As a Burlington Northern fan, I was fired up when ScaleTrains announced it was producing the Electro-Motive Division (EMD) GP39E in HO scale. The model, part of the manufacturer’s Rivet Counter line, depicts the four-axle road unit in its as-delivered appearance with Quantum Q2000 crossing strobes on the front deck. The full-size version of our […]
Rapido HO EMD SD9 and SD7 Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model, $239.95; with ESU LokSound V5 sound decoder, $349.95 Manufacturer: Rapido Trains, 382 High St, Buffalo, NY 14204; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Rapido HO EMD SD9 and SD7 features: Detailed cab interior Factory-installed grab irons and handrails MoPower capacitor Multi-piece radiator fans Multiple stepwell styles and […]
Atlas HO scale EMD SD35 Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with factory-installed speaker, $189.95; with ESU LokSound V5 sound decoder, $294.95 Manufacturer: Atlas Model Railroad Co., 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205; 908-687-0880; shop.atlasrr.com Atlas HO scale EMD SD35 features: Body-mounted Accumate couplers Detailed cab interior with crew figures Die-cast metal underframe Five-pole skewed […]
Rapido HO Milwaukee Road-rebuilt SD10 Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model, $239.95; with ESU LokSound V5 sound decoder, $349.95 Manufacturer: Rapido Trains, 382 High St, Buffalo, NY 14204; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Rapido HO Milwaukee Road-rebuilt SD10 features: Detailed cab interior Factory-installed grab irons and handrails Four-stack exhaust Horst paper air filters MoPower capacitor Multi-piece radiator fans […]
News & Products for the week of November 3rd 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 November 3rd, […]
Christmas is just around the corner so it’s time to make sure seasonal train displays are ready to deliver holiday fun – toy train style! Let’s start with locomotives and rolling stock. Inspection, oil, and grease Before trying to run anything, I recommend doing a preliminary inspection. Now is the time to replace broken […]
Atlas Classic HO scale EMD GP7 Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model, $184.95; with ESU LokSound V5 sound decoder, $294.95 Era: 1949 to 1980s (varies based on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Atlas Model Railroad Co., 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205; 908-687-0880; shop.atlasrr.com Atlas Classic HO scale EMD GP7 features: 800- or 1,600-gallon fuel tank as […]
Broadway Limited HO track inspection car Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $139.99 Era: 1975 to present (varies based on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Broadway Limited Imports, 9 East Tower Circle, Ormond Beach, FL 32174; 386-673-8900; broadway-limited.com Broadway Limited HO track inspection car features: Compatible with code 70, 83, and 100 rail Era-specific light packages Individually controlled light […]
The newly minted CPKC Railway, a 20,000-mile system combining Canadian Pacific (CP) and Kansas City Southern (KCS), sent me to Kansas City in late May 2024 to capture KCS motive power before its identity vanished under the unified railroad’s new paint. Videographers Kevin Gilliam and Mike Noonkester and I spent at day chasing this CPKC […]
Atlas N Trinity 5660 covered hopper Scale: N (1:160) Price: $47.95 Manufacturer: Atlas Model Railroad Co., 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205; 908-687-0880; shop.atlasrr.com Atlas N Trinity 5660 covered hopper features: 36” metal wheelsets Body-mounted magnetic knuckle couplers Etched-metal running boards Freestanding air hoses with angle cock detail and silver glad hands Injection-molded plastic construction […]
This Union Pacific branchline train heads home at sunset near Platte Center, Nebraska on Aug. 22, 1988. The train — the Norfolk local returning to Columbus with a little bit of everything in tow — was a common enough sight at the time. The well-maintained motive power includes three, four-axle locomotives. The lead unit is […]
Athearn HO Berwick bathtub gondola Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Single car, $36.99 to $41.99; three-pack, $99.99 to $114.99 Era: 1977+ to 2020+ (varies based on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Athearn HO Berwick bathtub gondola features: Body-mounted McHenry plastic scale couplers Machined metal wheels with RP-25 contours […]
