It’s another week in the books here at Trainz.com with goodies coming in from all over the country! We’ve gotten plenty of great HO stuff this week, and I even managed to get a neat blast from the past for the accessory showcase. So go ahead and clear some more space on those layouts and make room for my weekly selections! 

Athearn G2619 HO Maine Central F-3 AB Diesel Locomotive Set #671A/671B

We’re kicking things off this week in the HO category, and I’ve got a fun one today! This Maine Central AB set from Athearn was calling to me the moment we unboxed it, and I came running. We don’t get a ton of Maine Central road names pouring in (oddly enough), so adding this one to our HO catalog was a treat.

Road name aside, it’s the paint scheme that earned this F-3 set a spot in this week’s selection. The Maroon dominant background paired with the gold stripes makes a great first impression, and is extra neat considering it’s not around anymore. The Maine Central Railroad ditched their forest green paint scheme in the early 50s for a much bolder look to go along with their line of F-3 locomotives, and the rest is history. The Maroon/gold scheme enjoyed a short-lived run before eventually going back to their traditional green paint scheme leaving the gold beauty behind for the archives. 

This Maine Central F-3 set got only one production run in the maroon/gold scheme, and a re-release anytime soon looks highly unlikely with new models going back to the green scheme. Fortunately for our customers, I’ve got a ready to go AB set right here! We’ve also got plenty more F-3 diesel engines in our newly updated HO catalog, so be sure to stop by and take a look when you’re checking out the F-3 set pictured above. 

Product Info:

Manufacturer: Athearn

Model Number: G2619

Road Name: Maine Central (MEC)

Scale/Era: HO Modern

Model Type: Diesel Loco

Bachmann 25249 On30 Painted & Unlettered Bumble Bee 2-6-0 Mogul Steam Locomotive 

Moving right along, I’ve decided to break from the conventional scales in favor of showcasing some On30 for all of you narrow gauge lovers. And since On30 doesn’t get a ton of spotlight, I had to make sure I picked something special. I didn’t have to look for long, before I heard a buzzing in the distance. 

After a quick scan of our shelves, I found the hive, and some sweet honey too! No, just kidding, but I did find this vibrant 2-6-0 Mogul from Bachmann sporting the bumblebee paint scheme. And oh boy was I excited. It’s a fairly common locomotive, but it was my first time playing with it – it’s certainly worth all the buzz ← thank goodness I can laugh at my own jokes or else this would be really hard. The trains help too. Ok sorry, back to the Bumble Bee Mogul. 

This narrow gauge Bumble Bee model from Bachmann comes with a hidden drive-train, a 5-pole skew-wound motor, a sprung center axel, and a slew of other great features. Pairing a great vintage look with modern engineering is a quick way to get right to my heart. The locomotive you’re seeing above is not lettered, and comes bearing just the Bumble Bee paint scheme. I’m not complaining, now and again a bare locomotive is a great choice, and this Mogul certainly lives up to the buzz. Check out the Bumble Bee Mogul here, and don’t worry – I promise you won’t get stung. I’ve also got more Mogul locomotives on our shelves just in case for all of you that might already have your own Bumble Bee. Maybe a Mogul isn’t what you’re after, that’s cool, our On30 catalog is vast and worth a look if you’re after more narrow gauge goodies. 

Product Info:

Manufacturer: Bachmann

Model Number: 25249

Road Name: Undecorated

Scale/Era: On30 Scale

Model Type: Steam Loco

K-Line K4899A O Gauge American Red Cross 15" Heavyweight 3-Car Passenger Set 

Rolling right along with the showcase, I’ve got a great O-Modern pick for all of you O-Gauge lovers out there. K-Line delivered a banger when they dropped this American Red Cross Heavyweight 3-car passenger set. There’s so much to love about this set, so let’s just dive right in. 

First, check out that paint scheme. Sticking with the Red-Cross branding, K-Line gave these passenger cars a smooth red finish that meshes wonderfully with the white lettering. The white-painted crosses on the corners of the shell and silver roof also give these cars a great pop, especially if you’re going to run them with an engine wearing the conventional black paint scheme. 

You may have also noticed those funky road names too; with the likes of Louis Pasteur, Walter Reed, and Élie Metchnikoff each being featured on a car. If you’re unfamiliar with these individuals, they were scientists known for their major contributions to medicine and science – in short. 

Released back in 2001, this set has seen another run in production since, and is likely not coming back seeing that the 20th year anniversary wasn’t enough to spark a comeback. That’s ok though, I’ve got the set right here if you want a closer look. There’s also more O-Modern goodies where that came from, so be sure to check out our website. 

Product Info:

Manufacturer: K-Line

Model Number: K4899A

Scale/Era: O Modern

Model Type: Passenger Cars

Lionel 6-33002 Railscope TV

I promised a blast from the past in my introduction, and here it is! The accessory pick this week is throwing it back to the 80s with this Railscope TV from Lionel! It’s a little dated, but how often are you able to get these in almost brand-new condition? Yeah, that’s what I’ve got here – and anything that stands up to father time gets my attention. 

The RailScope TV saw a run of production from 1988-1989, and allowed the user to broadcast a black and white live feed of their locomotive as it rounds the tracks. It’s a charming little product that tickles the nostalgia bone for all of us who grew up with a little tv in the kitchen. Well that little tv is back, and Lionel wants you to show us your trains…in black and white. That’s ok, because for those of you sick of using your smartphones, I now have a solution. Out with the new and in with the old, right? It actually kind of makes sense when you think about our hobby. 

It’s a ton of fun to play with, and if you have younger hobbyists who may not be familiar with this cutting-edge technology, it’s the perfect piece to introduce some “new” old technology into their lives. I’ve only got this one RailScope TV, and the listing can be viewed here. I’ve also got adapters listed here so you have something to power that RailScope TV up. I’ve got more O gauge accessories to go along with the RailScope TV, so be sure to browse the catalog for more goodies. 

Product Info:

Manufacturer: Lionel

Model Number: 6-33002

Years Manufactured: 1988 - 1990

Road Name: **** No Road Name

Scale/Era: O Modern

Model Type: Control & Electrical

Micro-Trains 02100212 N Fallen Flags Freight Car Set

Hot Dog, it’s time for my favorite pick of the week – the budget pick! That’s right, I love helping you add more to your collection without breaking the bank. The search this week was concluded once I stumbled upon this N-Scale set, so here’s one for you N-Scale enthusiasts! I’ve 4 N-Scale freight cars each with their own unique road name bringing variety to collections and layouts. I mean how can you not love the little Billy goat on the Great Northern Car? The very best part about this pick? Well it’s the price, and I promise you won't find a mint set with this quality anywhere else. I won’t tell you how much it is in this post, but if you’d like to be pleasantly surprised, click here. I’ve got plenty for budget N-Scale on our website, so be sure to come check out our catalog. 

Product Info:

Manufacturer: Micro-Trains

Model Number: 02100212

Road Name: Spokane Portland & Seattle (SPS)

Scale/Era: N Scale

Model Type: Freight Cars

 

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