WalthersMainline HO scale EMD GP9

Side view of HO scale diesel locomotive painted green and yellow on scenicked model railroad with title bar in lower left corner.

A new run of the WalthersMainline HO scale EMD GP9 was recently released. Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno shares a brief history of the Electro-Motive Division road switcher and Central Vermont No. 4445; highlights the detail parts on the ready-to-run model; and demonstrates some of the sound and light functions on the locomotive, which […]

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WalthersMainline HO scale EMD GP9

Side view of HO scale diesel locomotive painted green and yellow on scenicked model railroad with title bar in lower left corner.

A new run of the WalthersMainline HO scale EMD GP9 was recently released. Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno shares a brief history of the Electro-Motive Division road switcher and Central Vermont No. 4445; highlights the detail parts on the ready-to-run model; and demonstrates some of the sound and light functions on the locomotive, which […]

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Cody’s Office for April 2025

Man in tan shirt with stripes wearing glasses holding book with model trains in foreground

All-new episodes of Cody’s Office are back into production! That’s right, the popular Trains.com Video series returns at the Firecrown Media offices in suburban Milwaukee, Wis. The setting may be different, but Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno returns with all of your favorite segments, including new products, a modeling tip, and viewer mail. Four […]

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News & Products for the week of June 2nd 2025

A brown and blue model locomotive

News & Products for the week of June 2nd 2025   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 June 2nd, […]

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Walthers HO ACF 5250 covered hopper

Color photo of HO scale covered hopper painted gray with red and black graphics on white background

Walthers HO ACF 5250 covered hopper Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $34.98 Era: 1960s to 2000s Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com Walthers HO ACF 5250 covered hopper features: 36” turned-metal wheels on plastic axles All-new tooling from rails to roof Based on prototypes used to haul plastic […]

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News & Products for the week of May 26th 2025

A white model tank car

News & Products for the week of May 26th 2025   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 May 26th, […]

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Walthers HO 50-foot single-door boxcar

Color photo of HO scale boxcar painted red with black and white graphics

Walthers HO 50-foot single-door boxcar Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $34.98 Era: post-World War II to 1980s Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com Walthers HO 50-foot single-door boxcar features: 4-3-1 improved Dreadnaught ends 7-run side and end ladders 8’-0” Youngstown doors 8-panel riveted car sides 33” turned-metal wheelsets […]

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News & Products for the week of May 19th 2025

A yellow and gray model locomotive

News & Products for the week of May 19th 2025   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 May 19th, […]

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WalthersMainline HO EMD GP9

Color photo of HO scale road switcher painted green and yellow on white background.

WalthersMainline HO EMD GP9 Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin DCC plug and factory-installed 28mm round speaker, $159.98; with dual-mode ESU Sound & DCC, $214.98 Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com WalthersMainline HO EMD GP9 features: Constant, directional light-emitting diode headlights Footboard or plow-equipped pilot […]

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How to color brick structures

A group of HO scale brick buildings along an urban railroad track

A question many readers want an answer to is how to color bricks. Structures have been built with brick for millennia and material was very popular from the start of the industrial revolution through the advent of structural steel and reinforced concrete construction. Most railroads will pass by and serve multiple brick-built factories and warehouses, […]

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News & Products for the week of May 12th 2025

A black model freight car

News & Products for the week of May 12th 2025   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 May 12th, […]

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Walthers HO 40-foot single-sheathed boxcar

Color photo of HO scale boxcar painted brown with black and white graphics on white background.

Walthers HO 40-foot single-sheathed boxcar Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $31.98 Era: 1920s to 1950s Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com Walthers HO 40-foot single-sheathed boxcar features: Newly tooled model 33” turned-metal wheelsets with RP-25 contour Body-mounted Proto-Max metal couplers Factory-applied plastic running boards with molded corner grab […]

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