Meet Seth Puffer What was your first train set (or locomotive)? My parents started me out (like many I suppose) with a 2-rail Lionel set when I was four or five. I was thrilled! My first HO scale layout was a few years later. I still have the shell from the locomotive that came with the set. My […]
One of the hobby’s most influential contributors, W. Allen McClelland, died at age 88 on October 28, 2022, following a massive stroke the previous day. He had been his usual ebullient self to the very end. I had the privilege of knowing and working with Allen beginning in 1970, and along with Doug Gurin and […]
Santa Fe RR-56/60/61 mechanical reefer Scale: N (1:160) Price: Single car, $41.95; four-pack, $167.80 Era: 1955+ (varies depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Santa Fe mechanical reefer features: Separate, factory-applied door posts, door latches, and uncoupling levers Underframe piping and equipment Cushion draft gear detail Positionable roof […]
Virginian & Ohio photo tribute. W. Allen McClelland, builder of the freelanced HO scale Virginian & Ohio, passed away on October 28, 2022. You can read his obituary here. In this photo gallery, we’ll take a look at images from both versions of the V&O. The photos are from Andy Sperandeo’s article “Allen McClelland’s trendsetting […]
W. Allen McClelland, builder of the HO scale Virginian & Ohio, died on October 28, 2022 following a massive stroke. Allen worked on the first version of the V&O over the course of several decades at the McClelland home on Walnut Street in West Carrollton, Ohio. The 30 x 33-foot model railroad, expanded to 33 […]
Trainfest is right around the corner That’s right, America’s largest operating train show is just two weekends away. The show, perfect for all ages, will be held November 12th and 13th at the Wisconsin State Fair Park. Hundreds of booths, including manufacturers and retailers, will be featured throughout the weekend. Come enjoy a variety of […]
Cody answers this question in this video of Ask Trains. Are you looking to learn more about your model railroad, or do you have questions about full-size trains? Send us an email at: AskTrains@trains.com ………………………………… Ask Trains is a regular video feature of Trains.com for magazine subscribers and Trains.com members, where editors answer the questions readers […]
Casey’s General Store Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $120 Era: Modern Manufacturer: Summit USA, LLC 512 Ford St., Lake Charles, LA 70601; 337-436-8481; summit-customcuts.com Casey’s General Store features: Laser-milled styrene, laser-cut white and clear acrylic, and self-adhesive micro-plywood parts Includes gas pumps, ice box, and signs Photo-illustrated instructions Parking lot base not included Building measures 13¼” […]
National Steel Car 6,400-cubic-foot capacity gondola Scale: HO (1:87:1) Price: Single car, $64.99; two-pack, $109.99 Era: 2012 to present (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Features: Multiple body styles and ladder variations Removable scrap load Brass stirrup steps Metal grab irons Etched-metal crossover platforms where […]
Union Pacific General Electric standard turbine Scale: N (1:160) Price: Direct current with Next18 connector – without tender, $144.99; with tender, $189.99. With ESU LokSound 5 Micro Digital Command Control and sound decoder with Full Throttle, Next18 connector, and sugar cube speaker – without tender, $244.99; with tender, $289.99. Era: 1950s to 1962 (varies depending on road number) […]
A Great Northern 4-8-4 from Broadway Limited Imports (BLI) is the latest visitor to our HO scale Milwaukee, Racine & Troy staff layout. The Brass-Hybrid model is offered in open and vestibule cab versions with a Glacier Green boiler in three road numbers each. The model is also available with an open cab and black […]
Canadian and Phase III RS3 diesel locomotives Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin plug, $219.95; with ESU LokSound Select sound decoder, $319.95 Era: 1954+ (varies depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Bowser Manufacturing Co. Inc., 1302 Jordan Ave., Montoursville, PA 17754; 570-368-2379; bowser-trains.com Canadian and Phase III RS3 diesel locomotive features: Road-name-specific fuel tanks Separate, factory-applied air hoses, windshield wipers, […]
