MR Classroom | Freight Car Class: Lesson 4, Airbrushing Techniques

Freight Car Class: Lesson 4, Airbrushing Techniques | Unlock the versatility of your airbrush to transform stock models into realistic, weathered railroad replicas! This segment of the freight car series shows you how to use an airbrush for effects like faded paint, dust, grime, and rust. Learn how to work your double-action airbrush, how to thin paint […]

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News & Products for the week of December 8th 2025

Color photo showing nose of HO passenger locomotive painted black, dark blue, yellow, and gray on scenicked base with a sky background with clouds.

News & Products for the week of December 8th 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 December 8th, 2025. […]

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Thomas named president of TTX

Man in coat and light blue shirt

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Marty Thomas has been named president of TTX Co., the railcar pooling company announced today (Dec. 8, 2025). The promotion is effective immediately. Thomas will assume day-to-day leadership of TTX, reporting directly to CEO Tom Wells. Thomas joined TTX in November 2024 as executive vice president, overseeing supply chain, information technology, finance, […]

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SEPTA to miss latest FRA repair deadline because of wire shortage

Men in high-visibility safety clothing looking at equipment under commuter railcar

PHILADELPHIA — A shortage of thermal wire will prevent the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority from meeting a deadline today (Dec. 5) for ongoing repairs to its fleet of Silverliner IV electric multiple-unit cars. The agency is about 7,000 feet short of the wire needed to add additional fire-detection measures to the 1970s railcars, the subject […]

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Rapido N Santa Fe mechanical reefer review

Color photo showing brake end of steel refrigerator car painted yellow with brown roof and black underbody on white background.

Looking for something cool to add to your N scale freight car fleet? Then you’ll want to check out the Santa Fe Refrigerator Department (SFRD) class RR-56, RR-60, and RR-61 mechanical reefers from Rapido Trains. The models feature plastic construction, factory-applied details, and body-mounted couplers. Prototype history The 2,995-cubic-foot capacity class RR-56 cars (SFRD 2000-2019, […]

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Atlas HO ACF 5800 covered hopper

Color photo showing B end of HO scale covered hopper painted gray with black lettering and yellow FRA-224 stripes on white background.

Atlas HO ACF 5800 covered hopper Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $46.95 Manufacturer: Atlas Model Railroad Co., 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205; 908-687-0880; shop.atlasrr.com Atlas HO ACF 5800 covered hopper features: 10 separate, factory-applied hatch covers 36” blackened metal wheelsets Body-mounted Accumate couplers Factory-applied air reservoir, brake cylinder, and control valve with auxiliary and emergency […]

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News & Products for the week of December 1st 2025

Color illustration of modern N scale diesel painted Tuscan Red and black with white and gold graphics on white background.

News & Products for the week of December 1st 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 December 1st, 2025. […]

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Bauer named as CEO of Siemens Mobility North America

Smiling dark-haired man in black sweater and white shirt

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Tobias Bauer has been named president and CEO of Siemens Mobility North America. The appointment, announced last week, is effective today (Dec. 1, 2025). Bauer, who has been with Siemens for more than 20 years, will lead more than 4,500 employees in the U.S. and Canada. “We’re delighted to name Tobias Bauer […]

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Rapido HO Trenton Works 6637 boxcar

Color photo showing B end of HO scale boxcar with exterior posts painted dark green with black and white graphics on white background.

Rapido HO Trenton Works 6637 boxcar Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Single car, $39.95 to $49.95; six-pack, $299.70 Manufacturer: Rapido Trains, 382 High St., Buffalo, NY 14204; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Rapido HO Trenton Works 6637 boxcar features: Barber S-2 cast-steel trucks with separate brake beam detail Body-mounted semi-scale metal couplers Designed from original blueprints and field measurements […]

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ScaleTrains S wood refrigerator car review

Color photo showing portion of an S scale refrigerator car painted yellow-orange, mineral red, and black with black and white graphics.

An American Car & Foundry 40-foot wood refrigerator car is the fourth model to join the ScaleTrains S-Helper Service lineup. The reefer, based on a prototype from the 1920s, features plastic construction; factory-installed and painted wire grab irons; and sprung, die-cast metal trucks. Prototype history The review sample we received is decorated as Santa Fe […]

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MR Classroom | Freight Car Class: Lesson 3, Weathering with Pastels

Freight Car Class: Lesson 3, Weathering with Pastels | Transform pristine products into well-weathered, prototypical models using various powdered pastel techniques! In this segment of the freight car series, you’ll learn how to apply powdered pastels with brushes, makeup applicators, and artist sponges to simulate realistic rust. Discover how to use two shades of rust pastel […]

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Governor’s move provides SEPTA with $219.9 million to address infrastructure, safety issues

Man working on railcar

PHILADELPHIA — The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority will receive an extra $219.9 million in state funding to address infrastructure work and safety issues, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro announced today. The money will come from the state’s Public Transit Trust Fund, the source of money for capital projects that was also used to keep SEPTA at […]

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