Model Power HO scale Dockside Switcher

David Schoedel This is a great engine made by Model Power. It has an illuminated headlight and taillight, four-wheel electrical pickup and magnetic knuckle couplers. It can’t pull that many cars which is rather unfortunate. I got it to pull only three to four free-rolling freight cars on straight and level track. I would certainly […]

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Mantua HO scale Union Pacific 4-6-2 Pacific

David Schoedel photo This is a very nice engine made by Mantua. It has a black die-cast metal shell and a working headlight. It is very heavy so naturally, it pulls a ton! It also has electrical pickups in the tender and a working valve gear. It does unfortunately take a lot of power to […]

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Kato N Scale SD70ACe Rio Grande Heritage

I just received my new (and long anticipated) Kato N scale SD70 ACe D&RGW Heritage locomotive. I am truly impressed with the detail. The locomotive has flawless paintwork, crisp decaling and runs like a dream with the Kato five-pole motor with dual brass flywheels. This locomotive comes prototypically accurate with bolsterless non-radial HTSC truck and […]

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Bachmann Spectrum 2-10-2 Steam engine Southern #5224

I recently purchased this product, and to be honest, it is one of the best 2-10-2 models ever made by Bachmann. The model features directional lighting and is equipped with a DCC decoder for compatibility with a DCC Controller. It also has unique drive rod connections on the wheels. I recently gave it a break-in […]

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Broadway Limited Imports HO scale Brass/Hybrid NYC Mohawk 4-8-2

BLI’s model of the New York Central’s 4-8-2 Mohawk is a very good representation of the original. It delivers great performance mechanically and sounds superb due to QSI/DCC sound from two 1.1″ speakers. Right out of the box, you know BLI did their homework. This locomotive looks like it was meant to run and it […]

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Broadway Limited HO scale Paragon2 Hudson J1e steam locomotive

Broadway Limited HO scale Paragon2 Hudson J1e steam locomotive

Broadway Limited HO scale Paragon2 Hudson J1e steam locomotive Out of the box, this is a good looking locomotive. It appears to match very closely with pictures that I have of similar locomotives. One negative that immediately grabbed my attention was the lack of heft of the locomotive in my hand. This will be problematic […]

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“The Chopper” by NorthWest Short Line

“The Chopper” by NorthWest Short Line Photo by Dennis Murphy I have a lot fun with my model railroading hobby. I find the different aspects to be the most enjoyable part. And lately, I’ve been working a lot with wood kits (buildings and bridges mostly).You can never have too many models on your layout, especially […]

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Athearn HO scale RTR SW1000 diesel locomotive

Athearn HO scale RTR SW1000 diesel locomotive

Athearn HO scale RTR SW1000 diesel locomotive I have just received one of the new Athearn SW1000 models. This time Athearn hit a home run all the details are present. They finally crossed the pilot detail threshold they have been so reluctant to do. Masterful details and it runs as well as it looks. Handles […]

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Weathering Mix by Hunterline

Dennis Murphy photo Product: Weathering Mix Company: Hunterline (Of Canada) http://www.hunterline.com/ 1-866-934-4174 Price: $5.00 (US or Canada) One of my favorite things to do in our hobby of model railroading is to build wooden bridges. Big ones or small ones… They are all fun to me. The only problem I seem to have is getting […]

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Precision Craft Models I1sa 2-10-0

After a three-year wait, Precision Craft Models I1sa Decapod is finally here…and well worth the wait. History The Prototype I1s was developed for the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1923 by Baldwin Locomotive Works. After the overall tests were completed, results showed that the I1s outperformed the roads L1s Mikado’s by a whopping 41% more horsepower while […]

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Mountain Model Imports On3 K-36

Mountain Model Imports On3 scale K-36 Mountain Model Imports, a division of Precision Scale Company, has released an On3 Denver and Rio Grande Western K-36 Mikado. The prototype locomotives were massive (for the narrow gauge) Baldwin built outside frame Mikados, and were the last new built locomotives received by the D, in 1925. They have […]

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