Trinity 6,351-cubic-foot capacity four-bay covered hopper from Walthers

Model of gray hopper car in front of white background

Trinity 6,351-cubic-foot-capacity four-bay covered hopper Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $49.98 Era: Early 2000s to present Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com 67-foot Trinity 6,351-cubic-foot capacity four-bay covered hopper features: Factory-installed wire grab irons See-through etched-metal walkways and crossover platforms One of two styles of trough hatches as […]

Read More…

Pacific Car & Foundry B-100-40 boxcar from Rapido Trains

Models of four boxcars with white background

Scale: N (1:160) Price: Single car, $36.95; three-pack, $110.85; and six-pack, $221.70 Era: 1976 to present (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Features Separate, factory-applied uncoupling levers, door latch mechanism, and end ladders Detailed Hydra-Cushion underframe Underbody brake rigging Road-number specific […]

Read More…

Pullman-Standard 60-foot flatcar from Walthers

Model of yellow flatcar with white background

Pullman-Standard 60-foot flatcar Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $34.98 Era: 1960s to present (depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com 60-foot Pullman-Standard flatcar features: Detailed decks for different prototype configurations Board pattern with wood grain and bolt details Brake wheel cutout as appropriate Detailed brake gear […]

Read More…

Pullman-Standard 60-foot double-door auto parts boxcar

Model of green boxcar in front of white background

Pullman-Standard 60-foot double-door auto parts boxcar Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $34.98 ($29.98 undecorated) Era: 1960s to 2000s Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com 60-foot Pullman-Standard double door auto parts boxcar features: Updated tooling with new car sides Based on cars with 10- and 6-foot doors 70-ton trucks […]

Read More…

Atlas O 68-foot bulkhead flatcar

Yellow flatcar with bulkheads and white background

68-foot bulkhead flatcar Scale: O (1:48) Price: $62.95 (undecorated, $59.95) Era: 1997 to present (varies depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Atlas Model Railroad Co., 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205; 908-687-0880; shop.atlasrr.com   62-foot bulkhead flatcar features: Side stake pockets Simulated tie-loops Fish-belly center sill Pull-plates and lift rings Minimum radius: 36” Release date: Available now Road names: New […]

Read More…

Atlas N scale 53-foot spine car

Yellow spine car with white background

53-foot spine car Scale: N (1:160) Price: Three platform, $119.95 ($99.95 undecorated); five platform, $199.95 ($164.95 undecorated) Era: 1997 to present Manufacturer: Atlas Model Railroad Co., 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205, 908-687-0880, shop.atlasrr.com 53-foot spine car features: Die-cast metal and plastic construction Chemically etched walkways Assembled collapsed or raised hitches BLMA 70-ton American Steel Foundries Ride Control trucks […]

Read More…

A Big Boy adventure photo gallery

Steam shooting from a large black articulated steam locomotive as it pulls its train.

“Been there. Done that.” In no way does this saying apply to standing trackside as Union Pacific No. 4014 — Big Boy — rumbles by. Every trip taken by the world’s largest operating steam locomotive is a new adventure. Here is a spectacle that doesn’t get old. It’s time for a Big Boy adventure. Although […]

Read More…

Why I love the Electro-Motive Division SD40-2

Black train engine leads train past fences and a reservoir

Why I love the Electro-Motive Division SD40-2 Many modelers have a locomotive that they are fond of, probably one of their first models that they received as a kid. My first engine was an O gauge F7, a far cry from the locomotive that I love, the Electro-Motive Division SD40-2. In fact, nine years later […]

Read More…

Atlas O Thrall articulated auto carrier

Yellow articulated train car with white background

Thrall articulated auto carrier Scale: O (1:48) Price: $159.95 Era: 1997 to present Manufacturer: Atlas Model Railroad Co., 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205; 908-687-0880; shop.atlasrr.com Thrall articulated auto carrier features: ¼” scale details and dimensions Die-cast metal chassis Positionable end doors Interior deck Modeler-installed articulated diaphragm Separate, factory-applied wire grab irons 70-ton roller-bearing trucks Brake line details Minimum […]

Read More…

Bi-level commuter cars from Rapido Trains

Screen shot of two HO scale commuter cars.

Rapido Trains recently released its bi-level commuter coaches and cab cars in HO scale. The manufacturer sent samples of its coaches to the team at Model Railroader magazine. Join Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he takes a close-up look at the ready-to-run cars. Features on the bi-level commuter cars from Rapido Trains include a body […]

Read More…

Bi-level commuter cars from Rapido Trains

Screen shot of two HO scale commuter cars.

Rapido Trains recently released its bi-level commuter coaches and cab cars in HO scale. The manufacturer sent samples of its coaches to the team at Model Railroader magazine. Join Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he takes a close-up look at the ready-to-run cars. Features on the bi-level commuter cars from Rapido Trains include a body […]

Read More…