December 2003 • Volume 9, Issue 12 • The NewsMonthly for Model Railroaders
Happy Holidays from Model Railroad News! The December 2003 issue features the following reviews & columns:
	• USA Trains’ Alco PA/PB Diesel Locomotives in Large (1:29) Scale • Kadee’s Pullman Standard PS-2 Covered Hopper in HO Scale • E-R Model’s Roco DR Class Express Steam Locomotive in HO Scale • Wiking’s Massey Ferguson 8280 Tractor in N Scale • Nu-Line Structures’ Santa Fe Station Kit in N Scale • Atlas Model Railroad Co.’s 1920s Era Bungalow-Style House in HO Scale • Hundman Publishing’s The South Park Line book review Our Annual Train Set Reviews listed individually below • Aristo-Craft Trains’ Passenger Starter Set in G Scale • USA Trains’ NW2 Train Set in G Scale • Lionel’s World of Disney Train Set in O Scale • S-Helper Service’s CB&W Six-car Set in S Scale • Athearn’s John Deere Holiday Train Set in HO Scale • Model Power’s American Classic, Bumble Bee, & Evening Star Sets in HO Scale • Bachmann’s Special Forces, North Pole Express, & Highballer-UP Sets in HO Scale • Life-Like’s “Branch Line” in HO Scale & “Little Joe” in N Scale • Kato’s F3 Train Set with Unitrack Santa Fe Early Diesel Freight Train in N Scale • Märklin’s King Ludwig Starter Set in Z Scale
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Reviews
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	USA Trains’ Alco PA/PB Diesel Locomotives in Large (1:29) Scale Review and photos by John Sipple Deck your garden with Warbonnet Alcos! Find out about the prototype, and about the model’s appearance, operation, and details in this month’s front page review.
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	Kadee’s Pullman Standard PS-2 Covered Hopper in HO Scale Review and photos by Stuart Thayer Kadee’s long-awaited covered 2-bay hopper has finally arrived. Find out about the prototype, and specific detailing of this model in this issue’s front page review.
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	E-R Model’s Roco DR Class Express Steam Locomotive in HO Scale Review by David Otte • Photos by John Sipple Part II of a two part series — The Locomotive. E-R Model’s DR Class 18 201 Express Steam Locomotive is reviewed just in time for Christmas. Read both reviews to see the depth of Roco’s commitment to the DCC experience, and about the prototype information, model details, and operation of this model steam locomotive.
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	Our Annual December Train Set Reviews This year, our theme is “A Start In The Hobby,” and we reviewed 14 sets from G to Z scale to help with your holiday shopping. Read this month’s issue for details including accessories, power supply, track, and anything additional needed to set up your new train set. Whatever your scale size or price range, we’ve got something to give you “A Start In The Hobby.” Each set is listed individually below.
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	Aristo-Craft Trains’ 0-4-0 Passenger Starter Set in G Scale Review and photos by John Sipple This Christmas Set includes Artisto-Craft’s Crest Basic Train Engineering remote control system with the colorful loco and cars, all running on their solid brass track.Get details on the locos, cars, remote control, coupler and track, and packaging, all found in this review.
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	USA Trains’ NW2 Train Set in G Scale Review and photos by John Sipple USA Trains’ NW2 Train Set features a Santa Fe switcher, a wood reefer, and a red caboose, all employing solid brass track and a Chicago Models power pack. Read about the NW2 loco, reefer, caboose, track, and power pack in our December issue.
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	Lionel’s World of Disney Train Set in O Scale Review and photos by David Otte Right from the first look, the box tells you this set is both Lionel and Disney, making a winning combination. Discover delightful details about the loco, boxcar, vat car, lighted caboose, and accessories in this review of Lionel’s World of Disney train set.
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	S-Helper Service’s CB&W Six-car Set in S Scale Review and photos by John Sipple Take a closer look at S Scale in this review of S-Helper Service’s CB&Q SW1 Six-car set which includes an EMD SW1 diesel switcher, a 2 bay hopper, a stock car, boxcar, trailer on flat car, 3-bay hopper, and a caboose. Find out about this set’s quality and performance in this month’s issue.
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	Athearn’s John Deere Holiday Train Set in HO Scale Review and photos by John Sipple Athearn’s John Deere Holiday Train Set reaches out to both children and collectors. Find out about the fantasy John Deere paint scheme, track layout, power pack, and more in this review.
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	Model Power’s American Classic, Bumble Bee, & Evening Star Sets in HO Scale Review and photos by J.L. Sipple Model Power offers three budget-priced HO sets for the holidays, including the American Classic Set, featuring a Santa Fe warbonnet diesel; the Bumble Bee Set, featuring a Plymouth diesel switcher; and the Evening Star Set, featuring a Santa Fe steam switcher. Find out more about these economical sets in this month’s issue.
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	Bachmann’s Special Forces, North Pole Express, & Highballer-UP Sets in HO Scale Review and photos by John Sipple Bachmann celebrates the holidays with Christmas and military themes with its Special Forces, North Pole Express, and Highballer-Union Pacific sets. Bachmann understands what children like, and no doubt one of these sets will appeal to the child in you. Find out more details in our December 2003 issue.
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	Life-Like’s “Branch Line” in HO Scale & “Little Joe” in N Scale Review and photos by John Sipple Life-Like has produced “Branch Line,” a Santa Fe diesel freight set in HO scale, and “Little Joe,” a Santa Fe Steam Switcher freight set in N scale. Both are train set samples in our budget category, while Life-Like does make more expensive sets, these are both a good way to begin a hobby. See more in our train set reviews.
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	Kato’s F3 Train Set with Unitrack Santa Fe Early Diesel Freight Train in N Scale Review and photos by John Sipple Kato USA has created a high-quality train set by combining an F3 diesel loco, four cars, and their easy-to-assembly Unitrack. Find out more about the loco, cars, track, and performance, all in this review.
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	Märklin’s King Ludwig Starter Set in Z Scale Review and photos by John Sipple Märklin has been producing small trains for over a century. This set portrays the Royal Bavarian State Railroad and the remarkable castle built for Bavarian King Ludwig II between 1869 and 1886. Neuschwanstein Castle is a national treasure of the German people — see if this train set in Z scale could be a treasure of yours after reading this review.
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	Wiking’s Massey Ferguson 8280 Tractor in N Scale Review by Bill Cawthon • Photos by John Sipple Wiking-Modellbau has produced a Massey Ferguson 8280 Tractor in N scale. Find out about the prototypes in this review, and see if Wiking’s agricultural vehicles could spark your rural modern-era farm layout.
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	Nu-Line Structures’ Santa Fe Station Kit in N Scale Review and photos by Rich Cobb Nu-Line’s kit is a model of the Santa Fe station in Azusa, California, and includes three photos of the station at different time periods. Get model details along with instructions and hints on how you can put together an excellent station after reading our review.
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	Atlas Model Railroad Co.’s 1920s Era Bungalow-Style House in HO Scale Review and photos by John Sipple Atlas has released “Barb’s Bungalow” - a bungalow-style house in a pre-assembled, pre-painted form, ready to be installed on your layout. See if these built-up kits would be a welcome addition to your HO neighborhood, and get inspiration from the prototype and model details, all found in this review.
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	Hundman Publishing’s The South Park Line by Mallory Hope Ferrell Book review by Jeff Saxton The South Park Line is the latest from Mallory Hope Ferrell, covering the rise and fall of the Denver, South Park & Pacific as it overcame tremendous obstacles progressing through the Rocky Mountains. Narrow gauge devotees may find a welcome place on their bookshelf for this new book.
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	Editorial online Click to read and respond to this month's Editorial Number 6522 by John Sipple e-mail Editor John Sipple at Editorial@modelrailroadnews.com
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	Teen Association of Model Railroaders (TAMR) A Column by Peter Maurath The 2003 Payne Awards Read about the ever-popular, and warmly-accepted 2003 Payne Awards in this month's column. e-mail TAMR tamr@modelrailroadnews.com visit TAMR www.tamr.org
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	S-Curves A column by Roy Hoffman First S Curves Train Set Guide Read our lineup of S Scale train sets for 2003 in this month's issue e-mail Roy at Scurves@modelrailroadnews.com
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	Thinking of DCC A Column Moderated by John Sipple How Many DCC locomotives is enough for one modeler? John answers this quandry in this month's column. e-mail your comments to dcc@modelrailroadnews.com
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	Letters online Read all the letters that appear in our December 2003 issue. We welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions. We want to hear from you! Click on Letters
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	Events & Activities online This monthly department is packed with plenty of model railroading events and activities. Make plans to attend one in your area. You’ll be glad you did. Read this month's Events, or send us your Event info.
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	Classified Ads online Model Railroad News offers free noncommercial classified ads. This is a great way to let modelers know what you need or have for sale. Pick up a copy of Model Railroad News and send in your free classified ad today. Click on Classified Ads to read this month's ads, and for more details.
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Check out this and many other train posters at AllPosters.comSearch for "trains" Howard Fogg's Trains Buy this 2004 Calendar at AllPosters.com