News & Products for the week of April 14th 2025

A yellow model caboose

News & Products for the week of April 14th 2025   Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of April 14th, […]

Read More…

A new era for the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy

new era Milwaukee Racine Troy: A model train led by three blue and white locomotives proceeds through a town

When Kalmbach Publishing Co. moved from Milwaukee to the western suburb of Waukesha in 1989, the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy had a blank slate. The ink-stained concrete floor; large, drafty windows; and sun-faded scenery were in the past. “Our new layout room is a beautiful place, an open, rectangular space with a tile floor, drop […]

Read More…

Rapido Trains HO GE C30-7

Color photo showing side of HO scale diesel locomotive.

The C30-7 is the latest addition to the lineup of General Electric diesel locomotives from Rapido Trains. The HO scale model, offered in eight paint schemes, has a five-pole motor with dual flywheels; a heavy, die-cast metal weight; and prototype-specific details. Prototype history General Electric produced the C30-7 from September 1976 to May 1985. During […]

Read More…

Reading & Northern: Mining success in anthracite country

Gray and black diesel locomotives roll through a railroad yard.

The Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad (RBMN), also marketed as Reading & Northern, has evolved from a humble 13-mile short line into a significant 325-mile regional freight and passenger carrier in Pennsylvania. Its origin traces back to 1983 when Andrew Muller Jr., a retired businessman, leased a segment of the former Pennsylvania Railroad between […]

Read More…

News & Products for the week of April 7th 2025

An orange model caboose

News & Products for the week of April 7th 2025   Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of April 7th, […]

Read More…

Athearn Genesis HO EMD GP38-2

Screen capture of video with orange and black HO scale diesel and title bar in lower left corner.

The Athearn Genesis HO EMD GP38-2 recently arrived at our offices. Join Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he shares a brief history of the four-axle road switcher and Milwaukee Road No. 363; points out the many prototype-specific details on the model; and demonstrates the sound and light functions on our review sample, which […]

Read More…

Athearn Genesis HO EMD GP38-2

Screen capture of video with orange and black HO scale diesel and title bar in lower left corner.

The Athearn Genesis HO EMD GP38-2 recently arrived at our offices. Join Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he shares a brief history of the four-axle road switcher and Milwaukee Road No. 363; points out the many prototype-specific details on the model; and demonstrates the sound and light functions on our review sample, which […]

Read More…

News & Products for the week of March 31st 2025

An orange and black model locomotive

News & Products for the week of March 31st 2025   Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of March 31st, […]

Read More…

The 122-year-old Fore River RR thrives in Massachusetts

A black diesel locomotive surrounded by industrial buildings

The Fore River Railroad, a 2.5-mile short line in Quincy, Massachusetts, has defied the odds by surviving and thriving for 122 years. Originally established in 1903 to serve a new shipyard, the railroad was formally incorporated in 1919. Despite the shipyard’s closure in 1986, the Fore River Railroad continues to operate, thanks to a combination […]

Read More…

Woodworking power tools for model railroaders

Once you’ve decided you’re going to build a model railroad, it won’t take you long to realize there are a few tools you’ll need to get the job done. Some of the more common hand tools may already be knocking around your workshop. However, unless you do a lot of woodworking projects, you likely don’t […]

Read More…

News & Products for the week of March 24th 2025

The cab of a model locomotive in black, gray, yellow and red

News & Products for the week of March 24th 2025   Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of March 24th, […]

Read More…

Remembering the original Milwaukee, Racine & Troy

Remembering original Milwaukee Racine Troy: A color photograph of a partially completed, partially scenicked model railroad layout, with a man operating a model train on the layout

The original Milwaukee, Racine & Troy, located on the third floor of Kalmbach Publishing Co.’s former headquarters at 1027 North 7th Street in downtown Milwaukee, started in rather unassuming fashion. No fanfare. No ribbon-cutting ceremony. Just a short memo dated November 13, 1975, with the subject line “Kalmbach Model Railroad Club.” It read: “A club […]

Read More…