body-mounted McHenry scale couplers.
Then we’ll turn our attention to the N scale Electro-Motive Division GP60 diesel locomotive from our friends at Atlas Model Railroad Co. The model is making its debut in the manufacturer’s Master Line. Features on the four-axle road unit include a Scale Speed motor, multi-piece injection-molded plastic body, plastic handrails and stanchions, Prime or RV-style air conditioner as appropriate, and prototype-specific details.
With the new year just a few short months away, you’re going to need a new calendar, and we have you covered. The Model Railroader 2026 calendar, available at shop.trains.com, features a range of scales, locations, and railroads from some of the finest modelers around. In addition, there’s a bonus section featuring “10 household items you can use in model railroading.” We asked several well-known modelers to share some of their favorite tips that you can use on your layout or around your workbench.
Our HO scale Milwaukee, Racine & Troy East Troy Industrial Park layout inspired this month’s modeling tip. Cody shows how to dress up injection-molded plastic road signs by painting the sign backs and posts to give them a more prototypical appearance.
We’ll wrap up the show by heading over to the mailbag. We share where the western terminus of the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy was located; provide examples of railroads that used six-axle (SD) units on branch lines; and learn more about uncoupling magnets featured in the August 2025 issue of MR.
Do you have questions you’d like us to consider for a future episode of Cody’s Office? You may leave them in the comments field below or contact us via e-mail at asktrains@trains.com.
