Rapido HO Trenton Works 6637 boxcar

Color photo showing B end of HO scale boxcar with exterior posts painted dark green with black and white graphics on white background.

Rapido HO Trenton Works 6637 boxcar Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Single car, $39.95 to $49.95; six-pack, $299.70 Manufacturer: Rapido Trains, 382 High St., Buffalo, NY 14204; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Rapido HO Trenton Works 6637 boxcar features: Barber S-2 cast-steel trucks with separate brake beam detail Body-mounted semi-scale metal couplers Designed from original blueprints and field measurements […]

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Kato N Siemens ALC-42 Charger review

Color photo showing nose of streamlined modern passenger diesel painted red, white, gray, and blue with white graphics on white background.

In the February 2024 issue of Model Railroader, we reviewed the direct-current version of the Siemens ALC-42 Charger diesel locomotive from Kato USA Inc. Recently, we received a sample of the modern passenger unit equipped with a SoundTraxx Tsunami2 TSU-KN2 sound decoder. Prototype history With an aging fleet of General Electric P40 and P42 diesel […]

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CB&Q turntable to be installed at Silvis shop

Steam locomotive cab being lifted by overhead crane. CB&Q turntable to be installed at Silvis shop.

SILVIS, Ill. — More than 70 years ago, the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific worked from a 45-stall roundhouse located on its 90-acre facility in western Illinois. That building has long since been demolished. Now, Railroading Heritage of Midwest America has broken ground to install a 135-foot turntable and build a six-stall roundhouse on the […]

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Milwaukee Road caboose donated

Four people shaking hands next to an orange caboose decorated with a Christmas ribbon. Milwaukee Road caboose donated.

NORTH FREEDOM, Wis. — The Mid-Continent Railway Museum received Milwaukee Road steel bay-window caboose No. 02091 (later No. 992091) as a donation to its collection today. The donation came from Ken and Ruth Rupp. The caboose was built by the railroad in its Milwaukee Menomonee Valley shops. It is known to have run in Western […]

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News & Products for the week of November 24th 2025

A navy blue model locomotive with yellow lettering and a yellow stripe

News & Products for the week of November 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 November 24th, […]

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East Troy Industrial Park track and train control Part Two: DCC and turnout controls

A DCC controller is mounted to the front of a model railroad layout

We pick up where we left off in part one. Having recently completed the roadbed, track, and wiring on our East Troy Industrial Park project layout, we advance now to… Digital Command Control Digital Command Control (DCC) is the best way to power and operate a brand-new model railroad. The biggest advantage of DCC is […]

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Laura Jacobson, museum co-founder, dies

Man and woman standing on turntable in front of steam locomotive. Laura Jacobson, museum co-founder, dies.

Laura (Schlabach) Jacobson, co-founder of the Jerry and Laura Jacobson Foundation, which established the Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum in Sugarcreek, Ohio, died on Nov. 18, 2025, the museum announced in a statement today. Jacobson remained on the museum’s board of directors until her death. She was active in the organization’s leadership, helping ensure a […]

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Atlas Model Railroad Company Acquires Micro-Trains Line Co.

The logo for Micro-Trains by Atlas

Atlas Model Railroad Co. has announced the acquisition of “substantially all assets” of Micro-Trains Line Co., a manufacturer of N and Z scale model trains and couplers based in Talent, Ore. This acquisition, announced on Nov. 19, 2025, marks a significant development in the U.S. hobby industry. As part of the agreement, Atlas assumes ownership […]

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ScaleTrains HO EMD SD7

Color photo showing cab and short hood of HO scale six-axle EMD hood unit painted orange, green, and yellow with red, white, and black graphics on white background.

ScaleTrains HO EMD SD7 Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin connector, $214.99; with ESU LokSound V5 sound decoder, two cube-type speakers, and an ESU-designed “PowerPack” with two super capacitors, $324.99. Manufacturer: ScaleTrains, 4901 Old Tasso Road NE, Cleveland, TN 37312; 844-987-2467; scaletrains.com ScaleTrains HO EMD SD7 features: All-wheel drive and electrical pickup Detailed […]

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Atlas HO Trinity 5660 covered hopper

Color photo showing B end of HO scale pressure differential covered hopper painted gray with black lettering; red, yellow, white, and black graphics; and black trucks with blue bearing caps on white background.

Atlas HO Trinity 5660 covered hopper Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $64.95 Manufacturer: Atlas Model Railroad Co., 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205; 908-687-0880; shop.atlasrr.com Atlas HO Trinity 5660 covered hopper features: 36” metal wheelsets Body-mounted magnetic metal knuckle couplers Etched-metal running boards Factory-applied plastic pipes and valves Freestanding air hoses painted black with silver glad […]

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News & Products for the week of November 17th 2025

White model passenger rail equipment with a blue stripe and tan interiors

News & Products for the week of November 17th 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 17th, […]

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Bachmann HO Trinity 5161 covered hopper review

Color photo showing left side and B end of modern covered hopper painted mineral red with white, yellow, and black graphics on white background

A Trinity Industries 5,161-cubic-foot capacity three-bay covered hopper is now part of Bachmann’s growing lineup of modern HO scale freight cars. The injection-molded plastic model features screw-mounted roller-bearing trucks, metal wheelsets, and body-mounted E-Z Mate Mark II couplers. Prototype history The 5161 covered hopper has been part of the Trinity Industries (now TrinityRail) catalog since […]

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