Embark on an epic journey back to the late 1940s and early ’50s, as depicted on Curt LaRue’s HO scale (1:87.1) Pennsylvania Railroad Panhandle Division! Originally presented in the October 2025 issue of Model Railroader magazine, this stunning layout comes to life as cameras capture various modeled rural and industrial sites along the multi-track mainline […]
Q: I would like to feature modern automobiles on my currently under construction layout. Is there a manufacturer that makes vehicles from the late 1990s to modern day? If not, is there any way to make them? — Jake, via email A: You didn’t specify your modeling scale, Jake, but there are multiple sources for […]
Senior Editor Cody Grivno reviews the new Atlas Trainman HO Electro-Motive Division (EMD) GP38-2 diesel locomotive. First, you’ll learn new insights about full-size EMD GP38-2 units, and specifics details about Helm Leasing no. 3805, which was originally built as Texas Mexican Railway no. 866. Then, as possible only through video demonstration, Cody highlights the model’s […]
Senior Editor Cody Grivno reviews the new Atlas Trainman HO Electro-Motive Division (EMD) GP38-2 diesel locomotive. First, you’ll learn new insights about full-size EMD GP38-2 units, and specifics details about Helm Leasing no. 3805, which was originally built as Texas Mexican Railway no. 866. Then, as possible only through video demonstration, Cody highlights the model’s […]
News & Products for the week of September 2nd 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 September 2nd, […]
Atlas HO CNCF 5000 boxcar Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $59.95 Manufacturer: Atlas Model Railroad Co., 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205; 908-687-0880; shop.atlasrr.com Atlas HO CNCF 5000 boxcar features: 33” metal wheelsets Body-mounted metal couplers Detailed underbody with air reservoir, brake cylinder, control valve, levers, brake rods, cylinder pipe, and auxiliary and emergency reservoir pipes […]
Gerry Leone, host of Spaces to Places, works along the streets of Westcott, a Bona Vista HO scale layout town site he thought was previously “finished.” Here, he shows how to add a key missing element – telephone poles (aka utility/power/line poles)! Follow along, and you’ll see Gerry’s process for building, painting, and installing the […]
Rapido HO Trains EMD GP40 Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Single unit — direct current, $239.95; with ESU LokSound V5 sound decoder, $349.95. Locomotive with slug — direct current, $449.95; with ESU LokSound V5 decoder, $669.95 Manufacturer: Rapido Trains, 382 High St, Buffalo, NY 14204; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Rapido Trains HO EMD GP40 diesel locomotive features: Ditch […]
Football is getting underway, pumpkin spice everything is showing up on store shelves, and the thermometer has given a few hints that autumn is just around the corner. Of course, that means we’re heading into peak model railroading season. In the September 2025 episode of Cody’s Office, we feature three new products, a modeling tip, […]
Football is getting underway, pumpkin spice everything is showing up on store shelves, and the thermometer has given a few hints that autumn is just around the corner. Of course, that means we’re heading into peak model railroading season. In the September 2025 episode of Cody’s Office, we feature three new products, a modeling tip, […]
WalthersMainline HO 41-foot ballast hopper Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $31.98 Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com Features on WalthersMainline HO 41-foot ballast hopper: 36” turned-metal wheels mounted on plastic axles Body-mounted Proto-Max metal couplers Factory-applied brake details, crossover platforms, and longitudinal doors Heavy, die-cast metal underframe Injection-molded […]
Athearn HO Johnstown America BethGon Coalporter Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Five-pack, $234.99 Era: 1990s to present (varies based on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Athearn HO BethGon Coalporter features: 36” metal wheelsets with RP-25 contour Body-mounted McHenry scale couplers Etched-metal crossover platforms Factory-applied brake wheel and formed-wire […]
