Digitrax Zephyr Xtra Digital Command Control can seem intimidating, making some novices reluctant to make the switch from direct-current power packs. An upgraded version of the Zepyhr set introduced several years ago, the Digitrax Zephyr Xtra 3.0-amp starter set packs everything needed to add DCC to a medium-size layout into a single box. Though it’s […]
Bachmann HO scale Climax locomotive Angled connecting rods whir away and the chuffing sounds of the exhaust become louder and more rapid as the Climax slowly but steadily climbs the hill. Is this a scene from the Appalachian backwoods? No, it’s the Bachmann Spectrum three-truck Climax on our HO scale Milwaukee, Racine & Troy layout. […]
Kato N scale SD45 diesel locomotive This well-detailed N scale General Motors Electro-Motive Division SD45 is an upgraded version of a Kato USA model first released in 1996. This model’s all-new mechanism is easy to convert to Digital Command Control (DCC). The prototype. Built by EMD beginning in 1965, the SD45 was the first locomotive […]
ExactRail HO scale deck plate girder bridge Price: $44.95 (late version), $36.95 (early version and kits) ManufacturerExactRail LLC1053 South 1675 WestOrem, Utah 84058www.exactrail.com Era: 1920s to present Comments: This assembled plastic model from ExactRail makes it easy to add a highly detailed deck plate girder bridge to an HO scale layout. The bridge is 72 […]
Walthers HO scale TrinityRail 30,145-gallon tank car Price: $39.98 ManufacturerWm. K. Walthers Inc.P.O. Box 3039Milwaukee, WI 53201www.walthers.com Era: 2005 to present Comments: This new Gold Line model from Walthers is based on a popular prototype from TrinityRail. The ready-to-run tank car features a one-piece body with separate ends, factory-installed wire grab irons, and numerous separately […]
Athearn HO scale 50-foot insulated boxcar This Athearn 50-foot insulated boxcar is based on a prototype built by Pacific Car & Foundry in the mid-1960s. The Genesis series car features a high level of detail, including trucks with rotating bearing caps, separately applied door hardware and uncoupling levers, and etched-metal crossover platforms. The Western Fruit […]
Walthers HO scale Union Pacific EMD E8 diesel locomotives Over the last year we’ve collected all the cars in the Walthers HO scale Union Pacific Streamliner series, and we now have matching Electro-Motive Division E8A and B units to haul them. The Proto 2000 EMD E8 was first reviewed in the April 1994 Model Railroader. […]
Kato USA Inc. N scale GE ES44AC diesel locomotive Now is a great time to model a modern-era main line in N scale. Manufacturers are producing well-detailed N scale models of Electro-Motive and General Electric six-axle locomotives, including this GE ES44AC from Kato USA. The model runs well on a DC layout and can be […]
Bowser HO scale Tinity spine car Though containers have captured an increasing share of rail cargo, a significant amount of intermodal freight still moves in trailers. A set of flexible spine cars designed to carry either trailers or containers is now available in HO from Bowser. The Trinity all-purpose spine car is painted for Trailer […]
Walthers HO scale American Car Foundry Union Pacific dome cars These three dome cars complete the Walthers series of excellent HO scale Union Pacific Streamliner passenger cars. All three models come assembled and ready-to-run with their grab irons and handrails installed. The UP was the last Western railroad to buy dome cars, which served on […]
Athearn HO scale 20,900-gallon acid tank car Price: $32.98 ManufacturerAthearn Trains2883 E. Spring St., Ste. 100Long Beach, CA 90806www.athearn.com Era: 1970s to present Comments: The prototype for the HO scale 20,900-gallon acid tank car modeled by Athearn Trains was built by Richmond Tank Car. [We reviewed the 13,600-gallon model in the January 2010 issue. – […]
Its basic lines may look like just another switcher, but this new Atlas HO scale model is of a 21st century locomotive with a unique, environmentally friendly design. The National Railway Equipment 3GS21B Genset switcher is in service on today’s railroads. The direct-current Atlas Genset has an eight-pin plug for a Digital Command Control (DCC) […]
