See and hear the Bachmann Trains Sound Value Alco S-2 as it switches cars on the Model Railroader train layout. You’ll also get a look at the Fox Valley Models HO scale Baltimore & Ohio M-53 wagontop boxcar. […]
Section: Reviews
O gauge Blue Streak passenger set by Lionel Corp. Tinplate Line (MTH)

This is a reproduction of a clever bit of marketing from back in the mid-1930s. Take the then-popular Commodore Vanderbilt steam locomotive (the swankiest engine on the New York Central at the time) and pair it with a streamlined vividly colored train set. Profits will surely ensue. To get the job done, Lionel used its […]
O gauge RailKing GG1 by MTH

The traditionally sized GG1 is popular in O gauge, as illustrated by the fact that MTH, Williams by Bachmann, and RMT by AristO have comparable models in their current catalogs. Where vintage models may have the advantage of being collectible, they may also have chipped paint, faded stripes, and five decades of iffy maintenance (or […]
O gauge Blue Streak passenger set by Lionel Corp. Tinplate Line (MTH)

The Lionel Corp. Tinplate Blue Streak features a Commodore Vanderbilt 2-4-2 and an articulated passenger train. Watch it in action here! […]
Bachmann HO scale Alco S-2 diesel locomotive

Bachmann HO scale Alco S-2 diesel locomotive From the growl of the turbocharged 539 diesel engine to the bleat of the single-chime air horn, this HO scale Alco S-2 captures the sounds of its prototype. This Bachmann SoundValue model has a simplified version of a SoundTraxx Digital Command Control (DCC) decoder. The accurately detailed and […]
Kato USA N scale EMD F40PH diesel locomotive

Kato USA N scale F40PH diesel locomotive Ditch lights and roof-mounted cab air conditioners are the two most noticeable detail changes on the Kato N scale F40PH. Model Railroader reviewed the first release of the Kato F40PH, detailed to match the Amtrak prototype, in the December 2005 issue. This latest version is detailed to better […]
Fox Valley Models HO and N scale wagontop boxcars

Fox Valley Models HO scale and N scale wagontop boxcars With its distinctive semi-streamlined form, a Baltimore & Ohio RR wagontop boxcar is hard to miss in either a prototype or model freight train. Fox Valley Models makes a well-detailed B&O class M-53 wagontop boxcar in HO or N scale that’s available in four different […]
50-foot ACF boxcar by Atlas O

50-foot ACF boxcar by Atlas O Price: $52.95 Manufacturer: Atlas O 378 Florence Ave. Hillside, NJ 07205 www.atlaso.com Road names: Pan Am (Maine Central), Clarendon & Pittsford, Family Lines (Atlanta & West Point), Kansas City Southern, Missouri Pacific, National Ry. of Mexico, and Railbox. Undecorated version is also available. Era: 1974 to present As part […]
O gauge GG1 from Ready Made Trains

Just as the Santa Fe warbonnet F3 is considered model railroading’s all-time favorite diesel, so is the Pennsylvania RR’s GG1 model railroading’s all-time favorite electric. This product from RMT isn’t a scale model, but it finds its roots in the classic traditionally sized Lionel no. 2332 GG1. Though made for layouts with tighter curves, this […]
O gauge RailKing Imperial Line 6-8-6 Turbine from MTH

The Pennsylvania RR’s famed experimental Turbine no. 6200 was a milestone in the late steam era. It was clear evidence of the Pennsylvania’s willingness to invest in new technology to keep steam efficient. The notion of a locomotive like the S2 began in 1937, but was largely delayed due to World War II restrictions. It […]
Kato USA HO scale Metra equipment

Kato HO scale Metra equipment Instantly recognizable to Chicago-area railfans and commuters, the Metra paint scheme now adorns Kato’s HO scale Electro-Motive Division F40PH diesel-electric locomotive and Pullman-Standard bi-level coaches. The diesel is newly detailed to match the Metra prototype as it appeared in the 2000s. Model Railroader first reviewed the F40PH and Pullman bi-level […]
Walthers HO scale SD9 diesel locomotive

Walthers HO scale SD9 diesel locomotive A classic six-axle road switcher has returned to the WalthersProto line. The HO scale Electro-Motive Division SD9 features a dual-mode QSI Quantum sound system, railroad-specific details, and wire grab irons. Electro-Motive Division produced the SD9 from January 1954 through June 1959. During that time, 471 units were built. The […]