News & Products for the week of December 16th 2024

News & Products for the week of December 16th 2024   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 16th […]

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Building a T-Trak module | Basic Backdrop Painting

In this helpful, introductory effort, David Popp shares simple and easy techniques for adding a scene-extending background/view block to a model railroad. While the planning and painting steps are all demonstrated on his N scale (1:160) T-Trak module, David’s explanations and efforts can certainly be applied to other layouts or displays of any scale! If […]

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Selecting N scale track

Black-and-white illustration showing different N scale rail sizes.

Q: I will be starting my first model railroad soon, a small N scale layout. I want to use code 55 track, but I’ve read mixed reviews about it. Do you have any suggestions, or should I stick with code 80 track? — Damien Bouchey A: When shopping for N scale track, you’ll see it […]

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The Colorado Plains layout in N scale

A track plan for the Colorado Plains layout

Facts and features Name: Colorado PlainsScale: N (1:160)Size: 2′-43∕4″ x 8′-6″Prototype: BNSFLocale: Eastern ColoradoEra: ModernStyle: T-Trak modularMainline run: 182∕3 feetMinimum radius: 11″Minimum turnout: no. 4Maximum grade: noneBenchwork: Modular laser-cut kitsHeight: 23∕4″ Roadbed: noneTrack: Kato UnitrackScenery: SculptamoldBackdrop: Painted medium-density fibreboardControl: NCE DCC Click the link to download a PDF of the track plan! Buy the January […]

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News & Products for the week of December 9th 2024

News & Products for the week of December 9th 2024   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 9th […]

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The story of Joyful Junction — Micah’s Christmas train

An N scale Norfolk & Western steam locomotive in a snowy scene

A Christmas train adds to the Christmas spirit It’s not often that you hear words like “locomotive” or “uncoupled” in a 3-year-old’s vocabulary, but that’s exactly where my wife and I found ourselves Christmas morning in 2022. Our son Micah had always had a fascination with all trains, so much that we often joked that […]

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N scale EMD SD40T-2 from ScaleTrains

Color photo of N scale diesel locomotive on scenic base.

An Electro-Motive Division SD40T-2 is making its debut in the ScaleTrains N scale diesel locomotive lineup. The all-new Rivet Counter line model features plastic and die-cast metal construction, a five-pole skew-wound motor with dual flywheels, and all-wheel drive and electrical pickup. Prototype history Southern Pacific approached EMD looking for a locomotive that would address overheating […]

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N scale Siemens ALC-42 from Bachmann

Title screen from video showing N scale diesel on model railroad.

The N scale Siemens ALC-42 from Bachmann recently visited our Milwaukee, Racine & Troy State Line Route. Join Model Railroader Associate Editor (and Amtrak fan) Bryson Sleppy as he provides a short history of the contemporary four-axle passenger diesel and Amtrak No. 309; points out the various molded and separate, factory-applied parts on the model; […]

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N scale Siemens ALC-42 from Bachmann

Title screen from video showing N scale diesel on model railroad.

The N scale Siemens ALC-42 from Bachmann recently visited our Milwaukee, Racine & Troy State Line Route. Join Model Railroader Associate Editor (and Amtrak fan) Bryson Sleppy as he provides a short history of the contemporary four-axle passenger diesel and Amtrak No. 309; points out the various molded and separate, factory-applied parts on the model; […]

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Atlas celebrates 100th anniversary

The 100th anniversary logo for Atlas model railroad company

New Jersey-based model railroad manufacturer Atlas Model Railroad Co. has marked its 100th anniversary. Stephan Schaffan Sr. founded Atlas Tool Co. in 1924 as a general machine shop in New Jersey. His son, Stephan Schaffan Jr., joined the business in 1933. By 1947, the two had their first factory built in Hillside, N.J., producing the […]

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Bachmann N Siemens ALC-42 Charger

Color photo showing side view of streamlined N scale passenger locomotive.

A Siemens ALC-42 Charger diesel locomotive is the latest N scale release from Bachmann Trains. The four-axle passenger hauler is based on Amtrak’s new long-distance passenger unit and features factory-applied details, body-mounted E-Z Mate Mark II couplers, and light-emitting-diode (LED) lighting. The prototype Siemens Mobility produces Amtrak ALC-42 Charger diesel locomotives at its plant in […]

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