The Rise of HO Scale Model Trains

A model train passes on a bridge on a model railroad layout

HO scale model trains are a significant part of model railroading history, and we can partially credit the overall popularity of model trains with the rise of a convenient, tabletop scale like HO. With origins dating back a century, HO scale trains have grown into the most popular model train scale in the world.  Model […]

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Railroad vehicles you can model

Color photo of white truck with black bed and yellow grapple

A few months ago I wrote about a boxcar storage shed in Crookston, Minn., my hometown. During that same visit my friend, then an employee of Minnesota Northern RR (since retired) gave me a tour of the rest of the yard. Sure, I spent time photographing the usual things — locomotives, rolling stock, structures, and […]

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4 x 8-foot layout upgrades

Color rendering of HO scale track plan.

Q: I have two oval tracks, one inside the other, on a piece of 4 x 8 plywood. Just running a train around each track is boring. My funds are very limited. Do you have any suggestions as to how to make this more fun? — Elaine King A: Since space is at a premium […]

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Railroad paint schemes

Color photo of two HO scale diesels in green and black paint.

Hobbyists are drawn to specific railroads for a variety of reasons. Perhaps it was the line that served their hometown. Or maybe a relative worked on the railroad. Another reason — with less sentimental attachment — is that they like the paint scheme. The colors applied to diesel locomotives and freight cars are far from […]

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Atlas O Premier VIA Rail F40PH-2

close up of model locomotive

Watch a video of the Atlas O Premier custom-run VIA Rail F40PH-2 locomotive, as offered by Mr. Muffin’s Trains. This locomotive packs in a lot of detail and features like Proto-Sound 3.0 and O-36 operation. Read the product review of this engine from Contributing Editor Bob Keller. […]

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Atlas O Premier VIA Rail F40PH-2

close up of model locomotive

Watch a video of the Atlas O Premier custom-run VIA Rail F40PH-2 locomotive, as offered by Mr. Muffin’s Trains. This locomotive packs in a lot of detail and features like Proto-Sound 3.0 and O-36 operation. Read the product review of this engine from Contributing Editor Bob Keller. […]

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Trains.com Insider Exclusive | Interview with Stephen Nelson, Owner of Mr. Muffin’s Trains

Trains.com staff writer Lucas Iverson chats with Stephen and Liz Nelson, owners/operators of Mr. Muffin’s Trains in Atlanta, Ind. Throughout this remote-video interview, you’ll glean behind-the-scenes insights into the past, present, and future of the growing online operation with an intriguing brick-and-mortar location too! You can also read the transcript of this insightful interview with […]

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Atlas O Premier VIA Rail F40PH-2

silver, yellow, and green model locomotive on track

It is a crazy and wonderful O gauge market where a hobby shop can have Atlas O make a custom-run of an MTH locomotive in a contemporary Canadian livery! Well done to all involved in making this happen! Interesting origins After American railroads gave up on passenger traffic and a national passenger network run by […]

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N scale Alco RSD5 from Atlas

Screen capture from video showing N scale diesel and product description.

We’re turning the clock back to the 1960s on the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy State Line Route for our latest product review video. This time around we’ll take a look at the N scale Alco RSD5 from Atlas. Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno provides a brief history of the six-axle road switcher and Atchison, […]

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N scale Alco RSD5 from Atlas

Screen capture from video showing N scale diesel and product description.

We’re turning the clock back to the 1960s on the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy State Line Route for our latest product review video. This time around we’ll take a look at the N scale Alco RSD5 from Atlas. Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno provides a brief history of the six-axle road switcher and Atchison, […]

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Atlas N Alco RSD5

Color photo showing nose details on N scale diesel.

The Alco RSD5 diesel locomotive is back for another run in the N scale Atlas Classic line. The six-axle road switcher, part of the Atlas lineup since 1999, is now offered with a factory-installed speaker (Silver Series), an ESU LokSound V5 Digital Command Control and sound decoder (Gold Series), and a revised chassis. Prototype history […]

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New Atlas O Premier Winter 2025 catalog

cover of catalog with snowy train scene

The Atlas Winter 2025 catalog was recently published on the manufacturer’s website. Highlights include a U30C diesel locomotive, a hot metal car, new GP40 paint schemes, new paint schemes for their 40-foot tank car, an upgraded Dash 8-40CW with Proto-Sound 3.0, and much more. View the catalog at shop.atlasrr.com Read more news in our news […]

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