Rapido Trains HO scale MLW M420 diesel

Rapido locomotive

Rapido Trains is bringing the comfort, Canadian style. We recently received a sample of the company’s new Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW) M420 loco- motive, and it’s a beauty, eh? The prototype. When Alco locomotive production ceased in Schenectady, N.Y., in 1969, locomotives continued to be built in Canada by former subsidiary Montreal Locomotive Works until […]

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Bachmann N scale NYC J-3a 4-6-4 Hudson

Bachmann N scale locomotive

Bachmann’s latest N scale locomotive is a classic. New York Central’s J-3a Super Hudson, designed to lead the railroad’s top streamlined passenger trains, incorporated all the best steam technology available to the Central’s designers. The result was an iconic locomotive that would epitomize the idea of steam power for generations to come. Bachmann’s N scale […]

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N scale UPRR Geneva Subdivision

Overview of track plan

The layout at a glance Name: UPRR Geneva Subdivision Scale: N (1:160) Size: 60′-6″ x 33′-6″ Prototype: Union Pacific Locale: northern Illinois Era: 2014 Style: walkaround Mainline run: 250 feet Minimum radius: 36″ Turnouts: no. 10 (main), no. 8 (secondary and yards) Maximum grade: 0.5 percent Benchwork: open grid Height: 55″ Roadbed: 3⁄16″ cork (main), […]

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M.T.H. will continue to make trains

Open garage door with moving truck

Some good news for toy train hobbyists: Mike Wolf might be retiring, but his former company isn’t. A year after M.T.H. Electric Trains’ owner announced his plan to depart the industry, a significant portion of the company is relocating from its Columbia, Md. facility to a new one in Elkridge, Md., while another part continues […]

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Model Rail/Rapido Trains 16XX 0-6-0PT

Model Rail/Rapido Trains 16XX 0-6-0PT engineer’s side on model railroad scene

Model Rail Offers at www.modelrailoffers.co.uk for £149.00 plus shipping (approximately $200 as of this writing). Pluses Hefty die-cast construction, smooth operation, and great detail Minuses DC-operation only. Circuit board issue requires replacement (available from Model Rail Offers) for use with DCC Verdict Solid running model of a British Railways steam-era light-duty locomotive Overview You couldn’t […]

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Cody’s Trackside Finds

Four red CN high-cube distributed braking cars in the middle of an intermodal train.

Welcome to Cody’s Trackside Finds, a new series on Trains.com, where we’ll look at interesting locomotives, freight cars, structures, or details that I’ve come across while railfanning. In these entries, I’ll provide some background information on the subject, give you some modeling tips, and most importantly, encourage comments from the Trains.com community. Do you have […]

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Model railroad locomotive, freight car, passenger car, detail, tool, and book announcements for May 20, 2021

WalthersProto HO scale Electro-Motive Division

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 May 20, 2021. HO scale locomotives  Genesis 4-8-4 FEF-2 and FEF-3 steam […]

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Ask MR: Where should superelevation ramps go?

Superelevation ramps made with tape and thin cardboard are seen on the outside of a curve of cork roadbed

Q: When superelevating track curves with shims, is the shim placed with one of its sides along the track centerline or in the middle of the line? – Robert, last name not given  A: Superelevation is where the rail on the outside of a curve is elevated slightly above the inner rail so trains transiting […]

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Model Railroader’s Beginners’ email series

Screen image showing text and images from Model Railroader's beginner email series pitch.

Learn the fundamentals from Model Railroader with our FREE Basic Training E-mail Series! For beginners and those who could use a refresher on key model railroad fundamentals, Model Railroader’s Basic Training E-mail Series is for YOU! This series of six e-mails includes: •a clear explanation of scales and gauges •a demonstration of model train sets […]

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