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WASILLA, Alaska — After more than 500,000 volunteer working hours, the 557 Restoration Co. successfully fired the last Alaska Railroad steam locomotive on Nov. 8, 2025. The rebuild is now 95% complete, “ … with all the expensive and labor intensive stuff behind us,” says Patrick Durand, 557 Restoration Co. president. The locomotive was pulled […]
A Trinity Industries 5,161-cubic-foot capacity three-bay covered hopper is now part of Bachmann’s growing lineup of modern HO scale freight cars. The injection-molded plastic model features screw-mounted roller-bearing trucks, metal wheelsets, and body-mounted E-Z Mate Mark II couplers. Prototype history The 5161 covered hopper has been part of the Trinity Industries (now TrinityRail) catalog since […]
Love them or hate them, it was only a matter of time before Siemens Mobility’s Charger diesel locomotives made their way into the model railroading world. Sunset Models 3rd Rail has taken the lead in producing both the SC-44 and ALC-42 types in O scale. These 2- and 3-rail models were announced in 2022 and […]
ScaleTrains HO EMD SD9 Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin connector, $214.99; with ESU LokSound V5 sound decoder, two cube-type speakers, and an ESU-designed “PowerPack” with two super capacitors, $324.99. Manufacturer: ScaleTrains, 4901 Old Tasso Road NE, Cleveland, TN 37312; 844-987-2467; scaletrains.com ScaleTrains HO EMD SD9 features: All-wheel drive and electrical pickup Detailed […]
BALTIMORE — The B&O Railroad Museum announced today that CSX CEO Steve Angel will co-chair the museum’s $38 million capital campaign to transform its campus in preparation for the 200th anniversary of American railroading in 2027. Angel replaces former CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs in this role. Hinrichs left CSX in September 2025. Angel joins Benjamin […]
Atlas N EMD GP38-2 Scale: N (1:160) Price: Direct-current model with factory-installed speaker, $124.95 to $134.95; with ESU LokSound V5 sound decoder, $224.95 to $234.95 Manufacturer: Atlas Model Railroad Co., 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205; 908-687-0880; shop.atlasrr.com Atlas N EMD GP38-2 features: 2,600- or 3,600-gallon plastic fuel tank as appropriate Body-mounted Accumate couplers Directional, […]
Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno takes a closer look at the WalthersProto HO scale EMD GP7. Cody first explores the prototype history of the GP7, noting that Electro-Motive Division produced over 2,700 units between October 1949 and May 1954. The review sample is decorated as Chicago, Burlington & Quincy No. 204, built in September 1951. The model […]
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum has received a $100,000 grant from the State of Tennessee. The grant, administered by the Tennessee State Museum, is for capital maintenance and improvement projects. The museum will use the funds for additional improvements to its Grand Junction depot area. Specifically, the museum will fund three projects […]
BALTIMORE — Mark your calendar for 15 months from now. In February 1827 the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad became the first common carrier railroad in the U.S. February 2027 is the bicentennial of U.S. railroading and the B&O Railroad Museum plans to celebrate with renovated and expanded facilities now under construction. The $38 million project […]
In April 2024, Lionel announced a newly-tooled, ET44AC diesel-electric locomotive in a standalone catalog. This O-scale, 3-rail model was delivered in September 2025 and has received high praise. The ET44AC was produced by General Electric and is part of its Evolution Series. The locomotive is compliant with Tier 4 emissions standards, hence the “T” in […]
Athearn Genesis HO EMD F45 Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin NEM connector, $219.99; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound decoder, $319.99 Era: 1969+ to 2000+ (varies based on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Athearn Genesis HO EMD F45 features: All-wheel drive and electrical pickup Body-mounted […]
CLEWISTON, Fla. — U.S. Sugar’s Sugar Express will host a two-day photo charter in January featuring steam locomotive No. 148 in a recreation of 1950s-era railroading. The event on Jan. 17-18, 2026, will feature No. 148 — the Alco 4-6-2 built for Florida East Coast in 1920 and sold to U.S. Sugar in 1952 — […]
