Aurora Miniatures HO scale SD50F

Color photo showing front end of HO scale diesel painted gray and orange on white background.

A General Motors Diesel Ltd. SD50F is the second HO scale road locomotive released by Aurora Miniatures North America Inc. The six-axle unit, based on a prototype built for Canadian National, features an injection-molded plastic body; a heavy, die-cast zinc alloy chassis; and an assortment of light-emitting-diode lighting features. Prototype history Canadian National ordered two […]

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News & Products for the week of June 23rd 2025

A red model hopper car

News & Products for the week of June 23rd 2025   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 June 23rd, […]

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Walthers HO Horizon Fleet passenger cars

Color photo of HO scale passenger car painted silver with red, white, and blue graphics

Walthers HO Horizon Fleet passenger cars Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $49.98 Era: 1989 to present Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com Features on Walthers HO Horizon Fleet passenger cars: Coach and cafe club food service cars Factory-installed diaphragms GSI roller-bearing trucks with 36” turned-metal wheels with RP-25 […]

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Athearn N F89-F flatcar review

Color photo of N scale flatcar with trailer load on white background.

Price: Flatcar only, $43.99; flatcar with 45-foot trailer, $69.99 Manufacturer Athearn Trains 2904 Research Rd. Champaign, IL 61822 athearn.com Road names: Trailer Train (mineral red and yellow schemes), Kansas City Southern, and Southern Pacific. Three road numbers per scheme (two without trailer, one with). Era: 1960s+ to 1990s+ (varies by paint scheme) Comments: Athearn recently […]

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Athearn HO GP40-2 series diesels

Color photo of HO scale diesel locomotive painted orange, black, and yellow on white background

Athearn GP40-2 series diesels Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin NEM connector, $229.99; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami sound decoder, $329.99. Add $10 for Primed for Grime models. Era: 1980s to present (varies based on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Features on Athearn HO GP40-2 series […]

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C&NW No. 1385’s return to Mid-Continent rescheduled

4-6-0 steam locomotive with short train of passenger cars

NORTH FREEDOM, Wis. — The move to return Chicago & North Western 4-6-0 No. 1385 to the Mid-Continent Railway Museum is back on.  A June 11 social media post by Mid-Continent announced that the locomotive is scheduled to arrive at the museum on July 12. The public is invited to attend what will be a […]

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East Troy Railroad Museum’s Milwaukee Day scheduled for June 28

Orange trolly car on display in front of depot

EAST TROY, Wis. — The East Troy Railroad Museum’s Milwaukee Day, scheduled for June 28, will feature rare displays and trolley rides with equipment directly tied to the Brew City’s past. Three rarely-seen pieces in the museum’s collection are planned to be brought out of storage for display at the East Troy depot. Chicago North […]

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Toy Soldiers: Building and Refining a Collection

cover of toy soldier book

Kids have enjoyed playing with toy soldiers for decades, but did you know these playthings date back to ancient Egypt? Author Simon Clark has written a book that chronicles these miniature figures and the folks who collect them. The book begins with a lengthy introduction, loosely covering the 1930s through present day, with a focus […]

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Rapido HO Amtrak Non-Powered Control Unit

Color photo of HO scale diesel locomotive painted silver with red, white, and blue stripes on white background.

Rapido HO Amtrak Non-Powered Control Unit Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin plug, $239.95; with dual-mode sound decoder, $289.95 Era: Mid-1990s to present (varies based on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Rapido Trains, 382 High St., Buffalo, NY 14204; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Rapido HO Amtrak Non-Powered Control Unit features: Enlarged marker lights Etched-metal radiator grills and […]

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News & Products for the week of June 16th 2025

Two model locomotives, one in a blue paint scheme and one in a black paint scheme

News & Products for the week of June 16th 2025   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 June 16th, […]

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Atlas Thrall HO 2743 gondola

Color photo of HO scale gondola painted blue with red, yellow, and white graphics.

Atlas Thrall HO 2743 gondola Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $39.95; with cover, $44.95 Era: 1995 to present Manufacturer: Atlas Model Railroad Co., 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205; 908-687-0880; shop.atlasrr.com Atlas Thrall 2743 gondola features: 14 exterior posts 36” metal wheelsets Body-mounted Accumate couplers Detailed brake system with air reservoir, brake cylinder, and control valve; […]

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