East Broad Top: America’s Oldest Narrow Gauge Railroad

A steam locomotive sits inside a roundhouse

Time capsule When construction of Pennsylvania’s iron ore and coal-hauling East Broad Top began in 1872, more than 150 years ago, its builders decided it would be a narrow gauge line, with rails set 3-feet apart instead of the North American standard gauge of 4-feet, 8.5-inches. Narrow gauge offered significant advantages, as the smaller locomotives […]

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Discover the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad

Sideview of an old steam locomotive being looked over by a crewman wearing bib overalls

Steam over Cumbres Pass On a sunny June morning in Antonito, Colorado, Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad’s 4-6-0 No. 168, built by Baldwin in 1883, is readied for another run over the mountains. Its relatively tall 46-inch drivers made it suitable for fast passenger service. Carl Swanson The 64-mile-long Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is […]

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WalthersProto HO Amfleet coaches

A model amfleet passenger car in silver with white, red and blue stripes

WalthersProto HO Amfleet coaches Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Unlighted, $122.98; lighted, $139.98 Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com Features on WalthersProto HO Amfleet coaches: Amfleet I 84-seat coach and Amfleet II 59-seat coach body styles Detailed interior with optional overhead light-emitting-diode lighting Detailed underframe with center and […]

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News & Products for the week of August 18th 2025

A green and yellow model locomotive

News & Products for the week of August 18th 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 August 18th, […]

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Athearn N scale acid tank car

Color photo showing brake end of N scale tank car painted black with yellow and white graphics on white background.

A 13,600-gallon sulfuric acid tank car is now part of the N scale Athearn Genesis line. The newly tooled model, based on a Union Tank Car Co. prototype, features a plastic body; many separate, factory-applied details; and body-mounted McHenry double-shelf couplers, available for the first time in 1:160. Prototype history Athearn offers the sulfuric acid […]

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Atlas Trainman HO EMD GP38-2

Color photo showing cab and short hood of HO scale EMD hood unit painted crimson and black with white graphics and yellow and white stripes on white background.

Atlas Trainman HO EMD GP38-2 Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with factory-installed speaker and 21-pin plug for Digital Command Control decoder, $179.95; with ESU LokSound decoder, $274.95 Manufacturer: Atlas Model Railroad Co., 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205; 908-687-0880; shop.atlasrr.com Atlas Trainman HO EMD GP38-2 features: Body-mounted Accumate couplers with factory-installed trip pins Cab […]

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SD units on branch lines

Color photo of HO scale EMD hood unit painted orange and black on scenicked base with sky backdrop.

Q: In the May 2025 Ask MR, the answer to a question about early diesel power for the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy included this statement: “For road power, the MR&T would most likely turn to four-axle units, such as the Alco RS1 through RS3 and EMD GP7 and GP9. It’s possible the MR&T could have […]

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Lionel releases 2025 Volume 2 catalog

catalog page with locomotive set

Lionel Trains has released a 2025 Volume II catalog. The 44-page book includes new items in the Legacy, LionChief, Star Wars, and Accessory lines. Highlights include a Santa Fe Super Chief set (No. 2622020), which includes two F3A locomotives, two F3Bs (one unpowered), baggage car, Pullman sleeper car, dome car, diner, three sleeping cars, and […]

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News & Products for the week of August 11th 2025

A blue, white and red model locomotive

News & Products for the week of August 11th 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 August 11th, […]

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Cycle against Western Maryland Scenic Railroad No. 1309

With heavy smoke pouring from its stack, Western Maryland No. 1309 powers a freight train in Fall 2022

CUMBERLAND, Md. — In nearly 200 years of American railroad history, we have witnessed some unusual speed challenges — horse vs. steam locomotive, attempts at distance speed records, even, how much track can be laid in a day. Now it’s time to gear up for cyclists racing against Western Maryland Scenic Railroad 2-6-6-2 No. 1309. […]

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Atlas N ACF Precision Design boxcar

Color photo of N scale boxcar painted dark blue with aluminum roof and red and white graphics on white background

Atlas N ACF Precision Design boxcar Scale: N (1:160) Price: $30.95 (undecorated, $23.95) Manufacturer: Atlas Model Railroad Co., 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205; 908-687-0880; shop.atlasrr.com Atlas N ACF Precision Design boxcar features: Diagonal-panel roof Die-cast metal underframe Factory-applied end ladders, crossover handrails, and brake wheel Pin-mounted roller-bearing trucks Plastic wheelsets See-through plastic crossover platforms […]

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MP15CC pressed into service on the Richmond Pacific

Blue and black, diesel-powered switcher

Richmond, CA — The Richmond Pacific Railroad, a division of Levin Richmond Terminal that serves the Port of Richmond and surrounding industries, announced that its active roster now meets full Tier IV emissions standards. This milestone in environmental compliance was achieved through the recent commission of a MP15CC that was repowered by Western Rail, Inc. […]

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