Atlas N scale EMD GP38-2 review

Color photo showing short hood and cab of N scale EMD hood unit painted blue and white with black and white graphics on scenicked base with a sky blue background.

An Electro-Motive Division GP38-2 has been added to the Master Line from Atlas Model Railroad Co. The N scale model, based on a Phase II prototype, uses former Walthers (and before that Life-Like) tooling that Atlas acquired back in 2018. Prototype history Electro-Motive Division produced the GP38-2 from January 1972 until July 1986. More than […]

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Court ruling certifies class-action suit against CN, CP for 2021 Lytton, B.C., fire

View of railroad track from locomotive

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — A British Columbia Supreme Court justice has certified a class-action lawsuit against Canadian National and Canadian Pacific (now CPKC) over the 2021 wildfire that destroyed the community of Lytton, B.C., saying in a ruling this week that there is “some basis in fact” to support allegation that railroad operations caused the […]

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Rapido N Southern Pacific 3/4 dome lounge

Color photo showing end of N scale flat-side Southern Pacific 3/4 dome lounge painted aluminum, red, white, and blue on white background.

Rapido N Southern Pacific 3/4 dome lounge Scale: N (1:160) Price: $89.95 Manufacturer: Rapido Trains, 382 High St, Buffalo, NY 14204; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Rapido N Southern Pacific 3/4 dome lounge features: Body-mounted magnetic knuckle couplers Designed from original blueprints and field measurements of existing cars End doors with porthole windows Flicker-free, track-powered lighting (compatible with […]

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Rapido HO Southern Pacific ¾ dome lounge

Color photo showing side and end of HO scale 3/4 dome lounge passenger car painted orange, red, silver, and black on white background.

Rapido HO Southern Pacific ¾ dome lounge Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $159.95 Manufacturer: Rapido Trains, 382 High St, Buffalo, NY 14204; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Rapido HO Southern Pacific ¾ dome lounge features: Designed from original blueprints and field measurements Flicker-free, track-powered interior lighting Free-rolling trucks Lighting in dome roof Metal magnetic knuckle couplers Multi-color interior decoration […]

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Atlas HO CNCF 5000 boxcar

Color photo showing B end of HO scale boxcar painted orange with black, white, and orange graphics on white background

Atlas HO CNCF 5000 boxcar Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $59.95 Manufacturer: Atlas Model Railroad Co., 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205; 908-687-0880; shop.atlasrr.com Atlas HO CNCF 5000 boxcar features: 33” metal wheelsets Body-mounted metal couplers Detailed underbody with air reservoir, brake cylinder, control valve, levers, brake rods, cylinder pipe, and auxiliary and emergency reservoir pipes […]

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Rapido HO FM H16-44 diesel

Color photo of HO scale diesel painted orange and black on white background

Rapido HO FM H16-44 diesel Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model, $225; with ESU LokSound V5 sound decoder, $335 Manufacturer: Rapido Trains, 382 High St., Buffalo, NY 14204; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Rapido HO FM H16-44 diesel features: Carbodies with and without dynamic brakes Dofasco or Fairbanks-Morse trucks as appropriate Illuminated number boxes, headlights, and green and […]

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CPKC’s IT stumble casts doubt on further Class I mergers: Analysis

The odds of a transcontinental railroad merger gaining regulatory approval — which were already slim to begin with— got a whole lot smaller on May 3. That’s when Canadian Pacific Kansas City pulled the plug on Kansas City Southern’s information technology system. The cutover to the Canadian Pacific computer system in KCS territory in the […]

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Atlas HO NSC newsprint boxcar

Color photo of HO scale boxcar painted green and black on white background

The National Steel Car Corp. 50-foot newsprint boxcar is the latest addition to the Master Line from Atlas Model Railroad Co. The model, based on tooling the manufacturer acquired from True Line Trains in 2020, features molded and separate, factory-applied detail parts; 33” metal wheelsets; and body-mounted Accumate couplers. Prototype history Between 1967 and 1971, […]

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Short film on CPR No. 2816’s 2024 tour to premiere this fall (with video)

Backlit photo of steam locomotive on display in front of a crowd

CALGARY, Alberta — CPKC will be premiering its short film of Canadian Pacific No. 2816’s 2024 tour this fall. The Calgary International Film Festival, scheduled Sept. 18-28, will set the stage for a public screening of Pulse of the Continent: Final Spike Steam Tour.  The 48-minute documentary was produced by the Class I railroad, covering […]

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Atlas HO scale newsprint boxcar

Color photo of HO scale boxcar painted green and black on white background

Atlas HO scale newsprint boxcar Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $36.95; undecorated, $29.95 Era: 1967 to late 2000s Manufacturer: Atlas Model Railroad Co., 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205; 908-687-0880; shop.atlasrr.com Atlas HO scale newsprint boxcar features: Body-mounted Accumate couplers Injection-molded plastic body Metal wheelsets Screw-mounted roller-bearing trucks See-through crossover platforms Separate, factory-applied brake wheel, door […]

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Big Steam and PTC: A Reset Stage

Steam locomotive rounds curve on a rainy day

The rumble of Canadian Pacific’s 4-6-4 Empress No. 2816 and Union Pacific’s 4-8-8-4 Big Boy No. 4014 echoed across thousands of miles in 2024. What made these journeys truly remarkable and deserving a brighter spotlight? Both locomotives were equipped with fully compliant, standalone Positive Train Control (PTC) systems. This means they can independently navigate their […]

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WalthersMainline HO EMD SD60

Screen capture from product review video showing HO scale diesel in blue and white paint on layout with title bar in lower left corner.

The WalthersMainline HO EMD SD60 is back, this time with new features. Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno uses this six-axle road unit to switch cars on our Winston-Salem Southbound Tar Branch project layout. In addition, he shares a condensed history of the Electro-Motive Division road unit and Oakway Leasing No. 9009; highlights the detail […]

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