Bus arrives at the Depot

Model bus parked at depot

Sometimes more than trains arrive at the depot on model railroad layouts! Here’s a short preview scene of a bus arriving at Maryville Depot, from a video currently in production. Being very new to Stop Motion filming, this was a test and there are a few flaws. This preview also showcases very recent (and yet […]

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In Memoriam: Randy Kennie

RandyKennie

Randy Kennie during his career at Bachmann Trains. Lloyd “Randy” Kennie, a longtime sales manager in the hobby industry, passed away on April 14, 2019. Randy served in the Navy as a Radioman 2nd Class in his younger years. After leaving the military, he worked at several companies in the hobby/crafts industry, including Felix V. […]

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Distributed power braking

TRNAT0916_03

BNSF Railway distributed power pushes an eastbound empty coal train at Hathaway, Mont., in June 2014. Tom Danneman Q In two recent issues, Trains stated that distributed power helps maintain trainline air for brakes. How can this be without giving up lead unit control of the brakes? – Jay Noyes, Lowell, Ind. A In distributed […]

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Illinois DOT bows to opposition on sidings for Hiawatha expansion

Hiawatha_Glenview_Lassen

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Bowing to opposition from the communities of Glenview and Lake Forest, the Illinois Department of Transportation will no longer support plans for two sidings that are part of a plan to increase Amtrak Hiawatha service between Chicago and Milwaukee. Patch.com reports that acting IDOT Secretary Omer Osman said in a letter, released […]

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New model trains for the week of May 16, 2019

Accurail HO scale sssorted freight cars

HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division SDP40F. Amtrak (phase 1 and 3 schemes); Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (blue and yellow warbonnet); and BNSF Ry. (Maersk Sealand in one road number, Santa Fe patchout in two numbers). Four numbers per scheme unless noted. Prototype-specific details, factory-installed and painted wire grab irons, and McHenry scale couplers. Direct-current […]

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Repairs complete on San Francisco transit center

Transbay_Logo

SAN FRANCISCO — Repairs on two cracked beams that led to the closure of the Transbay Transit Center have been completed ahead of schedule, setting the stage for reopening of the $2.2-billion facility. Officials with the Transbay Joint Powers Authority announced Thursday that the repairs were done, KTVU-TV news reports. Previously, the authority had indicated […]

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New model trains for the week of May 9, 2019

Atlas Model Railroad Co. HO scale Railway Express Agency steel express refrigerator car

HO scale locomotives Alco RS-3 diesel locomotive. Chicago & North Western (“Route of the 400” slogan); Central RR of New Jersey (red and white, three road numbers); Delaware & Hudson; Milwaukee Road (orange and black with The Milwaukee Road herald on cab); Providence & Worcester (white, orange, and brown); Rock Island (maroon with white pinstripes); […]

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