InterMountain HO Trinity 5161 covered hopper

Color photo of HO scale covered hopper painted light gray on white background.

The Trinity 5,161-cubic-foot capacity three-bay covered hopper is a new addition to the InterMountain Railway Co. product range. The HO scale model has an injection-molded plastic body, InterMountain metal wheelsets, and body-mounted Kadee couplers. Prototype history Since making its debut in 1995, the Trinity 5161 has become one of the most common three-bay covered hoppers […]

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Atlas Norfolk Southern SD60E in N scale

Color photo showing nose details on N scale locomotive.

The Norfolk Southern SD60E diesel locomotive is making its debut in the Atlas Model Railroad Co. N scale product lineup. Features on the Master Line model include a Scale Speed motor, operating front and rear ditch lights, and body-mounted Accumate couplers. Prototype history Norfolk Southern rebuilt 136 Electro-Motive Division SD60 diesel locomotives of various lineages […]

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Insuring model trains

Though we consider model railroading a hobby, it’s also an investment. Consider the prices of model trains today. Depending on the scale, level of detail, and features, a ready-to-run freight car retails for anywhere from $20 to $150. Today’s injection-molded plastic steam and diesel locomotives are priced from $150 to $900. The numbers start to […]

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HO scale GP16 from InterMountain

Color photo showing nose details on HO scale diesel locomotive.

An HO scale GP16 diesel locomotive is the latest offering from InterMountain Railway Co. The model, based on prototypes rebuilt by Seaboard Coast Line (SCL) in the late 1970s and early 1980s, features an injection-molded plastic body; a die-cast metal chassis; and a variety of separate, factory-applied detail parts. GP16 was the designation SCL gave […]

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ScaleTrains N scale EMD SD40T-2

Title screen from product review video showing N scale diesel painted yellow and gray.

The ScaleTrains N scale EMD SD40T-2 diesel locomotive recently visited our Milwaukee, Racine & Troy State Line Route. Join Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he provides a short history of the tunnel motor locomotive and Union Pacific 8803; highlights the many prototype-specific details on the Rivet Counter line model; and demonstrates the sound […]

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Walthers HO Greenville wood-chip hopper

The Greenville 73-foot wood-chip hopper has returned to the Wm. K. Walthers Inc. HO scale freight car lineup. The model, part of the Mainline series, is based on a prototype designed for transporting wood chips between sawmills and paper mills. Prototype history Greenville Steel Car Co., located in its namesake in Pennsylvania, produced the 7,000-cubic-foot […]

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Atlas N scale SD60E

Screen capture of title screen from product review video.

The Atlas N scale SD60E diesel locomotive is now available in the company’s Master Line. In this video, Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno shares a brief history of the prototype diesels, rebuilt by Norfolk Southern at its Juniata Locomotive Shop in Altoona, Pa.; points out the various freestanding and molded detail parts; and demonstrates […]

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KR Models HO skeleton log car

Color photo showing HO model with log load.

Price: $60 (without logs), $75 (with logs) Manufacturer KR Models Ltd. No. 100 — 17865 106A Ave. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5S 1V8 krmodels.net Era: Early 1900s to 1950s Comments: Loaded and empty skeleton log cars are now available in HO scale from KR Models Ltd. The ready-to-run model features injection-molded plastic construction, metal wheelsets, and […]

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Atlas HO MPI MP36PH-3C diesel locomotive

Color photo showing nose detail on HO scale diesel.

The Motive Power Industries (MPI) MP36PH-3C, a modern four-axle commuter diesel locomotive, is now available from Atlas Model Railroad Co. The HO scale Master Line model, based on True Line Trains tooling, features injection-molded plastic and die-cast metal construction, light-emitting-diode lighting, and metal knuckle couplers. The prototype Our sample is decorated as Metra 403, part […]

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Rapido Trains HO GE Dash 8-40CM

Color photo showing front end of HO scale diesel locomotive

The General Electric Dash 8-40CM diesel locomotive is back in the Rapido Trains product lineup. The redesigned six-axle road locomotive features a newly tooled fuel tank, cab interior, and trucks; railroad-specific details; and full underbody details. Prototype history General Electric (GE) produced the Dash 8-40CM from February 1990 through March 1994. During the course of […]

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Athearn N ACF 2970 Center Flow

Color photo showing B end of N scale covered hopper painted gray with black graphics.

An American Car & Foundry 2,970-cubic-foot capacity two-bay Center Flow covered hopper is now part of Athearn’s Genesis series. The N scale model, which we last reviewed in the June 2010 issue, still features injection-molded plastic construction, body-mounted couplers, and metal wheelsets. Among the product upgrades are rubber train line hoses; separate, factory-applied uncoupling levers; […]

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InterMountain HO scale GP16 diesel locomotive

Color photo of screen capture from Product Review video.

The much-anticipated InterMountain HO scale GP16 diesel locomotive recently arrived at our new Brookfield headquarters. Join Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he provides a brief prototype history of the Seaboard Coast Line-rebuilt engines and United States Army No. 4630, points out the various detail parts, and demonstrates the sound and light features on […]

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