International Car Co. Baltimore & Ohio I-18 steel bay-window caboose from Tangent Scale Models

Model of dark blue bay-window caboose in front of white background

International Car Co. Baltimore & Ohio I-18 steel bay-window caboose Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $106.95 Era: 1968+ to 1980s+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Tangent Scale Models, P.O. Box 6514, Asheville, NC 28816; 828-412-3886; tangentscalemodels.com International Car Co. Baltimore & Ohio I-18 steel bay-window caboose features: Kadee scale couplers Era-specific body details, including bay […]

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Pedestrian barriers and photographers with working camera flash in HO scale

Road scene with photographers behind pedestrian barriers

Pedestrian barriers and photographers with flash Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Pedestrian barrier 16-pack and photographer with working camera flash, $20 each Manufacturer: East Coast Circuits LLC, P.O. Box 25412 Providence, RI 02905; 401-400-0668; eastcoastcircuits.com Pedestrian barrier features: 3-D printed parts Figures and display not included Photographer features: Works on 9-12V AC or DC power On/off switch included Four […]

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Railfan photographer with working camera flash from East Coast Circuits

Railroad crossing scene with railfan photographers taking pictures

Railfan photographer with flash Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $20 Manufacturer: East Coast Circuits LLC, P.O. Box 25412 Providence, RI 02905; 401-400-0668; eastcoastcircuits.com Photographer features: Works on 9-12V AC or DC power Track sensor included Barriers and display not included Release date: October 2022 News & Products is a regular feature of Trains.com for model railroad operators and builders to […]

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ScaleTrains TTX class F68AH bulkhead flatcar

Drawing of brown bulkhead flatcar with white background

Class F68AH bulkhead flatcar Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $49.99 Era: 1969 to present (depending on scheme) Manufacturer: ScaleTrains, 7598 Highway 411, Benton, TN 37307; 844-987-2467; scaletrains.com Features: Road-number-specific details Factory-applied laser-cut wood deck Transverse deck risers and recessed deck tie-down details Photo-etched stainless steel crossover platforms Factory-applied metal grab irons, uncoupling levers, and trainline hoses Early […]

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Athearn Genesis Electro-Motive Division SD90MAC diesel locomotive

Drawing of large yellow diesel locomotive

Athearn Genesis HO scale Electro-Motive Division SD90MAC diesel locomotive Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin NEM connector, $259.99; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound decoder, $359.99. Add $10 for Primed for Grime models. Era: 1996+ to present (varies depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Electro-Motive Division SD90MAC diesel locomotive features: […]

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Parts of the Electro-Motive Diesel SD70M-2

white, red, and blue diesel locomotive

Parts of the Electro-Motive Diesel SD70M-2. Today is a great time to be a model railroader. The market is filled with a variety of locomotives from different manufacturers in many popular modeling scales. These engines often feature railroad- (and sometimes road-number-) specific details; factory-installed and painted wire grab irons; and sounds recorded from the prototype. […]

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Athearn Genesis Electro-Motive Diesel SD70ACU diesel locomotive

Drawing of diesel locomotive decorated in marron and gray scheme

Electro-Motive Diesel SD70ACU diesel locomotive Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin NEM connector, $259.99; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound decoder, $359.99. Add $10 for Primed for Grime. Era: 2016 to present Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com SD70ACU diesel locomotive features: Body-mounted McHenry knuckle couplers Celcon handrails Detailed cab interior Die-cast metal […]

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Milwaukee, Racine & Troy American Car & Foundry 50’-6” boxcar kit

Blue boxcar with white door with white background

Milwaukee, Racine & Troy American Car & Foundry 50′-6″ boxcar Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $27.99 Era: December 1987+ Manufacturer: Produced by Accurail, available from Kalmbach Hobby Store, KalmbachHobbyStore.com Features: Separate underbody details Factory-installed brake wheel Molded ladders, crossover platforms, and stirrup steps Modeler-installed doors included (two each 10-foot plug and Youngstown) Roller-bearing trucks Steel weight […]

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How to disassemble a locomotive in HO scale

Hands pulling apart a locomotive from its shell.

How to disassemble a locomotive without damaging it and then reassembling it is one of the more advanced tasks of a model railroader. Some people just want to see the inside of the locomotive, while more often, there’s a circuit board that needs repair or replacement, gears that need lubricating, or a faulty wire or […]

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HO scale Pennsylvania RR S2 class 6-8-6 turbine announced

Model of large steam locomotive with white background

S2 class 6-8-6 turbine Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: With dual-mode Paragon4 sound decoder, $874.99 Era: 1944 to 1949 Manufacturer: Broadway Limited Imports LLC, 9 East Tower Circle, Ormond Beach, FL 32174; 386-673-8900; broadway-limited.com 6-8-6 turbine steam locomotive features: Dual-mode Paragon4 sound decoder Brass boiler, cab, and tender body Die-cast metal chassis Built-in capacitor pack Factory-installed engineer and fireman figures […]

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HO scale 70-ton four-bay hopper from ScaleTrains

Drawing of brown hopper train car with white background

70-ton four-bay hopper Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $21.99 Era: 1926 to 1960s (depending on scheme) Manufacturer: ScaleTrains, 7598 Highway 411, Benton, TN 37307; 844-987-2467; scaletrains.com Features: Cast stirrup steps, end ladders, grab irons, underbody, and brake system Molded interior detail with rivets and side wall bracing Separately applied brake wheel Solid-bearing trucks 33” metal wheels with […]

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General Motors Diesel Division F59PH diesel locomotive from Rapido Trains

Rapido Trains F59PH diesel locomotive

General Motors Diesel Division F59PH diesel locomotive from Rapido Trains   Eric White, Editor of Model Railroader magazine, reviews the new HO scale General Motors Diesel Division F59PH diesel locomotive from Rapido Trains and takes it on a tour of our Milwaukee, Racine & Troy staff layout. Features on the four-axle model include an injection-molded […]

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