In this March 2026 episode of Cody’s Office, Senior Editor Cody Grivno explores a fresh lineup of products, including the Broadway Limited Imports HO scale (1:87) theater car and Athearn’s N scale (1:160) 52-foot mill gondola. Cody also highlights the new 2026 Lionel Trains Pocket Price Guide from Firecrown Media. In our modeling tip segment, […]
News & Products for the week of March 2nd 2026 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 2nd […]
My daily commute to our former Kalmbach Media offices at 21027 Crossroads Circle in Waukesha, Wis., conveniently crossed the Union Pacific, Canadian National, and Canadian Pacific. Most days I didn’t encounter a train. If I did, I was usually stuck too far back in the cue of traffic to get any meaningful photos. But the […]
In this episode of the HO scale East Troy Industrial Park project railroad construction series, David Popp demonstrates how to transform natural Super Trees into convincing scale vegetation. You’ll master the essential preparation process: cleaning delicate branches, grafting parts to fill sparse areas, and using a matte medium solution to prevent long-term degradation. We’ll also […]
For many years Hobbyshop Window was a popular department in the pages of Model Railroader magazine. We’re excited to bring it back as an occasional feature on Trains.com. Here’s a recap of some of the items that arrived at our offices for the week ending February 27th 2026. Keep up to date on the latest […]
Discover how SoundTraxx has spent 35 years revolutionizing model railroading, from pioneering onboard sound systems to the app-controlled, Bluetooth-based Blunami decoder. Join Model Railroader magazine’s Cody Grivno and Trains.com’s Lucas Iverson as they sit down with product authority George Bogatiuk III to explore the history of this Colorado-based manufacturer. You’ll learn how their commitment to […]
SoundTraxx’s Blunami sound decoder is taking model railroading by storm with its Bluetooth-based technology, offering a straight-through DCC connection from a smart app to the decoder (In many scales for DC and AC power). But there is much more to the 35-year-old company than just its latest innovation. Product Expert George Bogatiuk III recently joined […]
Discover how SoundTraxx has spent 35 years revolutionizing model railroading, from pioneering onboard sound systems to the app-controlled, Bluetooth-based Blunami decoder. Join Model Railroader magazine’s Cody Grivno and Trains.com’s Lucas Iverson as they sit down with product authority George Bogatiuk III to explore the history of this Colorado-based manufacturer. You’ll learn how their commitment to […]
The latest product sample from Athearn Trains sent me on a nostalgia trip. Inside was Burlington Northern Santa Fe Dash 9-44CW 960. The HO scale model, from the manufacturer’s Genesis series, was decorated in the railroad’s Heritage I paint scheme. I immediately flashed back to the second half of 1996 when these units were making […]
If you’re looking for a fun, easy-to-build detail for your structures, check out the Ne Series of HO scale neon sign kits, part of the Noble Gas & Tungsten line from DVL Design LLC. As of press time, there are more than 200 sign designs; three etched-metal frame styles — grid, open, and panel; and […]
For over 125 years, the name Lionel has been synonymous with toy trains. The storied American manufacturer, founded in New York City, has changed hands more than a few times over the years. As Round 2 prepares to acquire Lionel, LLC, and create the Lionel Brands Group, let’s take a look back at the history […]
Chuck Hitchcock, well-known modeler and Model Railroader author, passed away Saturday, Feb. 14, at age 89. A Santa Fe modeler Chuck’s passion for passenger trains and the Santa Fe fueled his modeling. As a child he had, like many, a Lionel train set which featured the Santa Fe. Subsequent layouts also featured the Santa Fe, […]
