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Car routing with JMRI OperationsPro | The crew continues to prepare the State Line Route N scale model railroad for a prototypical operating session, and the next step is car routing. Instead of the widely used car-card-and-waybill freight-car routing system, David Popp and Trains.com host Gerry Leone use a computer program called JMRI OperationsPro to […]
Gunderson Multi-Max auto racks Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $46.99 Era: 2015 to present (varies depending on scheme) Manufacturer: ScaleTrains, 4901 Old Tasso Rd. NE, Cleveland, TN 37312; 844-987-2467; scaletrains.com Gunderson Multi-Max auto racks feature: New road numbers Late body type Late end doors with “zig-zag” angle panels Molded corrugated side panels American Steel Foundries low deck swing-motion trucks Detail kit […]
Alco PA-1 and PB-1 diesel locomotives from Rapido Trains are arriving on hobby shop shelves now. An HO scale PA-1 decorated for the New York, New Haven & Hartford paid a visit to our Milwaukee, Racine & Troy layout. Join Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he points out features on the six-axle unit, highlights some […]
Signs from swizzle sticks: When my wife, kids, and I visited the General Store Antique Mall in Kewaskum, Wis., I wasn’t really thinking about model railroading (although I did run into a fellow modeler at the store). Instead, I planned on enjoying an hour or two browsing the dozens of booths in the two-story building […]
Tools to cut and strip wire when building a model railroad: When wiring a model railroad, an essential tool is a good pair of wire strippers. I use the two examples of wire strippers shown in fig. 1, and both have served me well over the years. While there are other wire-stripping tools available, these […]
Electro-Motive Division F40PHM-2 diesel locomotive Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model, $239.95; with dual-mode ESU LokSound V5 sound decoder, $349.95 Era: 1991 to present (varies depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Electro-Motive Division F40PHM-2 diesel locomotive features: Dual rooftop air conditioners Separate underbody piping, conduit, and wire […]
In this episode, Host Gerry Leone acknowledges two areas on his layout where he needs to rethink the track arrangements. He discusses possible solutions and then shows how he rerouted the track on the lower and upper decks to fit his vision. Getting to know Gerry Leone Back on Track host Gerry Leone is just […]
Sartrouville’s Pavilion Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $61 (price may vary based on exchange rate) Era: 1936+ Manufacturer: Minifer, 25 Bis Chemin du Roy, 41150 Veuzain Sur Loire, France; minifer.fr/en/ Sartrouville’s house features: Laser-cut cardboard kit Painted cardboard slate roof PDF color instructions Measures 3.93” x 4.13” x 4.72” Release date: Available now News & Products is […]
Tribute to Dick Elwell. Goodbye old friend. It’s with a heavy heart that I must inform Model Railroader readers that the hobby community has lost one of its best. My good friend, Dick Elwell, passed away early in the morning of October 21, 2022 after 14 years of dealing with multiple myeloma. Even after going […]
In Memoriam: Dick Elwell. Veteran model railroader Dick Elwell, builder of the well-known Hoosac Valley RR, died on October 21, 2022 after a 14-year battle with cancer. “Even after going through numerous medical procedures to cope with the disease, Dick’s positive attitude and lust for living shined through,” said Model Railroader contributing editor Lou Sassi. […]
Amtrak NPCU “Cabbage” Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin plug, $239.95; with dual-mode sound decoder, $349.95 Era: 1990s to present (varies depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Amtrak Non-Powered Control Unit features: Enlarged marker lights, supplementary air reservoirs, and a K5LA horn Operating strobe lights, […]
Maxi-IV well cars Scale: Z (1:220) Price: Contact manufacturer Era: 2012 to present Manufacturer: American Z Line, 6142 Northcliff Blvd., Dublin, OH 43016; 614-764-1703; americanzline.com Maxi-IV well cars feature: Modified AZL 90001 roller-bearing trucks AutoLatch couplers Metal wheels Six 40- and/or 53-foot intermodal containers in various schemes Road name: Florida East Coast (brown with patched reporting marks). Three road numbers. Release […]
