40-foot smooth-side intermodal container Scale: HO (1:87:1) Price: Three-pack, $41.99 Era: 1970s to 1990s Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Features: Injection-molded plastic Stackable Release date: September 2023 Paint schemes: American Mail Line (off-white), American Presidential Line (gray with red logo), “K” Line (gray with red logo), Mitsui O.S.K. Lines […]
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Overland passenger cars Scale: HO (1:87:1) Price: Coach, $42.99; four-pack (Busines car, coach, combine, and Railway Post Office), $149.98 Era: 1890s+ Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Features: End handrails and ladders Clear (sides) and green-tinted (clerestory) windows RP-25 contour machined metal wheels Body mounted McHenry scale couplers Minimum radius: […]
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North American Car Corp. 50-foot boxcar Scale: HO (1:87:1) Price: $37.99 Era: Mid-1960s through 1970s+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Features: Metal grab irons and etched-metal crossover platforms Pullman-Standard or Superior plug doors Pullman-Standard or Stanray (Superior) roof as appropriate 70-ton trucks 33” machined […]
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Book: Heisler Locomotives, Vol. 2: Geared Locomotives Price: $35 Publisher: SilverLake Images LLC, available from Ron’s Books, P.O. Box 714, Harrison, NY 10528; 914-967-7541; ronsbooks.com Heisler Locomotives Vol. 2 features: 118-page softcover reproduction of three Heisler publications Catalog no. 108 features general arrangement and gearing design, main frame, braking system, boiler, cab, and specifications Catalog no. […]
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N scale intercity bus Scale: N (1:160) Price: $29.99 Era: 1940s to 1970s+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Features: Rubber tires Windshield wipers Interior detail Available: September 2023 Paint schemes: Utah Parks (yellow, gray, and red), band on tour (green and white in two schemes […]
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FMC 5077 centered double-door boxcar Scale: HO (1:87:1) Price: $39.99 Era: Late 1970s+ to 1990s+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Features: Separate, factory-applied grab irons, end ladders, and brake wheel Photo-etched metal crossover platform 33” machined metal wheels with RP-25 contours Body mounted McHenry […]
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2-8-0 steam locomotive Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin plug, $214.99; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Econami sound decoder, $284.99 Era: 1890s+ Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com 2-8-0 steam locomotive features: See-through cab windows Separate, factory-applied wire-form details Smokestack Boiler-mounted bell Light-emitting diode lighting Heavy die-cast metal frame RP-25 contour wheels Minimum […]
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Pullman-Standard 85-foot bi-level commuter cars Scale: HO (1:87:1) Price: Standard, $89.98; lighted, $99.98 Era: Mid-1950s through mid-1980s Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers, Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com Features: 33” turned metal RP-25 contour wheels Factory-installed grab irons Gallery car interior configuration Light-emitting diode interior lighting (lighted cars only) Proto-Max metal couplers […]
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Blunami sound decoders Scale: HO and small S scale models Price: $169.95 Manufacturer: SoundTraxx, 141 Burnett Dr., Durango, CO 81301; 970-259-0690; soundtraxx.com SoundTraxx Blunami features: Dimensions: 41.9 x 18.8 x 6.8mm Six function outputs 2 Watt, 8-Ohm load audio amplifier 16 sound channels Maximum motor stall current of 2A Maximum function current of 100mA per […]
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Book: Fairbanks-Morse Locomotives Vol. 1: Diesels Price: $35 Publisher: SilverLake Images LLC, available from Ron’s Books, P.O. Box 714, Harrison, NY 10528; 914-967-7541; ronsbooks.com Fairbanks-Morse Locomotives Vol 1 features: 50-page softcover reproduction of two Fairbanks-Morse publications (Fairbanks-Morse Train Master: 2400 Horsepower Diesel Locomotive and Lackawanna Story) Train Master features look at the power plant, transmission, fuel […]
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American Z Line diesel locomotive announcements for August 2022 Scale: Z (1:220) Price: Contact manufacturer Era: Southern Ry. Electro-Motive Division SW1500 diesel locomotive, 1969 to 1980s. Union Pacific Alco PA-1 diesel locomotive, January 1949 to early and mid-1960s. Manufacturer: American Z Line, 6142 Northcliff Blvd., Dublin, OH 43016; 614-764-1703; americanzline.com Electro-Motive Division SW1500 features: AutoLatch couplers Prototype-specific details Directional light-emitting-diode […]
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Book: Atlas Electric Locomotives Price: $35 Publisher: SilverLake Images LLC, available from Ron’s Books, P.O. Box 714, Harrison, NY 10528; 914-967-7541; ronsbooks.com Atlas Electric Locomotives Manufacturers’ Catalog features: 100-page softcover reproduction of an Atlas Car & Manufacturing Co. catalog Looks at advantages of electric storage battery locomotives Features information on drive mechanism and other components Includes […]
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