HO Scale Model Railroading

Kadee has annouced the availability of new rolling stock this month

40′ PS-1 4822 Western Pacific Boxer #19521

PS-2 Two Bay Hopper 8217 CNW #95252

50′ PS-1 6323 SCL Boxcar #20071

50′ PS-1 6322 L&N Boxcar #100199

Athearn announced today that they were discontinuing their Blue Box kit series. You’ll no longer see those familiar Athearn boxes at your local hobby store, or have the joy of putting together a kit and realizing you don’t know where that last grab bar goes.

From their press release:

Effective immediately, we here at Athearn have made the difficult decision to discontinue the production of our Blue Box line of kits. There were several factors that contributed to this extremely challenging decision however, the primary issue revolved around affordability and ensuring that our Blue Box kit pricing remain aligned with what the market can bear. Unfortunately, due to increased manufacturing and labor costs it has been determined that we are no longer able to continue offering kits at competitive price points as compared to our already assembled products.

For over 50 years the Athearn Blue Box kits have been sold worldwide, bringing happiness, joy and excitement to thousands of model railroad enthusiasts. Your passion for these products has allowed us to thrive and grow into the industry leader you still support today, and for that we are eternally grateful. Moving forward this will allow us to dedicate more resources to new and exciting projects in our Ready To Roll, Genesis and Roundhouse lines for another 50 years, or more.

We will continue to support all service and warranty needs on Blue Box kits from our headquarters in Long Beach, California. You can find our contact information here.

Bowser Manufacturing will be releasing their HO Scale “Executive Line” Trinity 3 & 5 car Spine Car set in early 2010.

The models are RTR feature fully detailed air hoses, die cast frame, etched walkways, brake piping, free rolling metal wheels with RP25 flanges, knuckle couplers.

Trinity “RAF33” 3 Unit Spine Car Sets
#40541 TTAX Road #355001
#40542 TTAX Road #355023
#40543 TTAX Road #355115
#40544 TTAX Road #355137
#40545 TTAX Road #355169
Trinity “RAF53C” 5 Unit Spine Car Sets
#40546 TTAX Road #555007
#40547 TTAX Road #555041
#40548 TTAX Road #555135

The Twin City Model Railroad Museum will have a special circus themed show on October 10th through the 11th. The show will feature a weekend of cicurs train operating and working circus models. The museum is located at 1021 Bandana Blvd E, Suite 222 • St. Paul, Minnesota 55108.

The Twin City Model Railroad Museum is hosting a hobby sale and show at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds on September 19 from 9am to 3pm

Operating layouts in all scale

Over 200 tables of New and Used
Scale Models - Toy Trains
HO - O - 027 - N - S - Z

Antiques - Collectables
Tools - Books - Videos
Toys - Buildings - Magazines
Prints - Posters - Photos

Admission is $5.
Age 5 and under are free.

Your hand stamp for the Sale will admit you to the Museum (Open 10:00 am to 5:00 pm) FREE on the day of the Sale!

To be a Vendor, please send an email to HobbySaleInfo@tcmrm.org.

Bowser Manufacturing has announced the release in Winter 2009 of their new “Executive Line” EMD FT A&B Diesel locomotve. The locomotive will be RTR with brass windshield wipers, operating headlight, window glass, can motor, flywheels, nickel silver wheels with RP25 flanges, knuckle couplers, and DCC ready. Both A & B units will have power and sound.

#691-23411 B&O “As Delivered”, Road #1
#691-23412 B&O “As Delivered”, Road #6
#691-23413 B&O “As Delivered”, Road #1, With Sound
#691-23414 B&O “As Delivered”, Road #6, With Sound
#691-23415 EMC Demo, Road #103
#691-23416 EMC Demo, Road #103, With Sound
#691-23417 ATSF “Catwisker”, Road #104
#691-23418 ATSF “Catwisker”, Road #117
#691-23419 ATSF “Catwisker”, Road #104, With Sound
#691-23420 ATSF “Catwisker”, Road #117, With Sound
#691-23421 DL&W “Passenger”, Road #654
#691-23422 DL&W “Passenger”, Road #651
#691-23423 DL&W “Passenger”, Road #654, With Sound
#691-23424 DL&W “Passenger”, Road #651, With Sound
#691-23425 WP “As Delivered”, Road #903
#691-23426 WP “As Delivered”, Road #906
#691-23427 WP “As Delivered”, Road #903, With Sound
#691-23428 WP “As Delivered”, Road #906, With Sound

Pricing: DC Version $299.95, Soundtraxx Sound Version $459.95

The attempt, in Britain, to build the world longest model railroad was foiled by vandals who stole sections of the 10 mile long track.

“A model railway being built by Top Gear presenter James May with the intentions of it breaking the world record for length has been attacked by vandals.

Thieves stole parts of the track and short-circuited the engine on the model railway, which was a collaborative effort between 400 people to make it stretch the ten miles between Barnstaple and Bideford in north Devon.

While the attacks did not stop the completion of the track, it was found that the model railway was three miles short of the current Guinness World Record holder due to a mechanical failure.

Simon Kohler, from model railway manufacturer Hornby, said: “We had spoilsports who stole parts of the track and at one point someone used two pence coins to create problems and blow the train´s battery, but we refused to let it ruin things. It´s sad, but it was a really brave effort.”"

This clip is from the BBC show called Top Toys, in which Top Gear’s James May counts down the greatest toys. Number one of course is the model train set:

If found this while perusing through You Tube today. It’s James May, from the BBC car show Top Gear, on what men really want for Christmas… toys. James and friends enjoy his Hornby layout in this episode. Best line of the clip “buy us something with ‘For Ages 7 to 12′ printed right on the box”:

Hornby has released video on YouTube of their new Hitachi Class 395 Locomotive prototype: