New model trains for the week of July 28, 2016

Bachmann Train HO scale Harvest Express

HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division E8Am and E9A diesel locomotives. E8Am: Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe. Four road numbers (two each in DC and Digital Command Control). E9A: Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (post-1959 repaint). Three road numbers (one in DC, two in DCC). Both models feature metallic finish, railroad-specific details, die-cast metal underframe, and Proto-Max […]

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N scale Geneva Subdivision

NscaleUnionPacificGenevaSub

Name: Geneva Subdivision Layout owner: Daryl Kruse Scale: N (1:160) Size: 25 x 48 feet Prototype: Union Pacific (ex-Chicago & North Western) Locale: Northern Illinois Era: Present Style: single deck Mainline run: 160 feet Minimum radius: 36″ Turnouts: no. 10 (mainline), no. 8 (secondary and yard track) Maximum grade: 0.5 percent Benchwork: open-grid Height: 55″ […]

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Off The Rails: Episode 3

Two hands working to pour a powdery brown substance into a plastic lid.

Host Gerry Leone really gets his hands dirty this time as he prepares the natural soil he uses for scenery on his HO scale layout. In this episode, Gerry walks you through the entire process for refining, sorting, and then applying dirt groundcover to a model railroad or any size or scale. […]

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Video: National Train Show 2016 Special Report part 2

Front section and cab of a black-painted model train locomotive.

Associate editor Cody Grivno wraps up coverage of the National Train Show 2016 in Indianapolis. He’ll show you new model trains and model railroading products in HO, N, and Z scales from American Z Line, Athearn, Digitrax, Micro-Trains Line, and ScaleTrains.com. You’ll also get a look at some of the layouts on display at the […]

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MR insider: National Train Show 2016 Special Report part 1

A model electric locomotive colored tuscan red and on a display shelf.

See some of the new model railroading products and model train layouts featured at the National Train Show 2016 held in Indianapolis, Ind. In part 1 you’ll see new HO and N scale model trains as Model Railroader associate editor Cody Grivno interviews representatives from Atlas, Bachmann, Kato, Walthers, and Woodland Scenics. You’ll also get […]

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3D Track Plans: Canadian Canyons in N scale

Canadian Canyons track planning

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Inspired by a recent Drew’s Trackside Adventures, MRVP’s David Popp aimed to design a layout that highlights the amazing scenery and railroad operation found in Canada’s Thompson and Fraser River Canyons. Ben Lake takes that scheme even further with this 3D rendering of […]

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Atlas HO scale GE Dash 8-40BW diesel locomotive

Atlas HO scale Dash 8-40BW

Atlas HO scale Dash 8-40BW In August 2001, then-associate editor Jim Hediger lauded the HO scale Atlas Dash 8-40B for its performance and detail. With this 2016 release, the locomotive is available with a dual-mode ESU LokSound Select decoder, so it sounds as prototypical as it looks on both Digital Command Control (DCC) and direct-current […]

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