Walthers HO scale Great Northern standard-cupola caboose

Great Northern caboose

A standard-cupola caboose is the latest addition to the WalthersMainline series of HO scale rolling stock. The ready-to-run car is offered with two cupola window styles, see-through plastic running boards, and body-mounted Proto-Max metal couplers. The prototype The WalthersMainline model is based on a Great Northern (GN) prototype built by the International Car Division of […]

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DCC wiring for a shelf layout

Track on board being soldered with pencil-type soldering iron

My little shelf layout is made from track and lumber salvaged from a small model railroad I was building in my apartment living room back in Pennsylvania before I moved to Wisconsin to work for Model Railroader. In my current living room, I only have room for a shelf layout, which is built into an […]

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JTC N scale 53-foot 17-post NSC well car

Well car

Jacksonville Terminal Co. (JTC), best known for its magnetically interlocking intermodal freight containers, is expanding its line of cars that carry those containers. The newest offering from the manufacturer is a 53-foot, 17-post National Steel Car double-stack well car in N scale. The cars have die-cast metal bodies, etched stainless steel details, and Micro-Trains Line […]

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November 2021

Locomotive traveling over a bridge

Also in this issue: ON TRAINS.COM, pg. 6 The latest features on our website FROM THE EDITOR, pg. 8 Introducing the variable location layout NEWS & PRODUCTS, pg. 12 Hobby industry news ASK MR, pg. 18 Why do these boxcars have built-in lights? REHAB MY RAILROAD, pg. 24 Upgrading the MR&T with Walthers’ new turnouts […]

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Athearn Genesis HO scale EMD GP18

Athearn Genesis GP18

Full-sized railroads loved EMD Geeps and kept ordering them from their initial release in 1949 right into the beginning of the 21st century. Railroads looking for new Geeps in the late 1950s bought GP18s until 1963, and now you can add that model to your layout in HO scale from Athearn Genesis. The Electro-Motive Division […]

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Model railroad locomotive, freight car, passenger equipment, structure, DVD, and calendar announcements for September 23, 2021

North County Transit District Sprinter DMU-operated commuter train.

Product news 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. Here are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of September 23, 2021. HO scale locomotives 4-6-6-4 Challenger steam locomotive. Denver & […]

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Milwaukee, Racine & Troy N scale freight cars

Artwork for Milwaukee, Racine & Troy N scale 50-foot double-door boxcar painted Oxide Red with white doors

The Kalmbach Hobby Store has exciting news for N scale modelers. In 2022, we’ll be releasing two new freight cars decorated for the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy, Model Railroader’s freelanced staff layout. The custom-decorated cars are made in the U.S. by Micro-Trains Line Co. Both body styles will be offered in one road number. In […]

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N scale Montgomery & Cole Subdivision

Track plan overview

Facts & features Name: Montgomery & Cole Subdivision Scale: N (1:160) Size: 10′-0″ x 10′-0″ Prototype: Great Northern, BNSF Ry., and CP Rail Locale: western Montana, eastern Washington Era: 1970s – ’80s Style: walk-in Mainline run: 78 feet Minimum radius: 9″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 3.5 percent Benchwork: open grid Height: 441⁄2″ Roadbed: […]

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The Eastport Branch in HO

Track plan overview

Facts & features Name: The Eastport Branch Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 15 x 20 feet Prototype: freelanced, representing various New England railroads Locale: New England Era: steam-to-diesel transition era to second-generation diesel Style: around the walls Mainline run: 70 feet Minimum radius: 26″ Maximum grade: 2 percent Benchwork: L-girder on cabinet tops and wall brackets […]

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