Electro-Motive Division F40PHM-2 diesel locomotive from Rapido Trains

Drawing of diesel passenger locomotive in different paint schemes

Electro-Motive Division F40PHM-2 diesel locomotive Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model, $239.95; with dual-mode ESU LokSound V5 sound decoder, $349.95 Era: 1991 to present (varies depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Electro-Motive Division F40PHM-2 diesel locomotive features: Dual rooftop air conditioners Separate underbody piping, conduit, and wire […]

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Sartrouville’s Pavilion announced by Minifer

Model of Sartrouville’s Pavilion

Sartrouville’s Pavilion Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $61 (price may vary based on exchange rate) Era: 1936+ Manufacturer: Minifer, 25 Bis Chemin du Roy, 41150 Veuzain Sur Loire, France; minifer.fr/en/ Sartrouville’s house features: Laser-cut cardboard kit Painted cardboard slate roof PDF color instructions Measures 3.93” x 4.13” x 4.72” Release date: Available now News & Products is […]

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HO scale Amtrak Non-Powered Control Units from Rapido Trains

Drawing of four diesel passenger locomotives

Amtrak NPCU “Cabbage” Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin plug, $239.95; with dual-mode sound decoder, $349.95 Era: 1990s to present (varies depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Amtrak Non-Powered Control Unit features: Enlarged marker lights, supplementary air reservoirs, and a K5LA horn Operating strobe lights, […]

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Parts of an Electro-Motive Division GP15-1 diesel locomotive

Photo of front of HO scale four-axle hood unit on white background

Parts of an Electro-Motive Division GP15-1 diesel locomotive Electro-Motive Division (EMD) produced the GP15-1 diesel locomotive from June 1976 through March 1982. During that time, 310 units were built. The four-axle road switcher was equipped with a 1,500hp 12-645E diesel engine, a D32 generator, and D77B traction motors. Original owners included Chicago & North Western […]

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34-foot 100-ton two-bay hopper from Wm. K. Walthers Inc.

Model of orange two-bay hopper

34-foot 100-ton two-bay hopper Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $31.98 (undecorated, $29.98) Era: 1970s to present (varies depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com 34-foot 100-ton two-bay hopper features: Factory-applied door and brake details Heavy die-cast metal underframe 36” metal wheelsets with RP-25 contours Proto-Max metal couplers Road names: Gifford […]

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2022 Lionel Legacy SD40-2 has railroad-specific details

Lionel Legacy SD40-2 front view

The 2022 Lionel Legacy SD40-2 is no stranger to the train-maker’s catalog. The most recent release is the first since 2018. For this round, announced in 2022 Volume 1, Lionel offered four road names and five paint schemes each with a powered and non-powered option. The railroads offered were Burlington Northern; BN in a Spirit […]

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Electro-Motive Division GP9 diesel locomotive from WalthersProto

Drawing of black and yellow diesel locomotive

Electro-Motive Division GP9 Phase II diesel locomotive Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin plug, $219.98; with dual-mode ESU LokSound 5 sound decoder, $319.98. Era: 1954 to present (varies depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com Electro-Motive Division GP9 Phase II diesel locomotives features: Road-specific details Wire grab irons […]

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Wall-mounted billboard three-pack from Wm. K. Walthers Inc.

Model of billboard on the side of a brick wall

Wall-mounted billboard three-pack Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $17.98 Era: 1920s to present Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com Wall-mounted billboard three-pack features: Newly tooled Parts to build three complete billboards Can be built with vintage- or modern-style platforms and nonworking lights Printed color signs Release date: Winter 2023 News & Products is […]

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Athearn Maxi-III five-unit articulated well car

Drawing of red articulated well cars

Maxi-III five-unit articulated well car Scale: HO (1:87:1) Price: $159.99 Era: 1988+ to 1994+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Features: 33” and 38” solid nickel silver wheels with RP-25 contours Body-mounted McHenry double-shelf couplers Injection-molded plastic body Improved metal bolster for added weight Minimum […]

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For Mike Schafer, there’s always a shot

Woman on horse passes in front of freight train

  Although I’ve never been great with a camera, I’ve enjoyed a life immersed in railroad photography, thanks to my good fortune at being able to edit railroad magazines for most of the past 40 years. I’ve had my favorites, of course, but I’ve tried to be as neutral as possible when it came to […]

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Gunderson Auto-Max articulated auto rack from Athearn

Drawing of white auto rack car with red "Kansas City Southern" billboard lettering

Gunderson Auto-Max articulated auto rack Scale: N (1:160) Price: $54.99 Era: 1999+ to 2016+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Gunderson Auto-Max articulated auto rack cars feature: Separate, factory-applied brake wheel and brake details Simulated corrugated roof Full articulation with flexible diaphragm Safety striping 70-ton […]

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Pullman-Standard 5,277-cubic-foot capacity waffle-side boxcar from ExactRail

Model of boxcar with video game controller grafiti on the side

Pullman-Standard 5,277-cubic-foot capacity waffle-side boxcar Scale: N (1:160) Price: $29.99 Era: 1974 to present (depending on scheme) Manufacturer: ExactRail, 525 E. 1860 S., Provo, UT 84606; 866-945-1701; exactrail.com Pullman-Standard 5277 boxcar features: Factory-installed Micro-Trains No. 1015 couplers Body-mounted draft-gear box American Steel Foundries 70-ton Ride Control trucks CNC-machined 33” metal wheelsets Road names: Southern Ry. (1976 […]

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