PIKO America SmartControl WiFi DCC system Touchscreen train control via a Smartphone app over a WiFi connection has been around for several years now. What I miss when using my smartphone as a throttle, though, is that my smartphone isn’t a throttle. PIKO America has taken the app-control concept to the next level with its […]
Walthers N scale EMD SW1200 diesel Electro-Motive Division’s SW1200 was its last switcher powered by the 567-series diesel engine, and Walthers has re-released the model in N scale in seven paint schemes. The direct-current (DC) models are equipped with Micro-Trains couplers and are upgraded to accept Digitrax or Train Control Systems Digital Command Control (DCC) […]
Kato HO scale Amtrak Superliner II transition sleeper Price: $90 Manufacturer Kato USA Inc. 100 Remington Rd. Schaumburg, IL 60173 www.katousa.com Era: 2002 to present (as decorated) Road name: Amtrak (Phase 6 [also known as phase 4b] paint scheme). Comments: Kato has released a new run of HO scale Amtrak Superliner II passenger equipment, including […]
Atlas Master Line N scale EMD GP7 A tried-and-true N scale model of one of the most popular early diesel-electric locomotives has been upgraded with the addition of an NCE Digital Command Control (DCC) decoder. Atlas Model RR Co. is also issuing its N scale Electro-Motive Division GP7 road switcher in new road names. History. […]
On our sound-equipped sample, the Tsunami2 decoder is mounted above the motor and flywheels. Lighting leads run from decoder to bulbs in the body shell. Athearn Trains has added an ES44DC version of its HO scale GEVO locomotive to its top-of-the-line Genesis series. In addition to capturing the subtle external differences between the DC and […]
Kato N scale Johnstown America BethGon protein gondola Price: Eight-pack, $155 Manufacturer Kato USA Inc. 100 Remington Rd. Schaumburg, IL 60173 www.katousa.com Road names: Wells Fargo Rail Corp. (SBTX reporting marks) and Burlington Northern. Two eight-packs per name. Era: April/May 2009 to present Comments: Bring the modern era to your N scale layout with protein […]
ScaleTrains.com HO scale covered hopper A Greenbrier (Gunderson) 5,188- cubic-foot-capacity covered hopper has been added to the ScaleTrains.com HO scale Rivet Counter line. The modern three-bay hopper is offered in four body styles. It features see-through stainless steel running boards and crossover platforms, prototype-specific hatch covers and outlet gates, and American Steel Foundries Ride-Control trucks […]
Walthers HO scale 50-foot refrigerator car Price: $27.98 Manufacturer Wm. K. Walthers Inc. 5601 W. Florist Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53218 www.walthers.com Era: 1963 to 1974 (as decorated) Road names: Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Canadian Pacific; Erie Lackawanna; Milwaukee Road; Pacific Fruit Express (Southern Pacific and Union Pacific heralds); and Santa Fe Refrigerated Despatch. Two road […]
Rapido Trains HO Budd Rail Diesel Car The car that revived branchline passenger operations for many railroads after World War II stands ready to do the same for HO scale railroads. Rapido Trains has released a highly accurate model of the Budd Rail Diesel Car, or RDC, in three body styles. Available equipped with an […]
Iowa Scaled Engineering ProtoThrottle Recently I tested a pre-production sample of the Iowa Scaled Engineering ProtoThrottle. This wireless Digital Command Control cab is designed to mimic a diesel-electric locomotive control stand in looks and operation. In both cases, the ProtoThrottle delivers. The receiver. The ProtoThrottle isn’t a standalone DCC system and doesn’t program decoders. The […]
Atlas HO scale AEM-7 electric locomotive The AEM-7 may have been retired by Amtrak, but Atlas has brought back its HO model, with a new Electronic Solutions Ulm LokSound Select dual-mode decoder, for another run. Since Model Railroader last reviewed this model in the March 2000 issue, sound-equipped locomotives have proliferated. Bringing the model back […]
Bachmann HO scale bay window caboose Price: $59 Manufacturer Bachmann Trains 1400 E. Erie Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19124 www.bachmanntrains.com Era: 1952 to 1964 (as decorated) Comments: For those who want to add variety to their caboose fleets, these HO scale bay-window cabooses from Bachmann Trains are worth a look. The plastic models are built with […]
