Athearn N scale Challenger and Big Boy steam locomotives Back on N scale rails, the Athearn Genesis 4-6-6-4 Challenger and 4-8-8-4 Big Boy each feature a revised sound system that includes a SoundTraxx Digital Command Control (DCC) decoder with a new array of realistic sound effects. The models use the same tooling as the MRC-DCC-equipped […]
Kato USA HO scale GE P42 diesel locomotive Are two motors better than one? A typical HO scale locomotive uses a single direct-current (DC) motor mounted on the chassis. Earlier this year, Kato introduced a new approach on one of its HO scale Japanese locomotives by using two compact coreless motors mounted in the trucks. […]
Sunset Models HO scale Northern Pacific 4-6-6-4 steam locomotive A hefty brass model of the last steam engine ordered by the Northern Pacific matches its prototype in both details and pulling power. Sunset Models’ new HO scale class Z-8 4-6-6-4 articulated steam engine also features powerful, realistic sound, thanks to its QSI Titan Digital Command […]
Bachmann HO scale hi-rail truck Price: $109.99 Manufacturer Bachmann Trains 1400 E. Erie Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19124 www.bachmanntrains.com Era: 1980s to present Comments: This HO scale hi-rail truck from Bachmann Trains features a dual-mode Digital Command Control (DCC) decoder that operates on both direct-current (DC) and DCC layouts. The truck’s plastic body shell doesn’t represent […]
Atlas Model Railroad O scale Budd short dome car Mention Vista-Dome and most modelers immediately think of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy’s Zephyr fleet. Of these trains, the California Zephyr was the most famous, with five Vista Domes in its regular all stainless-steel consist. Three railroads participated in the CZ’s daily service between Chicago and […]
The Canadian HO scale train set by Rapido Trains A museum-quality HO scale model of The Canadian rumbles to life with two Digital Command Control-(DCC) and sound-equipped diesel locomotives. Rapido Trains is releasing a second run of its superdetailed model of Canadian Pacific’s top transcontinental train. Two General Motors Diesel Division FP9 units and one […]
Broadway Limited Imports HO scale T1 class 4-4-4-4 duplex locomotive With its sharknose cowl and streamlined form, the Pennsylvania RR T1 is an eye-catching locomotive in any scale. Broadway Limited Imports released its first HO model of a T1 a decade ago [See the review in the May 2004 Model Railroader. – Ed.], but that […]
Walthers HO scale Gunderson 76-foot cryogenic refrigerator car Price: $24.98 Manufacturer Wm. K. Walthers Inc. P.O. Box 3039 Milwaukee, WI 53201 www.walthers.com Road names: BNSF Ry. (Nestle patchout), Carnation, McCain, and Simplot (One road number per scheme) Era: 1992 to present Comments: After a nearly two-decade absence, the Gunderson 76-foot cryogenic reefer is back in […]
Atlas N scale 40-foot PS-1 boxcar Price: $26.95 (undecorated, $21.95) Manufacturer Atlas Model Railroad Co. 378 Florence Ave. Hillside, NJ 07205 www.atlasrr.com Road names: Rutland, Boston & Maine, Buffalo Creek, Lehigh Valley, Maine Central, Milwaukee Road, St. Louis Southwestern (Cotton Belt), and Western Pacific (two numbers each). Era: 1947 to 1980s (Rutland, 1954-1961) Comments: When […]
MTH HO scale GP35 diesel locomotive A horn blast and the rumble of a 567 diesel signal the arrival of this HO scale GP35 locomotive from MTH. The model’s proprietary Digital Command System (DCS) features realistic sound on direct-current (DC), Digital Command Control (DCC), and DCS layouts. The prototype. Between October 1963 and January 1966, […]
Kato N scale SD402 diesel locomotive When Electro-Motive Division introduced the SD40-2 in January 1972, it quickly became the most popular 6-axle road switcher in history, selling almost 4,000 units to numerous railroads across North America. Kato USA is reissuing an N scale model of the SD40-2 the company originally introduced in 2000. The SD40-2 […]
Walthers HO scale C&O Chessie Club car A newly tooled lunch-counter lounge car is part of Walthers HO scale Chesapeake & Ohio Ry. Pere Marquette, which is the firm’s latest name train series. The prototype trains were introduced by the C&O in 1946 as America’s first postwar streamliners. Two matching trains ran between Detroit and […]
