Menards Union Station

O scale station/platform structure

The O scale Union Station from Menards (No. 2759531) is another excellent offering from the home improvement chain, providing a readily made structure that requires minimal fuss for setup. Out of the box, with hardly any assembly needed, the structure measures 13-1/16” wide, 7-7/8″ deep, and 8-1/4″ tall. Classic Toy Trains Editor Rene Schweitzer and […]

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Lionel Legacy Light Mountain 4-8-2 Steam Locomotive

black model steam locomotive

In the waning months of World War I, the USRA worked to develop a locomotive that would provide mixed service to railroads across the country. The 4-8-2 Light Mountain, with its longer wheelbase and lighter build, can navigate railroads with light-weight track where its heftier cousins can’t. These locomotives were built between 1918 and 1930, […]

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Menards Halloween Boxcar with Lights

Halloween boxcar

According to a 2023 article from U.S. News & World Report, approximately 73% of Americans celebrate Halloween. In recent years, there’s been a boon of Halloween product releases from manufacturers like Lionel, MTH, and Atlas. Menards is jumping on the bandwagon with a lighted Halloween boxcar.  This boxcar features orange sides with a black roof […]

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Kadee HO 50-ton flatcar review

Color photo showing B end detail of HO scale flatcar painted black with tan deck on white background.

An Association of American Railroads (AAR) 50-ton flatcar is the latest body style from Kadee Quality Products Co. The newly tooled HO scale model features injection-molded plastic construction, a detailed underbody, and No. 158 whisker couplers. Prototype history The AAR recommended three 50-foot flatcar designs in 1941. In his book Freight Cars of the ’40s […]

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Atlas N EMD GP60 review

Color photo showing side view of N scale hood unit painted scarlet and gray on white background.

An Electro-Motive Division GP60 has joined the Atlas Model Railroad Co. Master Line. The manufacturer acquired the model, originally produced by Life-Like in 2004, when it purchased all N scale locomotive and freight car tooling from Wm. K. Walthers Inc. in June 2018. Features on the four-axle road unit include an injection-molded plastic shell, Scale […]

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MTH Premier SD60E diesel locomotive

black and white model locomotive

MTH announced its latest run of Norfolk Southern SD60E diesel locomotives in November 2024 and they arrived in late summer 2025. This version, much like its predecessor, features DCS and Proto-Sound 3.0. After nine years (the last run was in 2016), these models have become challenging to find. For those with an affinity for the […]

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Rapido Trains HO FM H16-44 review

Color photo showing front of HO scale diesel painted orange and black on white background.

A Fairbanks-Morse H16-44 diesel locomotive, based on a Phase III prototype, is now available from Rapido Trains. The HO scale model features injection-molded plastic and die-cast metal construction, prototype-specific details, and body-mounted Macdonald-Cartier metal couplers. Prototype history Fairbanks-Morse, and its Canadian subsidiary Canadian Locomotive Co., produced the H16-44 from April 1950 until March 1963. During […]

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RMT 40’ woodchip car

Black, white and blue wood-chip car

The hauling of wood chips necessitated unique rail equipment, especially during the 1960s-70s. This included both specially built cars, such as the Greenville wood-chip hopper, and repurposed gondolas, hoppers, and boxcars that were modified with extensions. Ready Made Toys’ (RMT) newest O gauge wood-chip hopper in the Trainmaster Premium Line goes the route of repurposing […]

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Athearn N scale acid tank car

Color photo showing brake end of N scale tank car painted black with yellow and white graphics on white background.

A 13,600-gallon sulfuric acid tank car is now part of the N scale Athearn Genesis line. The newly tooled model, based on a Union Tank Car Co. prototype, features a plastic body; many separate, factory-applied details; and body-mounted McHenry double-shelf couplers, available for the first time in 1:160. Prototype history Athearn offers the sulfuric acid […]

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