New model trains for the week of December 27, 2018

Broadway Limited Imports HO scale Great Northern class S-2 4-8-4 steam locomotive

HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division GP38-2 and GP38-2W diesel locomotive. GP38-2: Canadian Pacific (Action Red with Multimark herald in three road numbers, maroon-and-gray with script lettering in one number), Southern Pacific (scarlet-and-gray scheme with Roman lettering in four numbers, speed lettering in one number), and Southern Ry. (high short hood with paper or oil bath […]

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World’s Greatest Hobby on Tour kicks off soon!

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On January 5th, the World’s Greatest Hobby on Tour kicks off its 2019 season. The show will visit 4 cities as follows: • January 5-6, 2019 – Schaumburg, IL – Schaumburg Convention Center • January 12-13, 2019 – Oaks, PA – Greater Philadelphia Expo Center • February 9-10, 2019 – Council Bluffs, IA – Mid-America […]

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New model trains for the week of December 20, 2018

Atlas Model Railroad Co. HO scale Trinity 3,230-cubic-foot-capcity pressure differential covered hopper

HO scale locomotives General Electric Dash 9-44CW. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (red-and-silver warbonnet, three road numbers); BC Rail (red, white, and blue and solid blue schemes, two numbers each); BNSF Ry. (Heritage II scheme, three numbers); CSX (yellow, blue, and gray scheme, three numbers); Norfolk Southern (red-and-gray scheme, one number); and Union Pacific (as-delivered […]

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SPROG USA Pi-SPROG One DCC system

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SPROG USA Pi-SPROG One DCC system Instead of conventional throttles, the Pi-SPROG relies on smartphones or tablets running throttle apps, such as WiThrottle (above) or Engine Driver. Android-based WiFi throttles, such as PIKO SmartControl or ESU CabControl, can also be used with the system. Raspberry Pi isn’t a tasty dessert. It’s an inexpensive, single-board computer […]

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Athearn HO scale SD70ACe with Tsunami2

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Athearn HO scale SD70ACe with Tsunami2 A skew-wound motor with brass flywheels is secured to the center of the die-cast metal frame. Plastic driveshafts power all 12 wheels, which also pick up current. In 1943, employees of the Union Pacific RR agreed to an extra deduction in their paychecks to buy War Bonds during World […]

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Distributed power in the Midwest

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A Norfolk Southern SD70ACe pushes on an empty crude oil train in Toledo, Ohio, in March 2013. Michael D. Harding Q Watching passing freight trains, I’ve seen a locomotive located in the middle or at the end of the train. Are these pusher locomotives being run by remote control by the engineer in the lead […]

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