February 2011

Trains magazine covers the broad spectrum of railroading with authoritative content, dazzling photography, and a mix of content designed to appeal to everyone from the casual enthusiast to the seasoned professional railroader. Trains offers something for everyone who has a spark for railroading: Railroad news, insight, and commentary on today’s freight railroads, passenger service, transit, […]

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Garden Railways to cease publication

For more than 35 years, Garden Railways has been the leading magazine devoted to the hobby of outdoor model railroading. While we remain committed to serving garden railroaders, we regret to announce that we are discontinuing publication of Garden Railways magazine. The Fall 2020 issue will be the last. However, the Garden Railways brand will […]

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Remembering the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad

No. 3612, from D&RGW’s last group of 2-8-8-2 steam locomotives (Alco, 1927), pushes near Winter Park, Colo., in October 1956, deep twilight for Grande standard-gauge steam. Ed Gerlits History and major events of the Denver & Rio Grande Western In the American tradition, a railroad is conceived by noble men for noble purposes: to develop […]

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Alco S2 switcher from MTH Electric Trains

O gauge Alco S-2 switcher from MTH Electric Trains Price: $459.95 (20-20891-1) Cmd low: 2.0 smph Cnv low: 3.5 smph High speed: 66.1 smph Drawbar pull: 1 pound Features: O-31 operation, ProtoSound 3.0 command and sound system, two can-style motors, smoke unit, remote couplers, crew figures, and interior cab decoration. Current-production road names: Akron, Canton […]

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Scratchbuild a freight truck

Mike Lafond Figure 1 Mike Lafond Photo 1 Printed templates glued on the aluminum. I left the templates stuck on the alumimum until I had drilled out all the holes. I “cheated” here and used a bandsaw to cut these pieces from the main sheet. The two upper pieces are the outer bolster parts, cut […]

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How to host an open house of your garden railroad

Sharing our railroads with others is perhaps one of the most rewarding aspects of garden railroading. Andy, age three, knows the way, even without the sign. Kevin Strong If a train is running, kids will follow it. Here, a K-27 leads a parade of young future railroaders around the yard. At least they’ll sleep well. […]

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FRA’s Batory testifies before Congress on crew sizes, PSR, and Positive Train Control NEWSWIRE

Train length is an issue that Congress is interested in. These Union Pacific trains are meeting at Nunn, Colo. Trains: Jim Wrinn WASHINGTON — During an at times testy hearing on Capitol Hill Thursday, congress members peppered Federal Railroad Administration administrator Ron Batory about Precision Scheduled Railroading, Positive Train Control, and the recently dismissed crew […]

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America’s transit challenge: Part I NEWSWIRE

Blue Line train from O’Hare to downtown Chicago travels along the center divider of Interstate 90, the Kennedy Expressway, on April 13, 2019. TRAINS: David Lassen This article is the first of five on transit in the U.S., and North America. Read parts Two, Three, Four, and Five online. Across the U.S., cities have added […]

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More ideas for kid-friendly garden railroading

More ideas for kid-friendly garden railroading   Don’t miss the companion article, Kid-friendly garden railroading. How have you made a difference for kids in railways? Zones are USDA Hardiness Zones This longer version of Regional gardening reports from “Greening your railway” (Summer 2019 issue) includes nine reports, many photos and a variety of themes. Some […]

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