Cody’s Office | June 2025

Picture of man in red shirt wearing glasses holding book with model trains in foreground.

It’s hard to believe, but we’re already into the summer months. Before you take that long road trip, head out to the lake to reel in some fish, or spend time mowing the yard, you’ll want to check out the June 2025 episode of Cody’s Office. What’s on tap this time around? Well, we start […]

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June 2025

The June 2025 cover of Model Railroader

Also in this issue: ON TRAINS.COM, pg. 6 The latest features on our website FROM THE EDITOR, pg. 8 This is a hobby for making things NEWS AND REVIEWS, pg. 10 Hobby industry news RAILWAY POST OFFICE, pg. 16 Letters from our readers ASK MR, pg. 18 Loads for a fertilizer blend plant STEP BY […]

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Kadee HO scale 50-ton flatcar

Color photo of HO scale flatcar painted black with white graphics and tan simulated wood plastic deck.

Kadee HO scale 50-ton flatcar Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $54.99 Era: 1942+ (as decorated) Manufacturer: Kadee Quality Products Co., 673 Ave. C, White City, OR 97503; 541-826-3883; kadee.com Kadee HO scale 50-ton flatcar features: 33” ribbed-back metal wheels with raised foundry data mounted on plastic axles Body-mounted Magne-Matic No. 158 scale “whisker” couplers in narrow […]

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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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Model Railroader Photo of the Day: The High Bridge Viaduct

Three Northern Pacific Geeps lead a manifest freight over the High Bridge Viaduct between Stampede and Lester, Wash. The action takes place on the Puget Sound Model Railroad Engineers’ HO scale layout at the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma, Wash. The model railroad is open to the public. Lou Sassi photo Model Railroader‘s Photo […]

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East Troy Industrial Park, Ep. 12 | Wiring

David and Bryson can’t run trains on the HO scale (1:87.1) East Troy Industrial Park project layout without routing power to the rails! Follow along, as the hosts work to attach feeders to the rails and string a network of wiring underneath the model railroad. You won’t want to miss any of the insider tips […]

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Model Railroader Tips & Tricks | Working with suitcase connectors

Working with suitcase connectors | While also known as insulation displacement connectors, the name “suitcase connector” is a more common term used to describe one the most helpful fasteners in all of model railroading. These plastic cases include a conductive metal blade used to bridge (electrically) two press-fit wires. Let David show you how to […]

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Broadway Limited N scale EMD NW2

Color photo of N scale end-cab switcher painted gray with yellow stripe.

Broadway Limited N scale EMD NW2 Scale: N (1:160) Price: Stealth (no sound), $189.99; with dual-mode Paragon4 sound decoder, $259.99 Era: 1939 to 1970s (varies based on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Broadway Limited Imports, 9 East Tower Circle, Ormond Beach, FL 32174; 386-673-8900; broadway-limited.com Broadway Limited N scale EMD NW2 features: All-wheel electrical pickup Body-mounted knuckle […]

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Accurately modeling the 1950s for model railroaders

A yellow model locomotive against a blue sky background

Most model railroaders strive for accuracy in the construction of their model railroad layout. Of course there are modelers who do not, and of course “accuracy” means different things to different modelers, but broadly, accuracy, in one form or another, is the target for most model railroaders. When constructing their model railroad layouts, many modelers […]

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Install a decoder in an Atlas cab car

A model passenger. car on a model railroad layout

I’m a huge fan of commuter services, and that definitely includes Chicago’s Metra. So when I heard that Atlas was releasing Metra Nippon Sharyo gallery cars in HO scale, I had to get my hands on some. Since Metra runs a push-pull operation, the Type 8500 cab car gets as much time leading trains as […]

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