Model Railroader

Introducing an all-new HO scale project layout Trains.com Director David Popp invites you along for this initial overview of MR’s latest HO scale project layout, the East Troy Industrial Park! Throughout the build, David and members of the MR staff will demonstrate a variety of old and new tips, tricks, and techniques to bring this project to fruition. Scan the QR code to keep up with the latest videos in the new project layout series. Decade-plus of technological advancements in model locomotives Technological strides in command-control systems, sound effects, lighting, and smoke units have transformed these features from primitive novelties into sophisticated staples of the hobby in just a matter of years. Trains.com staff writer Lucas Iverson shares some of the exciting technological advancements surrounding model train locomotives in recent…

Scale preference can be one of those topics. Something you only talk about with likeminded people. But not all of us feel that way. Some of us model in multiple scales, others would like to model in a scale different than what we do, but for practical reasons, we don’t. This month, you might notice there are a few more N scale stories than usual. It’s the second-most popular scale after HO, taking up somewhere around 20-25% of the total when people are asked to list their favorite modeling scale. At one time, N scale could be a source of frustration. Smaller models require tighter tolerances. It doesn’t take as much dirt, or as great a misalignment of track, to stop or derail a train in N scale. The models…

HO scale Lima Locomotive Works 2-6-6-6 Allegheny steam locomotive. This large, articulated steam locomotive is available from Hornby Hobbies USA decorated for Chesapeake & Ohio in three road numbers. The HO scale model features light-emitting-diode lighting, including headlight and flickering firebox effect. Other features include positionable cab windows, firebox door, cab vent, and tender water hatches. Separately applied details on the model include handrails, piping, whistle, and more. A wired tether connects the locomotive and tender. An extra cab is included for navigating tight-radius curves down to 16". The locomotive is available as a direct-current model for $469.49 and with an ESU LokSound V5 sound decoder for $649.99. Rivarossi line. Hornby Hobbies USA, 877-358-6405, hornbyhobbies.com HO scale locomotives • Electro-Motive Division SD7 and SD9 diesel locomotives. SD7: Chicago, Burlington &…

27,535. That’s how many people walked through the doors of The Big E in West Springfield, Mass., the last weekend of January for the Amherst Railway Society Railroad Hobby Show. This set a new all-time record attendance for the annual two-day event. But that major milestone was only part of the news from this year’s show. The buzz, as it is annually, was all about the various new product announcements. Two companies rolled out different variations of the Lima-built 2-8-4 Berkshire steam locomotive in HO scale. Broadway Limited Imports shared information about its Boston & Albany class A-1a Berkshire, while Lionel introduced a 2-8-4 decorated for the Chesapeake & Ohio, Nickel Plate Road, and Pere Marquette. The new Lionel locomotive will be offered with an ESU Lok Sound V5 sound decoder…

An Electro-Motive Division GP38 diesel locomotive is now available in HO scale from Rapido Trains. The four-axle road switcher features plastic and diecast metal construction and bodymounted metal couplers. Electro-Motive Division produced the GP38 from January 1966 through December 1971. During the course of the production run 733 units were built. The four-axle road switcher was rated at 2,000 horsepower and equipped with a 16 cylinder, 645 diesel engine. The sample we received is decorated as BNSF Ry. 2157, part of the railroad’s 2155 through 2189 series. The 2157 was built in May 1970 as Penn Central 7827. The locomotive was acquired by Burlington Northern on May 15, 1985, becoming the railroad’s 2157. Following the merger between BN and Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe in 1995, the GP38 joined the BNSF…

A Greenbrier 7,550-cubic-foot capacity double-plug-door boxcar is the first N scale freight car from Aurora Miniatures North America Inc. The injectionmolded plastic model features many separate, factory-applied parts; metal wheelsets; and body-mounted plastic AuroraJanney plastic knuckle couplers. The Aurora Miniatures boxcar is based on the 2016 to present version of the Greenbrier prototype with grid-shaped sides, Titan-series plug doors, and a combined diagonal- and X-panel roof. Approximately 20,000 of the cars are in service throughout North American. The sample we received is decorated as TTX (TBOX) 644496, part of the freight car leasing company’s 644461 through 644999 series built by Greenbrier between December 2021 and March 2022. The full-size cars transport a variety of products, including appliances, beer, canned goods, lumber, steel, and wine, among other items. The N scale…