Rapido announces Canadian Pacific Budd coaches and VIA Rail HEP-equipped coaches

Model of streamlined passenger car

Canadian Pacific Budd coaches and VIA Rail HEP-equipped coaches Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $124.95 Era: 1954 to present (varies depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Features Simulated stainless steel finish HEP 2 cars have new side window arrangement HEP 1 and HEP 2 […]

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American Z Line September 2022 diesel locomotive announcements

Model of green locomotive with yellow lettering and stripes

Additional American Z Line diesel locomotive announcements for September 2022 Scale: Z (1:220) Price: Contact manufacturer Era: Missouri-Kansas-Texas SW1500 diesel locomotive, early 1970s to 1989. Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Alco PA-1 diesel locomotive, 1946 to early 1960s. Manufacturer: American Z Line, 6142 Northcliff Blvd., Dublin, OH 43016; 614-764-1703; americanzline.com Electro-Motive Division SW1500 features: AutoLatch couplers Prototype-specific details Directional light-emitting-diode lighting […]

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Electro-Motive Division’s NW5

Photo of HO scale locomotive model in black, white, and gold paint

Electro-Motive Division’s NW5 history Electro-Motive Division’s NW5: Steam was still king when Electro-Motive Division (EMD) produced the NW5 diesel locomotive. However, railroads were taking note of the economy of performance offered by the various yard diesels entering the marketplace. This led railroads to approach EMD about the possibility of constructing low-cost diesels that could be […]

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General American G85 85-foot flatcar from Walthers

Drawing of green flatcar with white background

Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $34.98 Era: 1961 to late 2000s Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218, 414-527-0770, walthers.com General American 85-foot G85 flatcar features: Different size nameplates to match prototype General American (GATC) hitches in raised and lowered positions or container pedestals as appropriate Die-cast metal center sill Detailed […]

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Walthers auto parts boxcar

Screen capture of HO scale boxcar on wood workbench.

An HO scale 60-foot double-door auto parts boxcar is back in the Walthers product lineup. Join Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he reviews the Mainline series car, based on a Pullman-Standard (PS) prototype. The Walthers auto parts boxcar has updated tooling featuring new car sides; 10- and 6-foot doors; a separate, factory-applied brake […]

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Walthers auto parts boxcar

Screen capture of HO scale boxcar on wood workbench.

An HO scale 60-foot double-door auto parts boxcar is back in the Walthers product lineup. Join Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he reviews the Mainline series car, based on a Pullman-Standard (PS) prototype. The Walthers auto parts boxcar has updated tooling featuring new car sides; 10- and 6-foot doors; a separate, factory-applied brake […]

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Atlas O bulkhead flatcar

Screen shot of O scale freight car on wood workshop bench

The Atlas O 68-foot bulkhead flatcar is back in new paint schemes and road numbers. Model Railroader magazine Senior Editor Cody Grivno hosts our latest product review video, taking an in-depth look at the Trainman series model. Features on the bulkhead flatcar include side stake pockets, simulated tie loops, a fish-belly center sill, pull plates, […]

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Walthers 40-foot Ortner 100-ton aggregate hopper

Model of yellow hopper with white background

40-foot Ortner 100-ton aggregate hopper Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $44.98 Era: 1970s to present (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com 40-foot Ortner 100-ton aggregate hopper features: Air-equipped door details as appropriate Factory-installed wire grab irons and end railings Removable load Detailed brake […]

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WalthersProto Electro-Motive Division SW9, SW900, and SW1200 diesel locomotives

Model of orange and black train locomotive

Electro-Motive Division SW9/SW900/SW1200 diesel locomotives Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with Next18 plug, $199.98; with dual-mode ESU LokSound 5 sound decoder, $299.98. Era: 1954 to 1990s (varies depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com Electro-Motive Division SW9, SW900, and SW1200 diesel locomotives features: Road-specific details Detailed cab interior with […]

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Parts of an Electro-Motive Division F40PH diesel locomotive

Photo of front of HO scale cowl-bodied diesel on white background

Parts of an Electro-Motive Division F40PH diesel locomotive The Electro-Motive Division (EMD) F40PH diesel locomotive was the backbone of Amtrak’s fleet for many years. The four-axle unit earned its keep on several commuter lines, too. GO Transit (Toronto), Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (Boston), Metra (Chicago), and NJ Transit were just some of the places the […]

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Railroad strike duty: the job nobody liked

Center-cab diesel locomotive with freight cars passes brick station and open parking lot

Anyone who spent much time at all as an “excepted” (non-union) employee could expect, sooner or later, to be required to work railroad strike duty. This was especially true if he was a supervisor in the mechanical, engineering, or operating departments. Your personal feelings were inconsequential when these events occurred–you did what you had to […]

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Pacific Car & Foundry B-100-40 boxcar from Rapido Trains

Models of four boxcars with white background

Scale: N (1:160) Price: Single car, $36.95; three-pack, $110.85; and six-pack, $221.70 Era: 1976 to present (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Features Separate, factory-applied uncoupling levers, door latch mechanism, and end ladders Detailed Hydra-Cushion underframe Underbody brake rigging Road-number specific […]

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