OKAY, THE SUPERSTREETS STUFF IS, well, kinda starter-set material – but not quite in the sense of there being a train involved. Both of these sets have a powered unit and track with metal rails, and even a power supply. And oh, yes, trains can run on the track, too. But strictly speaking, they aren’t […]
Marc Horovitz 1:32 scale, gauge-1 brass Southern Pacific cabooseAccucraft Trains33268 Central Ave.Union City CA 94587Price: $399 Web site: www.accucraft.com All-brass model of a Southern Pacific C-30-1 caboose; interior detail; lighted. Dimensions: length, 133/8″; width, 33/4″ (exclusive of marker lamps); height, 57/8″. In 1:32 scale, this works out to 35’8″ x 10’0″ x 15’8″, respectively. Minimum […]
Kevin Strong 1:20.3-scale, gauge 1, side rod, gas-mechanical locomotiveBachmann Industries1400 East Erie Ave.Philadelphia PA 19124Price: $275Web site www.bachmanntrains.com Plastic and die-cast-metal industrial gas-mechanical switcher; two powered axles; cab interior; smoke unit; directional lighting; two sets of knuckle couplers; polarity switch; DCC-ready using NMRA standard 8-pin plug. Dimensions: length, 7¾” (over footboards); width, 3¾”; height, 5″. […]
Marc Horovitz Gauge 1, code 250, stainless steel, #6 turnoutSunset Valley Railroad21616 23rd St. Ct. ELake Tapps WA 98391Price: $118.50Web site: www.svrronline.com Stainless-steel rails spiked to plastic ties; scaled for 1:32 scale; length, 26¼” Pros: Sturdy construction; accurate gauge; smooth operation Cons: None Marc Horovitz Marc Horovitz Sunset Valley Railroad has long been the manufacturer […]
Marc Horovitz 1:24 scale, “Prospector” log-cabin kitTimberline StationPO Box 874Hartselle AL 35640Price: $27.95Web site: www.timberlinestation.com Cedar log-cabin kit, suitable for beginner to intermediate builders. Dimensions: length, 8″; width, 7″; height, 8″. In 1:24 scale, this works out to 16′ x 14′ x 16′, respectively Pros: Precut logs make construction relatively simple; excellent illustrated instructions Cons: […]
NCE Corp. PowerCab Model railroaders face many options when choosing their first Digital Command Control (DCC) system. The NCE Corp. PowerCab has enough power for a modest-sized layout and is easy to install and operate. The PowerCab has recently been upgraded to support 29 decoder functions. Easy set up. Setting up the PowerCab was extremely […]
Walthers HO scale Superliner II cars Amtrak Superliner II passenger cars are now available as HO scale plastic models from Walthers with a plated finish that simulates the prototype’s stainless-steel body like nothing else I’ve seen. The model’s wire grab irons, crisp printing, built-in electrical pickup for optional interior lighting, and faithfulness to the prototype […]
MTH Electric Trains HO scale Mohawk 4-8-2 Hudsons and Niagaras made the headlines on the steam-era New York Central, but Mohawks and Mikados made the profits. Plastic models of Hudsons, Niagaras, and H-6 Mikes have been available for several years, but Mohawks were available only in brass. Now the MTH HO L-3 and L-4 Mohawks […]
After a three-year wait, Precision Craft Models I1sa Decapod is finally here…and well worth the wait. History The Prototype I1s was developed for the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1923 by Baldwin Locomotive Works. After the overall tests were completed, results showed that the I1s outperformed the roads L1s Mikado’s by a whopping 41% more horsepower while […]
LIKE THE UNITED STATES, much of Canada is flat and empty with a humongous mountain range over on the left side. Factor in absurdly bad winters, and railroading in Canada requires industrial-strength solutions. It takes quite a bit of effort to haul people and things today, and it was not any easier in the steam […]
THERE WAS A SHORT TIME when the influence of General Motors’ automotive engineering was felt in the real world of locomotion. The two most significant of those designs were the Aerotrain streamliner and the BL2 diesel road switcher. The concept behind the BL2 was, more or less, to take the mechanicals of an F unit […]
Rapido HO scale TurboTrain With a recorded speed of 170.8 mph, the TurboTrain remains the fastest passenger train to run on North American rails, and that was 40 years ago. The Rapido HO TurboTrain includes a dual-mode Digital Command Control (DCC) sound decoder and is available in all the different prototype versions. For this review […]
