Trains.com is undergoing website maintenance that is expected to last approximately two weeks. Click here to learn more.
The Atlas Classic HO Alco RS11 is back in new paint schemes and road numbers. We recently received a sample decorated for Burlington Northern, and our resident BN fan, Senior Editor Cody Grivno, is here with the scoop. Learn about the full-size Alco RS11 and Burlington Northern 4183; get a close-up look at the factory-applied […]
The Atlas Classic HO Alco RS11 is back in new paint schemes and road numbers. We recently received a sample decorated for Burlington Northern, and our resident BN fan, Senior Editor Cody Grivno, is here with the scoop. Learn about the full-size Alco RS11 and Burlington Northern 4183; get a close-up look at the factory-applied […]
Atlas O Premier EMD GP38-2 Scale: O (1:48) Price: $659.95 Era: 1972 to present (varies based on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Atlas Model Railroad Co., 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205; 908-687-0880; shop.atlasrr.com Atlas O Premier EMD GP38-2 features: 1:48 scale proportions ABS body Detachable snow plow Digital Command Control/Digital Command System decoder Die-cast metal truck […]
A General Motors Diesel Ltd. SD50F is the second HO scale road locomotive released by Aurora Miniatures North America Inc. The six-axle unit, based on a prototype built for Canadian National, features an injection-molded plastic body; a heavy, die-cast zinc alloy chassis; and an assortment of light-emitting-diode lighting features. Prototype history Canadian National ordered two […]
News & Products for the week of June 23rd 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 June 23rd, […]
Walthers HO Horizon Fleet passenger cars Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $49.98 Era: 1989 to present Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com Features on Walthers HO Horizon Fleet passenger cars: Coach and cafe club food service cars Factory-installed diaphragms GSI roller-bearing trucks with 36” turned-metal wheels with RP-25 […]
Michigan was and still is no stranger to railroads small yet unique enough to attract a following. The former Ann Arbor Railroad, not to be confused with today’s incarnation under Watco, certainly fit the bill with these 5 traits of the Ann Arbor Railroad that range from quirky to charming. More car ferry […]
Price: Flatcar only, $43.99; flatcar with 45-foot trailer, $69.99 Manufacturer Athearn Trains 2904 Research Rd. Champaign, IL 61822 athearn.com Road names: Trailer Train (mineral red and yellow schemes), Kansas City Southern, and Southern Pacific. Three road numbers per scheme (two without trailer, one with). Era: 1960s+ to 1990s+ (varies by paint scheme) Comments: Athearn recently […]
Athearn GP40-2 series diesels Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin NEM connector, $229.99; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami sound decoder, $329.99. Add $10 for Primed for Grime models. Era: 1980s to present (varies based on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Features on Athearn HO GP40-2 series […]
Kids have enjoyed playing with toy soldiers for decades, but did you know these playthings date back to ancient Egypt? Author Simon Clark has written a book that chronicles these miniature figures and the folks who collect them. The book begins with a lengthy introduction, loosely covering the 1930s through present day, with a focus […]
REMEMBER the ads for Uniroyal’s “Tiger Paw” tires? When I was with the Southern Railway, some of us there referred to SR’s U-boats as “Whisperjets” (for the turbocharger noise) and to its SD40s as “Sport Models” (for the platforms). Now, I suggest tagging the Dash-2 SD40s “Tiger Paws.” Those HT-C trucks look as though they’re […]
Rapido HO Amtrak Non-Powered Control Unit Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin plug, $239.95; with dual-mode sound decoder, $289.95 Era: Mid-1990s to present (varies based on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Rapido Trains, 382 High St., Buffalo, NY 14204; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Rapido HO Amtrak Non-Powered Control Unit features: Enlarged marker lights Etched-metal radiator grills and […]
