January 2023

A black and red locomotive runs through a forested section of track against a blue background

Also in this issue: ON TRAINS.COM, pg. 6 The latest features on our website FROM THE EDITOR, pg. 8 Extra how-to from the how-to magazine NEWS & PRODUCTS, pg. 12 Hobby industry news ASK MR, pg. 18 Questions on decorating B&O diesels STEP BY STEP, pg. 22 How to model fir trees DCC CURRENTS, pg. 60 […]

Read More…

Food Machinery Corporation 50-foot plug door boxcar in N scale from Athearn

Food Machinery Corporation 50-foot boxcar: an illustration o a green model boxcar against a white background

Food Machinery Corporation 50-foot plug door boxcar in N scale from Athearn Scale: N (1:160) Price: $29.99. Add $5 for Primed for Grime. Era: 1977+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Food Machinery Corporation 50-foot boxcar features: Injection-molded body Scale profile brake wheel Roller bearing, screw-mounted […]

Read More…

HO scale Autoflood III coal hopper from Rapido

HO scale Autoflood III coal hopper from Rapido Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Single car, $59.95; six-pack, $359.70 Era: 2004+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Autoflood III coal hopper features: Die-cast frame and floor Full interior rivet and K-member details Detailed […]

Read More…

Model steam locomotive troubles and how to fix them

Black and white model steam locomotive diagram.

Model steam locomotive troubles and how to fix them: Compiled by John Page, Editor of the Model Railroader, in 1952. Many of the tips here address problems with open-frame motors and direct-current operation. However, many of the same gear and wheel-quartering issue still apply to locomotive models in any scale and manufacture. Model steam locomotive […]

Read More…

General American Transportation Corporation 2600 Airslide hopper in N scale from Athearn Genesis

General American Transportation Corporation 2600 Airslide hopper: An illustration of a red model boxcar against a white background

General American Transportation Corporation 2600 Airslide hopper in N scale from Athearn Genesis Scale: N (1:160) Price: Single car, $39.99; two-pack, $69.99 Era: 1957+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com General American Transportation Corporation 2600 Airslide hopper features: Factory installed wire grab irons and brake piping […]

Read More…

American Car and Foundry 50-foot boxcar from Moloco Trains

An illustration of a model boxcar painted orange against a white background.

American Car and Foundry 50-foot boxcar from Moloco Trains Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Contact manufacturer Era: 1971+ (Varies by paint scheme) Manufacturer: Moloco Trains, info@molocotrains.com, www.molocotrains.com American Car and Foundry 50-foot boxcar features: Prototype-specific cushioned or non-cushioned versions Car number specific handbrakes Prototype specific American Car and Foundry draft gear design Multiple versions of door […]

Read More…

Athearn HO scale General Electric Dash 9-44CW

Screen capture of product review video

Arriving in hobby shops now is the Athearn HO scale General Electric Dash 9-44CW diesel locomotive. The newly tooled model features a variety of railroad-specific details. Road names offered on the first run of the six-axle road locomotive are Canadian National (red, white, and black with “wet noodle” herald); Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (warbonnet); […]

Read More…

ScaleTrains HO General Electric ES44AC

Screen shot of video with HO locomotive on bridge.

ScaleTrains has released a second run of its HO General Electric ES44AC diesel locomotive. The modern six-axle road unit is decorated for Canadian Pacific (with and without Lord Strathcona’s Horse stencil), Citirail (silver, blue, and yellow), CSX (armed forces, first responders, and law enforcement schemes in one road number each), Ferromex (original red, white, and […]

Read More…

Five ways to clean track

Photo of two track cleaning blocks on HO scale layout

In this article we’ll look at five ways to clean track. If you want to get a lively debate started amongst model railroaders, ask them the best way to clean track. Some prefer abrasive blocks, like the Bright Boy, while others turn to any number of cleaning solvents, homemade or commercial cleaning cars, or off-the-shelf […]

Read More…

Types of tunnels for model railroads

A sketch on graph paper of ways to disguise model railroad tunnels with structures, overpasses, and trees

Let’s look at some different types of tunnels. In the real world, tunnels are incredibly expensive to build and maintain. Prototype railroads would only dig a tunnel when there was no other way through or around an obstruction like a mountain, a river, or a built-up city. However, some types of tunnels are often necessary […]

Read More…

How are railroad telltales made?

A row of ropes hang from a crossbar on a telltale in front of a covered railroad bridge in a snowy landscape in Vermont

Q: I’m going to scratchbuild a two-track telltale for both of my tunnel entrances.  I have a couple of questions. How are railroad telltales made? What material did the railroads use? For a double track, would there be one long bar or two separate bars with the telltales on them? – Wes Barteck A: I […]

Read More…