‘Brightline+’ app to enable door-to-door trip ticketing (updated)

Man in suit behind the wheel of bright yellow car

MIAMI — In what company President Patrick Goddard characterizes as “one of the most significant innovations in multimodal mobility,” Florida passenger rail operator Brightline is offering travelers the ability to arrange travel from their point of origin to their ultimate destination, not just buy a train ticket. The first stage of this door-to-door travel will […]

Read More…

‘Silver Meteor’

Passenger train going around curve

Silver Meteor The northbound Amtrak Silver Meteor from Miami rounds Honeymoon Wye on the way into Jacksonville, Fla., on June 16, 1976. A single EMD SDP40F leads the consist on this day. Jack M. Turner photo […]

Read More…

Baldwin ‘Babyface’ locomotives: Diesels that didn’t

Orange and blue streamlined diesel locomotive with freight train under bridge

Baldwin diesel locomotives history Established in the 1830s, Philadelphia’s Baldwin Locomotive Works was one of America’s oldest and largest locomotive builders. Baldwin steam engines were known for their high quality and good looks. But many of its internal combustion efforts could be classified as “diesels that didn’t.” Along with fellow steam builders Alco and Lima, […]

Read More…

Leave trucks loose on model railroad freight cars

A screwdriver tightens a screw holding a truck to the bottom of a green boxcar

Q: I’ve been a reader for several years, but don’t recall reading about the tightness of truck screws before your November issue. In “How to weather a covered cement hopper,” Cody Grivno writes, “One [truck] screw should be tight enough that the truck rotates freely but doesn’t wobble. The other should be loose enough that […]

Read More…

How to cut track

David Popp in the studio

Join David Popp in the studio as he shows you how to tackle the tricky subject of cutting track, demonstrating proper technique and explaining the best tools to use!     […]

Read More…

How to cut track

David Popp in the studio

Join David Popp in the studio as he shows you how to tackle the tricky subject of cutting track, demonstrating proper technique and explaining the best tools to use!     […]

Read More…

How to cut track

David Popp in the studio

Join David Popp in the studio as he shows you how to tackle the tricky subject of cutting track, demonstrating proper technique and explaining the best tools to use!     […]

Read More…

Weeping Norway spruce

A spruce on a garden railroad

Common name: Weeping Norway spruce 
Latin name: Picea abies ‘Pendula’ Plant type: dwarf conifer USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-8 Cultural needs: Moist, well drained, slightly acidic soil; sun to part shade Plant height: 18″ if prostrate; 10-12′ if staked Dark, evergreen needles on drooping soft branches make weeping Norway spruce an attractive specimen tree. Garden railroaders […]

Read More…