Athearn Genesis HO EMD GP38-2

Screen capture of video with orange and black HO scale diesel and title bar in lower left corner.

The Athearn Genesis HO EMD GP38-2 recently arrived at our offices. Join Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he shares a brief history of the four-axle road switcher and Milwaukee Road No. 363; points out the many prototype-specific details on the model; and demonstrates the sound and light functions on our review sample, which […]

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United States tariffs and their effect on the model train industry

Two men with graphics that read "Trains.com Talking Tariffs"

The following is a series of edited excerpts from an interview conducted by David Popp with Jason Shron, owner of Rapido Trains on March 25, 2025. You can find the complete interview on Trains.com Video by clicking here. – Ed. David: The word on everybody’s minds in the hobby as of late is tariffs. Jason […]

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Classic Toy Trains new products for April 2025

red, white, and blue model locomotive

Locomotives & rolling stock MTH Electric Trains, 7393 Washington Blvd. Ste. 101, Elkridge, MD 21075, is selling O gauge Depressed Center Flatcars as part of the RailKing line. The engines feature O-27 operation and are available in six paint schemes (30-76933 shown). Expected delivery in July 2025. Price: $64.95. To order, contact your local MTH […]

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News & Products for the week of March 31st 2025

An orange and black model locomotive

News & Products for the week of March 31st 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 March 31st, […]

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Milwaukee’s Trainfest to return in November 2025

The logo for Trainfest 2025, which reads "Trainfest" in red lettering

MILWAUKEE — America’s largest operating model railroad show is set for 2025. In a press release sent to Firecrown Media Inc., the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) announced Milwaukee’s Trainfest will return to the Baird Center Nov. 1-2, 2025. This marks the second-consecutive year the event will be held at the downtown venue. The NMRA, […]

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News & Products for the week of March 24th 2025

The cab of a model locomotive in black, gray, yellow and red

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

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Knights of Columbus Lionel boxcars raise funds for charity

two men shaking hands with Lionel boxcar

Frank Kotnik was introduced to toy trains as a child. Someone gave his father a secondhand Lionel set and accessories from the early 1950s. When Frank was three, around 1963, his dad surprised him with a simple tabletop layout. The engine captivated the young tot, sparking a lifetime interest in the hobby. Frank is a […]

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ScaleTrains HO EMD GP40

Screen shot from product review video with green and yellow HO scale diesel and title bar in lower left corner

Check out the all-new ScaleTrains HO EMD GP40 diesel locomotive in our latest product review video. Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno shares a brief history of the four-axle road switcher and explains why Chicago & North Western 5525 is historically significant; points out the many prototype-specific details on the Rivet Counter line model; and […]

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News & Products for the week of March 17th 2025

An orange model locomotive

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

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Walthers Cornerstone HO transload facility pavement

Screen capture of product box on workbench with title bar in lower left corner.

Work is well underway on the HO scale (1:87.1) Milwaukee, Racine & Troy East Troy Industrial Park, our latest project layout and the first model railroad to be constructed at the new Firecrown Media offices in suburban Milwaukee, Wis. We recently received a sample of the Walthers Cornerstone transload facility pavement kit (item No. 933-4186), […]

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News & Products for the week of March 10th 2025

A blue and white model lcocomotive

News & Products for the week of March 10th 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 March 10th, […]

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Lionel’s 2024 Catalog Volume II honors the past and present

catalog page with three model engines

Lionel’s 2024 Catalog Volume II honors the past and present with some superb sets and locomotives operators and even collectors are sure to like. I discovered a number of impressive and desirable new models when I finally found the time to devote an entire evening to exploring the second and shorter catalog from 2024. By […]

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