Born on July 2, 1913, John Allen was a model railroading pioneer renowned for his skill at scratchbuilding and scenery work, as well as his thoughts on model railroad operation. His original 3’-7” x 6’8” Gorre & Daphetid HO scale layout debuted in the January 1948 issue of Model Railroader. He built a larger version […]
Section: News & Reviews
Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611 will steam again – if the money is there NEWSWIRE

No. 611’s last run at Kings Mountain, N.C., in 1994. Steve Glischinski ROANOKE, Va. – Famed Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611, one of the most famous 4-8-4s in American railroad history, will steam again — if a $3.5 million fund raising campaign is successful. The Virginia Museum of Transportation announced today its intention […]
Video: Broadway Limited Imports Paragon2 HO scale Pennsylvania RR T1
Broadway Limited Imports released a newly tooled version of an “as-built” Pennsylvania RR T1 in HO scale. The steam locomotive model also features a Paragon2 Digital Command Control (DCC) sound decoder. See and hear this locomotive in action hauling a passenger train along the Model Railroader staff’s club layout, the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy. […]
Author, traveler George H. Drury dies NEWSWIRE

Drury at work at Kalmbach. Kalmbach Publishing Co. MILWAUKEE – Author and former Kalmbach Publishing Co. employee George H. Drury died June 21 at age 73 after a long struggle with Parkinson’s disease. A native of Reading, Mass., and lifelong rail enthusiast, Drury was working in San Francisco when he was hired as a copy […]
Accucraft Whitcomb diesel electric locomotive

Marc Horovitz 1:20.3 scale, gauge 1, 45-ton diesel Accucraft Trains33268 Central Ave.Union City CA 94587Price: $995Website: http://accucraft.com 1:20.3 scale, gauge-1 model of 45-ton Whitcomb side-rod, diesel-electric locomotive; track powered; all metal construction; 0-24V DC operation; LED directional lighting; working knuckle couplers; two motors; all wheels powered. Dimensions: Length over end beams, 15″; width, 5 3/8″; […]
Amtrak to end food service on ‘Hiawatha’ route NEWSWIRE

A southbound ‘Hiawatha’ at Maple Street departing Milwaukee. Brian Schmidt MILWAUKEE – Amtrak will discontinue food service on the Hiawatha route effective July 1. The Hiawatha trains are not equipped with a cafe car; an employee provides snack service on a cart throughout the train on select trains, weekdays only. Peg Schmitt, with the Wisconsin Department […]
Video: Rapido HO scale The Canadian passenger train
Rapido Trains has announced a second run of its HO scale The Canadian. In this video you can see the HO scale passenger train led by locomotives equipped with SoundTraxx Digital Command Control sound decoders. The cars and the locomotives also feature prototypical lighting effects. See the train in action on the Model Railroader staff’s […]
In-depth Product Review: Rapido HO scale Canadian set

Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Dana Kawala looks at Rapido’s new HO Canadian passenger train in detail in this video review. The big set features 3 locomotives and 10 passenger cars, and the models included museum-quality details inside and out. […]
Former Model Railroader publisher Terry Thompson takes VP position at Walthers
Wm. K. Walthers, Inc. announced that Terry D. Thompson will serve as its new vice president of proprietary products. Thompson was most recently the publisher of Model Railroader magazine and Model Railroader Video Plus, as well as four other Kalmbach Publishing Co. publications. During his more than 10 years at Kalmbach, he held a variety […]
The Canadian HO scale train set by Rapido Trains

The Canadian HO scale train set by Rapido Trains A museum-quality HO scale model of The Canadian rumbles to life with two Digital Command Control-(DCC) and sound-equipped diesel locomotives. Rapido Trains is releasing a second run of its superdetailed model of Canadian Pacific’s top transcontinental train. Two General Motors Diesel Division FP9 units and one […]
Broadway Limited Imports HO scale T1 class 4-4-4-4 duplex locomotive

Broadway Limited Imports HO scale T1 class 4-4-4-4 duplex locomotive With its sharknose cowl and streamlined form, the Pennsylvania RR T1 is an eye-catching locomotive in any scale. Broadway Limited Imports released its first HO model of a T1 a decade ago [See the review in the May 2004 Model Railroader. – Ed.], but that […]
Walthers HO scale Gunderson 76-foot cryogenic refrigerator car

Walthers HO scale Gunderson 76-foot cryogenic refrigerator car Price: $24.98 Manufacturer Wm. K. Walthers Inc. P.O. Box 3039 Milwaukee, WI 53201 www.walthers.com Road names: BNSF Ry. (Nestle patchout), Carnation, McCain, and Simplot (One road number per scheme) Era: 1992 to present Comments: After a nearly two-decade absence, the Gunderson 76-foot cryogenic reefer is back in […]