FMC 5077 centered double-door boxcar Scale: HO (1:87:1) Price: $39.99 Era: Late 1970s+ to 1990s+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Features: Separate, factory-applied grab irons, end ladders, and brake wheel Photo-etched metal crossover platform 33” machined metal wheels with RP-25 contours Body mounted McHenry […]
Pullman-Standard 85-foot bi-level commuter cars Scale: HO (1:87:1) Price: Standard, $89.98; lighted, $99.98 Era: Mid-1950s through mid-1980s Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers, Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com Features: 33” turned metal RP-25 contour wheels Factory-installed grab irons Gallery car interior configuration Light-emitting diode interior lighting (lighted cars only) Proto-Max metal couplers […]
MONTREAL — Exo, the Montreal-area commuter rail operator officially known as Réseau de transport metropolitan, will retire its remaining single-level passenger cars, 24 Bombardier-built 700-series cars similar to NJ Transit’s Comet II cars. The cars are currently used only on the 15.9-mile, nine-station Candiac line, but Exo’s social media advisor informed railfans this week that […]
PORT CLINTON, Pa. — The Reading & Northern has added “Crown Class” service to its Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway with the debut of coach No. 450, The Pagoda, a 1920s-vintage six-axle heavyweight coach built for the Illinois Central Railroad. The car, purchased in a bankruptcy auction of equipment of a subsidiary of Iowa Pacific Holdings, […]
Magor 4948 “Big John” covered hopper Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $59.99 Era: 1960s to 1990s (varies depending on scheme) Manufacturer: ExactRail, 525 E. 1860 S., Provo, UT 84606; 866-945-1701; exactrail.com Features: Wire coupler uncoupling levers, grab irons, brake rods, and level hangers Narrow-style draft box featuring key detail, shank wedges, striker castings, and nut and […]
North American Car Corp. 50-foot boxcar Scale: N (1:160) Price: $31.99 Era: Mid-1960s through 1970s+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com North American Car Corp. 50-foot boxcar features: Etched metal stirrup steps Detailed, molded underframe Pullman-Standard or Superior plug doors Pullman-Standard or Stanray (Superior) roof […]
The 2022 National Garden Railway Convention saw a grandfather and grandson take home prizes in a modeling contest. Here’s a report from the former: I attended the 2022 National Garden Railway Convention in Denver in June with my son and his family. Both me and my grandson entered models in the convention’s contest this year. […]
MONTREAL — The second set of new Siemens equipment for VIA Rail Canada corridor service has been delivered. With Union Pacific ES44AC No. 5275 providing power for the entire trip from the Siemens plant in Sacramento, the new trainset was delivered to VIA’s Montreal Maintenance Centre early on Saturday, Aug. 6. VIA is receiving 32 […]
Cheap lighting for passenger cars: I had kitbashed an LGB No. 3080 passenger car into an observation car and wanted to add interior lighting. Instead of track-powered lighting, I opted to install battery-powered light emitting diodes (LEDs). For around $20 in supplies, you can have flicker-free lighting in your car too. I cut the roof […]
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Southern, Canadian Pacific, and equipment leasing company GATX are among the parties launching an effort to save the monarch butterfly by contributing to its habitat at a preserve in Mexico. The Save the Monarch Butterfly 60,000 Tree Challenge North American Boxcar Tour aims to raise $100,000 to plant 60,000 […]
Rapido Trains HO scale barrel ore hoppers Join Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he reviews the new HO scale National Steel Car barrel ore hoppers from Rapido Trains. The models are offered in 35- and 42-foot versions and are decorated for Canadian National and Ontario Northland in various paint schemes. The ready-to-run barrel ore hoppers […]
Rapido Trains HO scale barrel ore hoppers Join Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he reviews the new HO scale National Steel Car barrel ore hoppers from Rapido Trains. The models are offered in 35- and 42-foot versions and are decorated for Canadian National and Ontario Northland in various paint schemes. The ready-to-run barrel ore hoppers […]
