D&RGW L-131 break-in run

United/PFM Denver & Rio Grande Western L-131 2-8-8-2 brass locomotive

After some repairs, paint, and decals, Corey Bonsall took his new-to-him United/PFM Denver & Rio Grande Western L-131 2-8-8-2 brass locomotive for a run on his local club’s layout. […]

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Volcanoes DO belong on layouts

Model of a volcano

There is a cartoon on page 81 of the November 2017 Model Railroader which seems to say that a volcano can’t be put on a model railroad layout. Our model railroad club (South Hills Model RR Club) uses the free-mo modular standards for the layout that we assemble for shows and we DO have a […]

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New model trains for the week of October 5, 2017

Atlas Model Railroad Co. HO scale standard- and wide-cupola cabooses

HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division SDP40F diesel locomotive. Amtrak (phase I and II schemes). Four road numbers each. Road-number-specific details, detailed cab interior, and factory-installed and painted wire grab irons. Direct-current model with 21-pin connector for Digital Command Control decoder, $219.99; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound decoder, $309.98. September 2018. Genesis series. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, […]

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Open-hearth light show: Benwood at night

steelmillnight

A steel mill at night, like this one in the Pittsburgh area, was an unforgettable sight. Baltimore & Ohio At night the atmosphere in many railroad yards was completely different than it is during the daytime. Although few railroaders would admit it, there were scenes that pleased both the eye and the psyche: The colors […]

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O gauge F7 diesel from Atlas O

red and silver model locomotive

O gauge F7 diesel from Atlas O Price: $499.95 (No. 30134013) Min Curve: O-36 (A unit), O-45 (B unit) Cmd Low: 4 smph Cnv Low: 9.9 smph High: 71 smph Drawbar pull: 1 lb., 6 oz. Features: Two can-style motors, Lionel TrainMaster Command System, Electric Railroad Co. Cruise Commander speed control, smoke unit, alternate scale […]

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O gauge GE AC4400CW from MTH Electric Trains

northern_pacific

O gauge GE AC4400CW from MTH Electric Trains Price: $499.95 (no. 20-20641-1) Min Curve: O-42 Cmd Low: 2.89 smph Cnv Low: 3.8 smph High: 54 smph Drawbar pull: 1 lb., 12 oz. Features: Two can-style motors, ProtoSound 3.0 command and sound system, smoke unit Current road names: BNSF, CSX, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern, Union […]

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South Dakota rail line

TRNAT1115_03

In May 1995, a westbound Dakota Southern freight with a (former Long Island) Alco C420 and an SD7 rolls slowly into the setting sun, west of Chamberlain, S.D. Tom Danneman Q The line in Chamberlain, S.D., was abandoned, I thought, but coal cars with BNSF markings are sitting in various parts of the line. Is […]

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Video: ScaleTrainscom HO scale SD40-2

ScaleTrains.com HO scale SD40-2 diesel locomotive

This HO scale SD40-2 from ScaleTrains.com is part of the firm’s Rivet Counter series. Our Norfolk Southern version features an admiral cab and bristles with other roadname-specific detail. The HO scale diesel locomotive also came factory equipped with an ESU LokSound decoder. Follow along as senior editor Dana Kawala uses the SD40-2 to work a […]

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Video: ScaleTrainscom HO scale SD40-2

ScaleTrains.com HO scale SD40-2 diesel locomotive

This HO scale SD40-2 from ScaleTrains.com is part of the firm’s Rivet Counter series. Our Norfolk Southern version features an admiral cab and bristles with other roadname-specific detail. The HO scale diesel locomotive also came factory equipped with an ESU LokSound decoder. Follow along as senior editor Dana Kawala uses the SD40-2 to work a […]

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