Athearn Genesis General Electric AC4400CW diesel locomotive

A model locomotive in a green and red Ferromex paint scheme

Athearn Genesis General Electric AC4400CW diesel locomotive Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin NEM connector, $269.99; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound decoder, $369.99 Era: 1995+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com General Electric AC4400CW features: Light-Emitting Diode lighting including illuminated number boards, ground lights, […]

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The HO scale Bishop Street Branch layout

The Bishop Street Branch layout track plan

Facts & features Name: Bishop Street Branch Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 10′-6″ x 22′-0″ Prototypes:  Guilford/Pan Am Railways Locale: Portland, Maine Era: Late 1980s through the 1990s Style: Walk-in Mainline run: None Minimum radius: 24” Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: None Benchwork: Open grid Height: 51″ Roadbed: 1⁄2″ birch plywood with N scale cork […]

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Bob Cochran’s HO scale Vermont Rail System layout

An image of the Vermont rail trackplan

Facts & features Name: Vermont Rail System Scale: HO (1:87) in standard, narrow (3-foot), and dual gauges Size: 22’-103⁄4” x 25’-7” Prototypes:  Vermont Rail System, Rutland Railroad Locale: Vermont Era: 1960s to present Style: Walk-in Mainline run: 96 feet point-to-point, 106 feet loop Minimum radius: 24” Minimum turnout: no. 4 (yards), no. 6 (main) Maximum […]

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Steve Stewart, co-founder of Stewart Hobbies, dies at 79

Portrait of man with glasses

In Memoriam: Steve Stewart. Steven “Steve” John Stewart of Chalfont, Pa., passed away on November 20, 2022, after enduring life with Parkinson’s disease for many years. Originally from Ambler, Pa., Steve began his early career in Salisbury, Md.,, teaching American history in the public school system for almost 30 years. A devoted educator, he was […]

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Electro-Motive Division GP7 from Athearn Genesis

A gray and orange locomotive against a white background.

Electro-Motive Division GP7 from Athearn Genesis 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. Add $10 for Primed for Grime models. Era: 1949+ (varies on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Electro-Motive Division GP7 features: Body-mounted McHenry knuckle couplers […]

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TH&B Geeps on a freight

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Although its tracks didn’t reach the first and last places in its name, the 110-mile Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo served several important points in southern Ontario. Here, maroon-and-cream GP7 No. 76 and GP9 No. 402 lead a Toronto–Coburg freight on the rails of TH&B parent Canadian Pacific in April 1976. A. J. Sutherland photo […]

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“Bloody Nose” Alco PA1 from American Z Line

A gray locomotive with a scarlet front end

“Bloody Nose” Alco PA1 from American Z Line Scale: Z (1:220) Price: Contact manufacturer Era: 1958+ Manufacturer: American Z Line, 6142 Northcliff Blvd., Dublin, OH 43016; 614-764-1703; americanzline.com “Bloody Nose” Alco PA1 features: prototype specific details 7mm can motor dual flywheels directional controlled light-emitting diode lighting six-axle trucks with blind middle axle blackened metal wheels traction […]

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Atlas O 52’-6” flatcar with load

A red freight car

Atlas O 52’-6” flatcar with load Scale: O (1:48) Price: $69.95 Era: 1953 to 1990s (depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Atlas Model Railroad Co., 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205; 908-678-0880; shop.atlasrr.com Features: Roller-bearing trucks with rotating bearing caps Separate, factory-applied brake wheel Pipe load with modeler-installed load tie-downs Die-cast metal trucks and couplers Detailed underframes […]

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Virginian & Ohio HO scale tank car from Home Shops LLC

A black model tank car

Virginian & Ohio tank car from Home Shops LLC Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $49.95 Era: 1960+ Manufacturer: Produced by Tangent Scale Models, available from Home Shops LLC, homeshops.net Tank cars feature: Company service waste oil cars Return stencils for Afton, Va. (one road number); Gallipolis, Ohio (one number); and West Carrollton, Ohio (two numbers) Metal […]

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Eight Burlington Northern freight car one-offs

Black-and-white photo of boxcar in white paint with black lettering

I recently wrote “Burlington Northern locomotive one-offs”  featuring five Electro-Motive Division diesels, including unique paint schemes, rebuilds, and test subjects. This time, I dug through my negative collection and found eight Burlington Northern freight car one-offs. Most of the photos are from family travels throughout northwest Minnesota and northeast North Dakota between the early 1980s […]

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Eastern Seaboard Models HO scale insulated boxcars

two freight cars painted in red, white and blue stripes

Eastern Seaboard Models HO scale insulated boxcars  Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $84.50 Era: Early 1950s to 1980s Manufacturer: Eastern Seaboard Models Corp., P.O. Box 301, Waldwick, NJ 07463; esmc.com Insulated boxcars feature: Etched-metal running board and brake wheel platform More than 100 freestanding plastic detail parts Hi-Tech Details flexible rubber air hoses Underbody charcoal heater […]

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Broadway Limited Imports HO SD45

Screen shot of product review video

Add some flair to your layout with the Broadway Limited Imports HO SD45. The six-axle road locomotive, based on an Electro-Motive Division (EMD) prototype, is offered in both high and low short hood versions in eight paint schemes. The Broadway Limited Imports HO scale SD45 has an injection-molded plastic body, a die-cast metal frame, all-wheel […]

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