Also in this issue: ON TRAINS.COM, pg. 6 The latest features on our website FROM THE EDITOR, pg. 8 Remembering JDH NEWS AND PRODUCTS, pg. 10 Hobby industry news ASK MR, pg. 16 Why is there an F on the front of diesels? STEP BY STEP, pg. 21 Build a laser-cut wood structure kit PROTOTYPE TO […]
Dennis E. Storzek, co-founder of Accurail Inc., died on April 21, 2024. Dennis was born in 1951 and became a model railroader in 1959 when he received a Lionel train set. His first freight car scratchbuild was a flatcar, which was better work than most adults of the time produced. Dennis joined the Illinois Railway […]
A new run of HO scale Alco RS11 diesel locomotives is now available from Rapido Trains. The model features many newly tooled, railroad-specific details; illuminated number boxes, class lights, and control stand lights; and a new five-pole, skew-wound motor. Prototype history Alco produced the RS11 from February 1956 until May 1961. During that time, it […]
News & Products for the week of April 29th 2024 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 April 29th […]
When I began exploring the ins and outs of railroad operations as a teenager, a lingering question piqued my curiosity: Why do multiple diesel locomotives run together in the same or different directions? The answer is quite simple once you understand how the operating practice works. Most North American locomotives today are diesel-electric, meaning that […]
Q: Do you have any suggestions on how to replace trucks on Walthers HO Horizon cars (item No. 932-6073)? — Daniel Kielty A: That part number corresponds to an HO scale Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority commuter car. The Horizon fleet passenger cars, used by Amtrak as well as municipal transit authorities like MBTA, were built […]
Through our Trains.com website and the pages of Model Railroader magazine, you get a pretty good idea of what some of the hobby’s well-known names are working on. But not everything they do becomes an article for the website or magazine. In “What are you working on?” I surveyed some of our regular contributors to […]
Distributed Power 101 Modern railroads are one of the most efficient modes of transporting freight across long distances. Occasionally in railroad freight service, the need will arise for multiple locomotives to efficiently transport freight. But where in this hypothetical freight train should the locomotives be placed? Distributed Power (DP) is an operating practice where locomotives […]
The HO scale General Electric (GE) P40DC diesel locomotive has returned to the Athearn product lineup. The Genesis-series model features a newly tooled body with cab-mounted strobe lights, a red emergency light, and other prototype-specific details. The prototype Our review sample is decorated as Amtrak P40DC No. 813, part of the passenger carrier’s 800 through […]
Built by Others in an article series showing layouts constructed by modelers using plans and projects from the pages of Model Railroader and its associated products. David Popp’s Naugatuck Valley RR has appeared in multiple issues of Model Railroader as well as the book Building a Model Railroad: Step by Step, Second Edition. George Giacono […]
If you’re new to the hobby, you might be wondering if you can operate any locomotive on an everyday commuter, intercity, or high-speed passenger train. If you’re looking for prototypical operations on your layout set in the modern era, the short answer is usually no. However, there are many factors which go into this simple […]
News & Products for the week of April 22nd 2024 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 April 22nd […]
