News & Products for the week of December 9th 2024

News & Products for the week of December 9th 2024   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 9th […]

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The story of Joyful Junction — Micah’s Christmas train

An N scale Norfolk & Western steam locomotive in a snowy scene

A Christmas train adds to the Christmas spirit It’s not often that you hear words like “locomotive” or “uncoupled” in a 3-year-old’s vocabulary, but that’s exactly where my wife and I found ourselves Christmas morning in 2022. Our son Micah had always had a fascination with all trains, so much that we often joked that […]

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Trains.com Insider Exclusive | Interview with Bernard Hellen of Miniprints

Join Trains.com hosts David Popp and Gerry Leone, as they visit Bernard Hellen in the Miniprints booth at Trainfest 2024 in Milwaukee, Wis. Watch as “Dr. Mini” walks through the process he uses to make 3D-printed scale model figures from a full body scan of actual people. Learn how easy it is to add a […]

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N scale EMD SD40T-2 from ScaleTrains

Color photo of N scale diesel locomotive on scenic base.

An Electro-Motive Division SD40T-2 is making its debut in the ScaleTrains N scale diesel locomotive lineup. The all-new Rivet Counter line model features plastic and die-cast metal construction, a five-pole skew-wound motor with dual flywheels, and all-wheel drive and electrical pickup. Prototype history Southern Pacific approached EMD looking for a locomotive that would address overheating […]

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N scale Siemens ALC-42 from Bachmann

Title screen from video showing N scale diesel on model railroad.

The N scale Siemens ALC-42 from Bachmann recently visited our Milwaukee, Racine & Troy State Line Route. Join Model Railroader Associate Editor (and Amtrak fan) Bryson Sleppy as he provides a short history of the contemporary four-axle passenger diesel and Amtrak No. 309; points out the various molded and separate, factory-applied parts on the model; […]

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N scale Siemens ALC-42 from Bachmann

Title screen from video showing N scale diesel on model railroad.

The N scale Siemens ALC-42 from Bachmann recently visited our Milwaukee, Racine & Troy State Line Route. Join Model Railroader Associate Editor (and Amtrak fan) Bryson Sleppy as he provides a short history of the contemporary four-axle passenger diesel and Amtrak No. 309; points out the various molded and separate, factory-applied parts on the model; […]

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Atlas celebrates 100th anniversary

The 100th anniversary logo for Atlas model railroad company

New Jersey-based model railroad manufacturer Atlas Model Railroad Co. has marked its 100th anniversary. Stephan Schaffan Sr. founded Atlas Tool Co. in 1924 as a general machine shop in New Jersey. His son, Stephan Schaffan Jr., joined the business in 1933. By 1947, the two had their first factory built in Hillside, N.J., producing the […]

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Bachmann N Siemens ALC-42 Charger

Color photo showing side view of streamlined N scale passenger locomotive.

A Siemens ALC-42 Charger diesel locomotive is the latest N scale release from Bachmann Trains. The four-axle passenger hauler is based on Amtrak’s new long-distance passenger unit and features factory-applied details, body-mounted E-Z Mate Mark II couplers, and light-emitting-diode (LED) lighting. The prototype Siemens Mobility produces Amtrak ALC-42 Charger diesel locomotives at its plant in […]

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T-Trak Fun Run across the Colorado Plains

Trains.com staff set out to prove they could build out a layout one square foot at a time! Now that most of their T-Trak modules are completed, it’s due time to have some fun running trains around Model Railroader magazine’s latest project layout, the N scale (1:160) “Colorado Plains”, as featured in the January 2025 […]

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Trains.com Insider Exclusive | Interview with Jordan and Jeff of Rapido Trains

In this Trains.com exclusive from Trainfest 2024, Model Railroader magazine Senior Editor Cody Grivno chats with Jordan Smith and Jeff Lassahn of Rapido Trains Inc. The Rapido Crew arrived in the Trains.com Booth with plenty of new HO and N scale model railroad products and news to share with viewers like you! Watch additional behind-the-scenes […]

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A skill-building layout

Opening spread of magazine article.

Q: I recall an article from a few years back that was about setting up a minimalist layout set on a bookshelf or board. It was intended as a quick and easy way to get started in the hobby, especially for those who don’t have a lot of space. I believe it used an NCE […]

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Trains.com Insider Exclusive | Interview with Curtis Koch of Broadway Limited Imports

Join Trains.com staffer Bryson Sleppy, as he hosts Curtis Koch of Broadway Limited Imports for an insightful interview at Trainfest 2024 in Milwaukee, Wis. Listen in, as Curtis shares news and specifics regarding new product releases from this notable HO and N scale model railroad manufacturer! Watch additional behind-the-scenes interviews from Trainfest 2024! […]

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