The MTH VO1000 diesel is a solid switcher

MTH VO1000 diesel

The MTH VO1000 diesel is a  good-running, heavy, and well detailed model of the Baldwin switcher. The latest run features Protosound 3.0 with freight sound effects, LED lighting, and a fan-driven smoke unit. In addition to the four road names produced by the manufacturer, there have also been several other special runs commissioned. Read more […]

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Checking out the 3rd Rail GP9 locomotive

3rd Rail GP9 locomotive

The 3rd Rail GP9 locomotive models the durable first-generation diesel-electric workhorse. The follow-on to the GP7, it was perhaps the exclamation point on the phrase, “Steam is gone and it’s not coming back!” General Motors’ Electro-Motive Division produced a whopping 4,257 including 165 cabless units between 1954 and 1963. GP stands  for “general purpose” and […]

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K-Line O gauge Amtrak F40PH

K-Line O gauge Amtrak F40PH

The K-Line O gauge Amtrak F40PH has launched fans of the National Passenger Rail Corp. into heaven. Not only are there a host of toy-like Amtrak engines and cars available, there has also been a virtual explosion of scale and semi-scale gear in the colors of their favorite federal program. If the E8 is a […]

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Rapido Trains HO scale P-S New Haven County-series baggage-lounge cars

Orange, silver, and black model train passenger cars showing silver baggage door with two small windows.

Rapido Trains HO scale P-S New Haven County-series baggage-lounge cars: Rapido Trains has been a great friend to New Haven passenger train modelers, providing icons such as the EP-5 electric passenger locomotive, EMD FL9s, and an ever-growing fleet of HO scale NH Pullman-Standard stainless-steel and lightweight Osgood-Bradley passenger cars. The most recent additions are the […]

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The MTH Baldwin VO1000 is a sturdy O gauge switcher

MTH Baldwin VO1000 front view

The MTH Baldwin VO1000 switcher has arrived. This Premier line model was announced in mid-April 2022. It’s a solid locomotive for any size layout with wonderfully detailed features. It’s not uncommon for MTH to put smaller locomotives like the VO1000 in its scale RailKing lineup; however, for this run we get a purple box and […]

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The Atlas O Multi-Max autorack

Atlas O Multi-Max autorack in Kansas City Southern paint

The Atlas O Master Gunderson Multi-Max Auto Carrier is out after an almost two-year wait. The company announced the newly tooled cars in its Summer 2021 catalog. For modern operator-collectors with the real estate on their layout, having an autorack train is a virtual must. Before the announcement of these the only scale option was […]

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The Lionel Fairbanks-Morse C-Liner rolls out

Lionel Fairbanks Morse C Liner

The Lionel Fairbanks-Morse C-Liner brings a unique look and truck arrangement to O gauge. This Legacy model has plenty of great features and has been released in the following road names: F-M Demonstrator; Pennsylvania; Canadian National; New York Central; Long Island; and New Haven. Check out the control placement! Read more about this engine. Get […]

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The Lionel Fairbanks-Morse H15-44

Lionel Fairbanks Morse H15-44

The Lionel Fairbanks-Morse H15-44 is out and ready to pull whatever you can throw behind it! This O gauge Legacy model has been released in a variety of road names including Rock Island; Central of Georgia; Rio Grande; Kansas City Southern; Monon; and Union Pacific. Reviewer Chris Montagna has a custom-run item from Trainworld in […]

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First look: The Menards Caboose Coffee Shop is smokin’ hot

Menards Caboose Coffee Shop

The Menards Caboose Coffee Shop accessory has dropped, and it’s going to make your O scale caffeine lovers very happy. I love coffee. I also enjoy cabooses. This accessory mixes both very successfully. Really, what better use for an old crummy than a shop like this? Like a lot of other Menards model railroad buildings, […]

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Union Pacific Heritage Fleet highlights Lionel SD70ACe release

Lionel SD70ACe in Chicago North Western heritage paint scheme

Locomotives from the Union Pacific Heritage Fleet highlight the latest release of the Lionel Legacy SD70ACe. The product was announced in the 2022 Volume 2 catalog. The model train maker offered 10 versions, and I was convinced I needed at least half of them. Lionel has not produced the UP heritage units in 15 years, […]

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The Lionel Legacy 2-6-0 makes a comeback

Lionel Legacy 2-6-0 in Strasburg paint

The Lionel Legacy 2-6-0 “Mogul” type locomotive graced the company’s 2022 Vol. 2 catalog. It’s a welcome re-release as the previous 2016 models were struck with gearing issues. These caused many of them to run poorly at slow speeds. Many were returned to Lionel and never made it to the the second-hand market. This new […]

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Going big: the MTH Premier SD24

MTH Premier SD24 side view of cab with crew figure

The MTH Premier SD24 is a massive model of a historic locomotive more widely used than its initial owners list would indicate. Many units found second and third lives on other railroads after their initial stints. Like all of MTH’s newer offerings this wasn’t in a catalog. Instead, it was announced in 2022 as a […]

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