Rivarossi HO three-truck Heisler geared steam locomotive A finely detailed HO three-truck Heisler geared steam locomotive with RP25 flanges and a DCC plug has been released by Rivarossi. Geared steam engines have short-wheelbase trucks which allows them to negotiate tight curves and rough track. Heislers may be easily spotted due to their V-shaped two-cylinder engine […]
Atlas HO F-M H-15-44 and H-16-44 diesel road switchers A series of smooth running HO scale Fairbanks-Morse B-B road switchers is now available with manual dual-mode Digital Command Control (DCC) decoders. Made by Atlas, these models feature superb plastic carbodies that include railroad-specific details. Two groups of similar prototype locomotives (which F-M designated as the […]
An eye-catching model of a super-size hopper is available ready-to-run from Walthers. It has E-Z Mate magnetic knuckle couplers and free-rolling roller-bearing trucks. It’s a replica of the high-capacity, 87-ton cars built by Greenville Steel Car Co. starting in the early 1970s. Each car can haul 7,526 cu. ft. of wood chips. This hopper is […]
Stewart Hobbies HO scale Baldwin VO660 diesel switcher A lightweight VO660 diesel switcher, with its rectangular radiator, gentle V-shaped front grill, and specific railroad body details, is the latest release from Stewart Hobbies. It has the typical Baldwin profile, but it’s about a scale three feet shorter than its 1,000-hp relatives. It also has Association […]
LBF HO Trinity 100-ton covered hopper An excellent model of a modern 100-ton covered hopper for grain service has been released by LBF Co. It’s a ready-to-run HO scale model of the 5,161-cubic-foot prototype introduced by Trinity Industries in 1995. Our sample car was very close to the prototype dimensions in Simmons-Boardman’s 1997 Car & […]
Bachmann’s HO Baldwin 4-6-0 Ten-Wheeler steam locomotive Small enough for most layouts and at home in both freight and passenger service, Bachmann’s new Spectrum line HO 4-6-0 is a well-detailed model of the steam era’s equivalent to the Geep. With detailing that compares favorably to models costing much more, it can stand up to being […]
Atlas HO and N scale ACF Coalveyor bathtub gondolas Building a unit coal train in HO and N scales is much easier thanks to Atlas’ release of ready-to-run models of American Car & Foundry (ACF) Coalveyor bathtub gondolas. These dimensionally accurate cars come neatly decorated in authentic color schemes with a dozen individual road numbers […]
Alco HO DL-109 diesel Life-Like’s Proto 1000 HO DL-109 is a good model of a distinctive and historic diesel locomotive. It combines a dimensionally and proportionally accurate body with a smooth-running, powerful mechanism. The American Locomotive Co. (Alco) built the prototypes as 2,000-hp, dual-engine units for passenger service. Their memorable appearance is due to a […]
Märklin HO Union Pacific freight car If you’re looking for freight cars and a caboose to run behind a Trix Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 Big Boy, Märklin has released a ten-pack of UP 40-foot boxcars, a four-pack of open hoppers, and a steel caboose in its line of ready-to-run North American-prototype cars. CA-3 cabooseThe 100 class […]
Walthers HO C&O wood-sheathed caboose Walthers’ HO scale Chesapeake & Ohio wood caboose is a very good model of a classic piece of railroad equipment. The basic car comes mostly assembled and ready to run, but the addition of the included handrails and grab irons make it a real standout. The injection-molded plastic model represents […]
Reynaud’s Euro-Imports HO Tillig Pilz turnout With its flexible geometry and one-piece point rails, the Tillig Pilz Elite turnout line is one of the most interesting track products I’ve seen in some time. The line has been available in Europe for several years, but until recently was seen only rarely in the United States and […]
Athearn HO Bombardier bi-level commuter passenger car Athearn has released ready-to-run HO scale models of Bombardier’s bi-level commuter passenger cars. The models include interiors, magnetic knuckle couplers, working diaphragms, and metal wheels. They’re sold in decorated three-car sets of two coaches and a cab car, which is another coach but with a control compartment for […]
