Broadway Limited Imports N scale EMD F7 Electro-Motive Division’s F7, the most popular hood unit diesel ever made, is being offered in N scale with a little something extra – Broadway Limited Imports (BLI)’s Rolling Thunder. The subwoofer system turns the sounds generated by the model’s Paragon3 decoder into an earth-shaking experience. Broadway Limited’s N […]
Bachmann HO scale Sound Value GG1 GG1s have been riding the model rails almost as long as they did the prototype railroads. Bachmann Trains has added an HO scale model of Raymond Loewy’s Pennsylvania RR masterpiece to their Sound Value line. The dual-mode-decoder-equipped model operates with sound on direct-current (DC) and Digital Command Control (DCC) […]
Atlas Santa Fe class BX-177 boxcar in N, HO scales An Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe class BX-177 plug-door boxcar is now available in N and HO scales from Atlas Model Railroad Co. Don’t confuse this Master Line car with the BLMA (now Atlas) class BX-166 double-plug-door boxcar that I reviewed in the March 2016 […]
O gauge Pullman-Bradley Coach from Atlas O Price: $139.95 (no. 2002901) Min. Curve: O-45, O-54 recommended Features: Vinyl diaphragms, sprung side vestibule doors, illuminated interior, and wire grab irons. Road names: Boston & Maine, Kansas City Southern, Long Island RR, New Haven, Southern Pacific, and undecorated. For more information: go to www.shop.atlasrr.com Industrial designer Walter […]
SPROG USA Pi-SPROG One DCC system Instead of conventional throttles, the Pi-SPROG relies on smartphones or tablets running throttle apps, such as WiThrottle (above) or Engine Driver. Android-based WiFi throttles, such as PIKO SmartControl or ESU CabControl, can also be used with the system. Raspberry Pi isn’t a tasty dessert. It’s an inexpensive, single-board computer […]
Athearn HO scale SD70ACe with Tsunami2 A skew-wound motor with brass flywheels is secured to the center of the die-cast metal frame. Plastic driveshafts power all 12 wheels, which also pick up current. In 1943, employees of the Union Pacific RR agreed to an extra deduction in their paychecks to buy War Bonds during World […]
Atlas O Pullman-Bradley coach Price: $139.95 Manufacturer Atlas O 378 Florence Ave. Hillside, NJ 07205 www.atlasrr.com Era: 1950 to 1968 (as decorated) Road names: New York, New Haven & Hartford; Boston & Maine; Kansas City Southern; Long Island Rail Road; and Southern Pacific. Four road numbers per scheme. Also available painted dark green with black […]
Eric Siegel O gauge Amtrak EMD F40PH from Lionel Price: $549.99 (nos. 82453 and 82454, Phase II; 82455 and 82456, Phase III, powered); $399.99 (no. 82457, non-powered) Min Curve: O-54 Features: Lighting, horn and bell sounds, prototypical lettering and painting, Lionel TMCC/Legacy command control, remote couplers Road names: Amtrak Phase II and Phase III. www.lionel.com […]
O gauge UFO scene from Menards Price: $99.99 (N. 279-4439) Features: Fully landscaped diorama with illuminated flying saucer and farm shed, human, cow, dog, and alien figures, motorized cow abduction action. Power supply: Menards No. 279-4062 or No. 279-4050 4.5-volt power supply (sold separately). www.menards.com/trains Farmers have many worries. The weather changes all the time […]
Amtrak’s ACS-64 Cities Sprinter has been rushing passengers up and down the Northeast Corridor for nearly five years, including a stretch not far from the Bachmann Industries headquarters in Philadelphia. Now you can add it to your layout with Bachmann’s latest sound-equipped HO scale release. The prototype. The Amtrak Cities Sprinter (ACS) 6,400kW (the -64 […]
MRC Synchro Sound2 To get truly big sound out of your Digital Command Control-equipped locomotive, you need a big speaker. Unfortunately, that’s just not possible in smaller scales. Model Rectifier Corp. has addressed this problem with the Synchro Sound2, a standalone speaker equipped with a DCC sound decoder. The Synchro Sound2 is meant to be […]
Menards HO Wally’s Service Station Price: $59.99 Manufacturer Menards 5106 Menard Dr. Eau Claire, WI 54703 www.menards.com/trains Era: 1955 to 1960s (as decorated) Comments: Menards has added Wally’s Service Station to its rapidly growing line of HO scale structures. The factory-assembled model features more than 20 light-emitting diodes (LEDs); a weathered base; and an assortment […]
