Kato USA HO scale GE P42 diesel locomotive

KatoUSAHOscaleGEP42diesellocomotive

Kato USA HO scale GE P42 diesel locomotive Are two motors better than one? A typical HO scale locomotive uses a single direct-current (DC) motor mounted on the chassis. Earlier this year, Kato introduced a new approach on one of its HO scale Japanese locomotives by using two compact coreless motors mounted in the trucks. […]

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Bachmann HO scale hi-rail truck

BachmannHOscalehirailtruck

Bachmann HO scale hi-rail truck Price: $109.99 Manufacturer Bachmann Trains 1400 E. Erie Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19124 www.bachmanntrains.com Era: 1980s to present Comments: This HO scale hi-rail truck from Bachmann Trains features a dual-mode Digital Command Control (DCC) decoder that operates on both direct-current (DC) and DCC layouts. The truck’s plastic body shell doesn’t represent […]

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Model Railroader Memoriam: John Allen’s 100th birthday

Born on July 2, 1913, John Allen was a model railroading pioneer renowned for his skill at scratchbuilding and scenery work, as well as his thoughts on model railroad operation. His original 3’-7” x 6’8” Gorre & Daphetid HO scale layout debuted in the January 1948 issue of Model Railroader. He built a larger version […]

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A Day With The Des Moines “Tramp”

Oblique rear view of a black model diesel locomotive on a bridge.

Follow Iowa Interstate Train NTSW-29, affectionately known as the Des Moines “Tramp”, as it delivers a carload to Beisser Lumber on the IAIS Grimes Line. Read about this modern-era model railroad and get a track plan in Model Railroad Planning 2014. Video shot by James McNab […]

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A Day With The Des Moines “Tramp”

Oblique rear view of a black model diesel locomotive on a bridge.

Follow Iowa Interstate Train NTSW-29, affectionately known as the Des Moines “Tramp”, as it delivers a carload to Beisser Lumber on the IAIS Grimes Line. Read about this modern-era model railroad and get a track plan in Model Railroad Planning 2014. Video shot by James McNab […]

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Video Step by Step: Build a water tank part 1

A water tank standing next to the tracks.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page   Associate editor Steven Otte needed several wood water tanks for his layout, so he decided to scratchbuild them using stripwood and common materials. In part one of this two-part video, Steve shows you how he built the tank and the roof. […]

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Video Step by Step: Build a water tank part 1

A water tank standing next to the tracks.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page   Associate editor Steven Otte needed several wood water tanks for his layout, so he decided to scratchbuild them using stripwood and common materials. In part one of this two-part video, Steve shows you how he built the tank and the roof. […]

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Cody’s Workshop: Episode 5 – Installing ditch lights

Cody Grivno sitting at his workbench with a scratchbuilt freight house

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Cody is back in the MR Workshop this month to install ditch light castings on a Rail America diesel engine. He also shares how his freighthouse scratchbuilding job is coming along, and you’ll get to see the finished Turtle Creek MR&T heritage locomotive. […]

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Cody’s Workshop: Episode 5 – Installing ditch lights

Cody Grivno sitting at his workbench with a scratchbuilt freight house

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Cody is back in the MR Workshop this month to install ditch light castings on a Rail America diesel engine. He also shares how his freighthouse scratchbuilding job is coming along, and you’ll get to see the finished Turtle Creek MR&T heritage locomotive. […]

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