Kato N scale Union Pacific FEF-3

KatoNscaleFEF

One of the few big steam locomotives that railfans can see in action, Union Pacific no. 844, joins Kato USA’s N scale roster. The dimensionally accurate plastic model features a coreless-motor drive that can be converted to Digital Command Control. The prototype. Union Pacific no. 844 is the last steam locomotive delivered to the UP. […]

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Rapido HO scale GMD-1 diesel locomotive

Rapido HO scale GMD-1

Rapido HO scale GMD-1 diesel locomotive Some might think of it as an ugly-duckling; others might find its looks endearing. But wherever you stand on its appearance, the GMD-1 is an unusual locomotive. Modelers of Canadian prototypes have Rapido to thank for bringing these prairie “ponies,” as some of their crews called them, to HO […]

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Kato N scale Union Pacific excursion train

Kato N scale Union Pacific excursion train

Kato N scale Union Pacific excursion train Complementing the Kato FEF-3, this N scale passenger set models some of the crown jewels of Union Pacific’s current excursion and business train fleet. The models are decorated to reflect the prototype’s present-day appearance. The set includes power car no. 207, crew sleeper no. 202 Willie James, museum […]

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Book Review: 72-82: Western Pacific’s Final Decade

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72-82: Western Pacific’s Final Decade by Ted Benson, Dick Dorn, Dale Sanders, Dave Stanley White River Productions, P.O. Box 48 Bucklin, MO 64631; 240 pages, hardcover, 12.25 x 9.25 inches; $79.95 www.whiteriverproductions.com North American railroading wasn’t always dominated by super-sized Class I railroads and a smattering of so-called regionals and short lines. Not that long […]

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Atlas HO scale Alco S-2 diesel switcher

AtlasHOAlcoS2

Atlas HO scale Alco S-2 diesel switcher With a metallic fluttering sound of pistons and turbocharger, Atlas’ Alco S-2 chattered to life on the test track. All that was  missing was a belch of smoke as the locomotive started to creep forward tie by tie. The dual-mode ESU LokSound Select sound decoder adds a pleasing […]

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Rivarossi HO scale Blue Ridge 2-6-6-6 steam locomotive

RivarossiHOscaleBlueRidge

The engineer’s side of the Blue Ridge shows the HO scale model’s many separately applied detail parts Famous as Alleghenies on the Chesapeake & Ohio, Lima-built 2-6-6-6 simple articulated steam locomotives also ran on the Virginian  Ry. Rivarossi added a newly tooled tender to its HO scale 2-6-6-6 to more accurately reflect the Virginian Blue […]

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Quick Look: Athearn HO scale rotary snowplow and B unit

AthearnHOrotarysnowplow

Price: $84.98 to $86.98 Manufacturer: Athearn Trains 1600 Forbes Way, Suite 120 Long Beach, CA 90810 www.athearn.com Era: 1950 to present Road names: Burlington Northern; Alaska RR; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Canadian National; Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Milwaukee Road; New York Central Comments: Another round of Athearn rotary snowplows is ready to keep HO […]

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Moloco HO scale insulated boxcar

MolocoHOboxcar

A new run of HO scale General American 50-foot insulated boxcars is available from Moloco. These ready-to-run cars feature centered 10-foot doors (the previous run had offset doors); separately applied ladders, stirrup steps, and door hardware; and a cushioned underframe. General American, building on the success of its 50-foot insulated boxcars constructed in the 1950s, […]

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Quick Look: Trainworx N scale PS 85-foot piggyback flatcar

TrainworxNscaleflatcar

Trainworx N scale PS 85-foot piggyback flatcar Comments: This N scale 85-foot piggyback car from Trainworx represents one of the early long flatcars that were introduced in the 1960s to haul a pair of 40-foot trailers. Designed for circus-style loading, these cars included drop-down loading ramps at each end so trailers could be backed into […]

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MTH O gauge no. 256 and no. 700-series car set from Lionel Corp. Tinplate Line

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O gauge nos. 256 locomotive and 700-series cars from Lionel Corp. Tinplate Line (MTH) Price: $499.95 (no. 11-6060-1 New Haven locomotive), $399.95 (no. 11-80047 three-car 710 series passenger set) Features: Locomotive O-31 operation, flywheel-equipped motor, stamped-steel construction, latch couplers, ProtoSound 3.0 sound and command system. Rolling stock O-31 operation, stamped-steel construction, interior illumination, latch couplers […]

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