Soo Line’s train No. 6, powered by 4-6-2 no. 736, eases up to the depot in the fictional community of Bahnak, Minn. Lou Sassi took the photo on Ray and Renee Grosser’s HO scale layout in Eubank, Ky. Renee scratchbuilt the elevator and Soo Line first-class depot. Model Railroader‘s Photo of the Day features images […]
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Rapido HO Amtrak Non-Powered Control Unit Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin plug, $239.95; with dual-mode sound decoder, $289.95 Era: Mid-1990s to present (varies based on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Rapido Trains, 382 High St., Buffalo, NY 14204; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Rapido HO Amtrak Non-Powered Control Unit features: Enlarged marker lights Etched-metal radiator grills and […]
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News & Products for the week of June 16th 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 June 16th, […]
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The industrial community of Charlemont keeps Graylock Terminal crews busy. Today, Alco RS-3 no. 38 will switch the local industries. The scene, photographed by Lou Sassi, is on Bill Duffé’s freelanced HO LKJ&W RR. Model Railroader‘s Photo of the Day features images from our archives, celebrating decades of model railroad heritage and excellence. […]
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Now that trains are running on the HO scale East Troy Industrial Park (ETIP) project layout, David Popp hosts this BONUS video to share some of the behind-the-scenes efforts and design considerations the MR crew still needs to tackle. As so many model railroaders can attest, there’s no such thing as “finished” layout…especially when structure […]
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Atlas Thrall HO 2743 gondola Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $39.95; with cover, $44.95 Era: 1995 to present Manufacturer: Atlas Model Railroad Co., 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205; 908-687-0880; shop.atlasrr.com Atlas Thrall 2743 gondola features: 14 exterior posts 36” metal wheelsets Body-mounted Accumate couplers Detailed brake system with air reservoir, brake cylinder, and control valve; […]
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With the late afternoon sun casting long shadows, Staten Island Rapid Transit S-2 no. 488 pulls a cut of boxcars through Mariner’s Harbor on Staten Island. The remnants of the Lake Avenue passenger platform can be seen behind the switcher. Mark Pitanza of Old Bridge, N.J., took the photo outdoors on an N scale diorama. […]
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Steel mills are big, gritty industries, and they make interesting scenes on model railroads. Bruce Dombey of Portage, Ind., sent in this photo of a Davenport 0-4-0 (a Bachmann On21⁄2 model with a new cab) switching ingot mold cars at the mill on his O scale layout. The mold cars are HO models by Rix […]
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Rapido HO Pennsylvania RR G22 gondola Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Single car, $54.95; three-pack, $164.85; and six-pack, $329.70 Era: 1915 to 1970s (varies based on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Rapido Trains, 382 High St., Buffalo, NY 14204; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Rapido HO Pennsylvania RR G22 gondola features: 70- or 100-ton trucks with turned metal wheels AB or […]
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On a lazy summer afternoon, Chicago, Burlington & Quincy GP7 no. 262 brings a local past Lang’s Dairy Farm. The train will continue down the branch line to Union Star, Mo., making setouts and pickups along the way. Lou Sassi photographed the scene on Dick Wolter’s HO scale CB&Q Brookfield Division layout. Dick lives […]
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Q: I have a bedroom sized N scale railroad with a four track staging/fiddle yard on one wall. I would like to run a branch line to a quarry over the staging, but I am concerned about the gradient to get the tracks to the right height. I will need about 6″ clearance for my […]
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