Midday Modeler — 08-24-2022 — recorded LIVE

Two men holding a large scale Amtrak locomotive.

Midday Modeler — 08-24-2022 — this week during #Amtrakweek hosted by Steve Sweeney. This week Steve leads a whole-crew model and toy-train fun run with Hal Miller, Kent Johnson, Cody Grivno and Bryson Sleppy. Watch the guys operate train in N, HO, and O27! Only at Trains.com! Midday Modeler is a new, regular video segment, […]

Read More…

East Coast Circuits jersey barriers

Road scene with work crew behind jersey barriers

Jersey barriers Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Twelve-pack, $20 Manufacturer: East Coast Circuits LLC, P.O. Box 25412 Providence, RI 02905; 401-400-0668; eastcoastcircuits.com Features: Orange and white versions Figures, construction equipment, and display not included Release date: October 2022 News & Products is a regular feature of Trains.com for model railroad operators and builders to get the latest information about locomotives, […]

Read More…

General Electric ET44 diesel locomotive from ScaleTrains

Red, black, and gray modern diesel locomotive

General Electric ET44 diesel locomotive Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin NEM connector, $174.99; with dual-mode ESU LokSound 5 sound decoder, $269.99 Era: 2014-present (depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: ScaleTrains, 7598 Highway 411, Benton, TN 37307; 844-987-2467; scaletrains.com Features: Road-number-specific details Factory-installed details including wire grab irons, m.u. clusters, uncoupling levers, windshield wipers, and […]

Read More…

East Coast Circuits HO scale traffic barrels announced

Road scene with construction workers behind orange traffic barrels

Traffic barrels Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Standard version (12-pack) and lighted version (six-pack), $20 each Manufacturer: East Coast Circuits LLC, P.O. Box 25412 Providence, RI 02905; 401-400-0668; eastcoastcircuits.com Features: Lighted version works on 9-12V AC or DC power Figures and display not included Release date: October 2022 News & Products is a regular feature of Trains.com for model railroad […]

Read More…

Arrow stick board kit from East Coast Circuits

Railroad crossing scene with truck with arrow stick board blocking middle.

Arrow stick board kit Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $30 Manufacturer: East Coast Circuits LLC, P.O. Box 25412 Providence, RI 02905; 401-400-0668; eastcoastcircuits.com Features: Seven selectable patterns Circuit remembers pattern if power is lost On/off pattern switch included Works on 9-12V AC or DC power Vehicle not included Release date: October 2022 News & Products is a regular feature of […]

Read More…

American Z Line August 2022 new releases

Model of red and white switcher locomotive with white background

American Z Line diesel locomotive announcements for August 2022 Scale: Z (1:220) Price: Contact manufacturer Era: St. Louis-San Francisco (Frisco) Electro-Motive Division SW1500 diesel locomotive, October 1968 to 1980s. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Alco PA-1 diesel locomotive, 1947-48 to 1960s Manufacturer: American Z Line, 6142 Northcliff Blvd., Dublin, OH 43016; 614-764-1703; americanzline.com EMD SW1500 features: AutoLatch couplers Prototype-specific details […]

Read More…

N scale American Car & Foundry PD3500 Flexi Flo hopper

Drawing of 14 covered hoppers

American Car & Foundry PD3500 Flexi Flo hopper Scale: N (1:160) Price: Single car, $44.95; two-pack, $89.90; three-pack, $134.85; and six-pack, $269.70 Era: 1964 to 2010s (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Features Early and late body styles 125-ton Barber S-2 […]

Read More…

Fox Valley Models SD70ACe announced by ScaleTrains

Yellow, silver, and black modern diesel locomotive

Electro-Motive Diesel SD70ACe diesel locomotive Scale: N (1:160) Price: Direct-current model with Next18 connector, $119.99; with dual-mode ESU LokSound 5 sound decoder, $219.99 Era: 2007-present (depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: ScaleTrains, 7598 Highway 411, Benton, TN 37307; 844-987-2467; scaletrains.com Features: Road number-specific details Factory-installed details including wire grab irons, m.u. clusters, uncoupling levers, windshield wipers, and […]

Read More…

Rapido 3,800 cubic-foot capacity cylindrical covered hopper

Drawing of 11 different cylindrical hoppers

3,800 cubic-foot capacity cylindrical covered hopper Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Single car, $54.95; six-pack, $329.70 Era: 1965 to present (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Features Round-hatch or trough-hatch design as appropriate Dofasco S-2 100-ton trucks 6- or 11-side panel body […]

Read More…

Fourteen states and five steaks on Amtrak

Amtrak diesel engine in front of freight train at night

Fourteen states on Amtrak I’ve been riding on trains since I was 2 years old. Although those trips were short and on scenic railroads, my love for trains increased as I got older. From watching high-speed Acela and Northeast Regional trainsets fly by while visiting the Northeast Corridor to watching videos of the stunning views […]

Read More…

National Train Show 2022 Report

National Train Show 2022 Report | Following a two-year pandemic hiatus, Model Railroader Editor Eric White and Senior Editor Cody Grivno attended the NMRA Gateway 2022 National Convention and National Train Show in the St. Louis, Mo., area. In this post-show (August 12-14, 2022) report, you’ll hear their unvarnished impressions of both events, along with […]

Read More…