Thomas Klimoski’s HO scale Georgia Northeastern was featured in Great Model Railroads 2020 and several other Model Railroader magazine articles. Tom shot this video that highlights the actions of the GNRR North Local as it switches Argos Cement and the Team Track. The video also showcases his recent weathering of several two bay covered hopper […]
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Remembering Boston & Maine Railroad freight trains
All this month — October 2019 — Classic Trains editors are celebrating the heritage, history, and images of the Boston & Maine Railroad. Please enjoy this photo gallery of images from the David P. Morgan Library archives at Kalmbach Media that include B&M steam-powered freight trains through time. You might also enjoy this B&M history […]
10 gems of layout wisdom
Carl uses red parts of his nos. 342 culvert loader and 345 culvert unloader to accentuate no. 2031 Rock Island Alcos. Carl Rygiewicz The best part of building and operating a layout, irrespective of its size or scale, is realizing how much you have learned and being eager to share a few lessons and insights […]
10 gems of layout wisdom
Carl uses red parts of his nos. 342 culvert loader and 345 culvert unloader to accentuate no. 2031 Rock Island Alcos. Carl Rygiewicz The best part of building and operating a layout, irrespective of its size or scale, is realizing how much you have learned and being eager to share a few lessons and insights […]
Tracklaying: adhesives, nails, or spikes?
Track and roadbed can be fastened to foam insulation board with construction adhesives made for use with the foamboard. Apply a ¼” bead along the center line, use a putty knife to spread it in a thin layer, and press the roadbed down into place. Add weights to hold it while the adhesive sets. Then […]
MBTA begins Foxborough service trial
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority debuts its pilot program offering commuter service to Foxborough, Mass., today as part of its fall revision of commuter train schedules. The Foxborough trains, serving a community which had previously only seen trains for New England Patriots football games and other special events at Gillette Stadium, are being […]
New model trains for the week of October 24, 2019
HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division F-series diesel locomotives. Burlington Northern (Northern Pacific “Pinetree” scheme patchout; F7A, F7B, and F7A-B set in one road number each), Denver & Rio Grande Western (Aspen Gold, silver, and black; F9B in one number; F9A-B set in two numbers), Milwaukee Road (1970s orange and black; F7A in one number and […]
New products from the December 2019 issue of Classic Toy Trains magazine
Conductor’s car: The no. 279-4380 Milwaukee Road lighted caboose from Menards includes an illuminated interior and two alternating LED red marker lights that illuminate with track power. The O gauge caboose is 7 1/2 inches long, and 2 1/2 inches high, and it operates on curves as tight as O-27. Metal wheels and operating couplers […]
Connecticut governor’s plan would cut Metro-North travel times, fund new equipment
HARTFORD, Conn. — Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont wants to reduce Metro-North travel times to and from New York by up to 15 minutes, part of a $5 billion plan to upgrade commuter rail service in the state, the Hartford Courant reports. The commuter-rail plan is part of a larger transportation package, yet to be unveiled, […]
Ask Trains: What equipment was involved in the making of ‘3:10 to Yuma’?
Q: Can you tell me what the train in the movie, “3:10 to Yuma” consisted of? — Frank Latorre, Baltimore A: Regarding the question of the origin of the railroad equipment on both versions of “3:10 to Yuma,” from the website, Obscure Train Movies, I found this information on the original 1957 3:10 to Yuma: […]
Ask Trains: Can train crews turn off crossing gates?
Q: Do train crews have the ability to activate or deactivate crossing lights and gates? — Richard Collingwood, Milan, Ohio A: No. Here’s why: Crossing circuits have set approaches based off of warning time required and maximum speed of the trains. The modern day crossing processors — mini computers inside a crossing gate bungalow (the metal […]
Ask Trains: Why do you see empty container trains headed away from East Coast ports?
Q: One reader recently asked why there were so many empty container trains heading away from the East Coast on railroads? Could it be the West Coast receives more loads and container trains need to be repositioned? — A Trains reader A: That East/Eest balances is one source of empty moves, but there are other […]