WalthersMainline HO Plymouth ML-8 switcher Small switchers, such as this Plymouth ML-8 modeled by Walthers, toiled away for decades at various trackside industries and railroad shops. The WalthersMainline model captures the look of its prototype “critter” and features impressive power for such a diminutive locomotive. The model is available in direct-current (DC) or Digital Command […]
Athearn HO Southern Pacific EMD SD40 diesel locomotive The Southern Pacific SD40 features many prototype specific details and see-through fan grills. Second-generation diesel modelers looking for a heavy-duty six-axle road engine would do well to take a look at Athearn’s new Electro-Motive Division SD40. The model has prototype-specific details, wire grab irons, see-through fan grills, […]
Digitrax Evolution advanced DCC starter set Digitrax adds another advanced command station, the DCS210, and a new DT500 throttle to its Digital Command Control (DCC) lineup. The new throttle and command station are also key components of the firm’s Evolution DCC starter set. [Another new Digitrax product, the DCS240 advanced command station, was reviewed in […]
Bachmann SoundValue HO scale EMD E7A Our review sample is sharply decorated in the Pennsyvlania RR Tuscan five-stripe paint scheme. Separate detail parts include handrails, horns, and windshield wipers. For those modeling passenger service in the last half of the 20th century, General Motors’ Electro-Motive Division E-units are essential. This EMD E7A from Bachmann Trains […]
Kato N scale SDP40F diesel locomotive Price: Direct-current, $125; with ESU LokSound Digital Command Control and sound, $250 Manufacturer Kato USA Inc. 100 Remington Rd. Schaumburg, IL 60173 www.katousa.com Era: 1988 to 1994 (as decorated) Road names: Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (three road numbers) and BNSF Ry./Maersk (one number) Comments: Yes, we reviewed the […]
Wheels of Time HO 62-foot bulkhead flatcar Price: Bulkhead flat: $38.95; 3-pack, $116.85; 12-pack, $467.40. Plain deck (no bulkheads): $35.95; 3-pack, $107.85; 6-pack, $215.70. Manufacturer Wheels of Time P.O. Box 846 Mountain View, CA 94042 www.wheelsotime.com Era: 1966 to 1998 (as decorated) Road names: With bulkheads: Southern Pacific, Golden West Service, St. Louis Southwestern (Cotton […]
MTH HO scale New York City subway cars The MTH model includes working headlight, marker lights, and local and express indicators. The lead car in the four-car set is powered and houses the Digital Command System and Proto-Sound 3.0 electronics. The unpowered cars have a rudimentary interior and overhead lighting. Next stop, Dyer Avenue! You […]
Bachmann HO scale SoundValue USRA light 4-6-2 Pacific The HO scale model features many separate detail parts, including wire handrails and metal running gear. A SoundTraxx decoder and speaker are in the tender. A passenger workhorse of the steam era joins Bachmann Trains’ HO scale SoundValue lineup with this United States Railway Administration (USRA) light […]
WalthersProto HO scale PRR BR70n RPO baggage car The car has a detailed interior made of several plastic moldings. Contacts at one end of the car provide electrical pickup for interior lighting (sold separately). Fully-fledged post offices on wheels, Railway Post Office cars used to be called the most profitable cars in a railroad’s fleet. […]
Atlas N scale Norfolk Southern gondola Price: Single car, $25.95; three-pack, $77.95; six-pack, $155.70 Manufacturer Atlas Model Railroad Co. 378 Florence Ave. Hillside, NJ 07205 www.atlasrr.com Era: June 1993 to present (as decorated) Road names: Norfolk Southern (with yellow conspicuity stripes, test roller bearings stencil, MW scrap tie loading stencil, and 263K GRL 1993 scheme […]
Rivarossi HO scale UP Big Boy The Big Boy’s tender features an operating backup light. The detailed pilot deck includes a swingout scale-size coupler One of the largest and most powerful steam locomotives ever built is now available in HO scale equipped with a top-of-the-line Digital Command Control sound decoder. Just like the prototype, Rivarossi’s […]
Transition cars with a Magne-Matic coupler on one end and a True-Scale coupler on the other end are available in several body styles. Left: True-Scale coupler; right: Magne-Matic coupler Price: Four-pack, $3.45; 20-pack, $15.95 Comments: Micro-Trains recently debuted its True-Scale line of N scale coupler kits in short- and long-shank versions. Each kit contains knuckles, […]
