Remembering the Nickel Plate Road

As an eastbound clears in the distance, Nickel Plate 779, Lima’s last 2-8-4, and a sister placed five cars back because of bridge weight restrictions, leave NH Tower near North East, Pa., in March 1957.

As an eastbound clears in the distance, Nickel Plate 779, Lima’s last 2-8-4, and a sister placed five cars back because of bridge weight restrictions, leave NH Tower near North East, Pa., in March 1957. Jim Shaughnessy History and major events of the Nickel Plate Road The New York, Chicago & St. Louis opened between […]

Read More…

Research sources for prototype railroad information

CNW Crystal Lake 1960s

Not everyone has a fabulous railroad library to work from, but the library at the Model Railroader offices didn’t get me as far as you’d think. Following is a short list of places I’ve found amazing stuff when looking for research: • Most railroads have a historical society, so it’s good to have an up-to-date […]

Read More…

A busy urban model railroad

HO scale Canadian Pacific Montreal Terminals_01

  Prototype operations weren’t the focus of many model railroaders when I started work on my HO scale layout in 1988. But I had a clear vision of an operations-oriented layout that would depict the Canadian Pacific Ry.’s Montreal Terminals Division in Canada’s second largest city in the late 1960s. That was when I spent […]

Read More…

A young railfan’s “lucky mistake”

NYC4208

Not a Berkshire, but not bad: New York Central PA diesel No. 4208 and an unidentified PB hurry through Willoughby, Ohio, on Dec. 19, 1954. J. W. Swanberg I grew up in Connecticut, but my parents came from Minnesota, so all our relatives were there. Dad drove us to the Twin Cities at least once a […]

Read More…

Southern Pacific’s Golden State meets the Sunset Limited

Gadsden Pacific Toy Train Museum

Name: Robert Mayer Forum User Name: bobntrains Railroad Name: San Diego 3 Railers, Paradise & Pacific, Gadsden Pacific Toy Train Museum Location: San Diego Ca., Scottsdale Az., Tucson Az. Scale: O Theme: Southwest Description: This video takes the viewer on a journey with Southern Pacific’s Golden State and Sunset Limited through the southwest. […]

Read More…

Southern Pacific’s Golden State meets the Sunset Limited

Gadsden Pacific Toy Train Museum

Name: Robert Mayer Forum User Name: bobntrains Railroad Name: San Diego 3 Railers, Paradise & Pacific, Gadsden Pacific Toy Train Museum Location: San Diego Ca., Scottsdale Az., Tucson Az. Scale: O Theme: Southwest Description: This video takes the viewer on a journey with Southern Pacific’s Golden State and Sunset Limited through the southwest. […]

Read More…

Remembering Pennsylvania Railroad locomotives

A close up black and white photo of a PRR 1737

Classic Trains editors are celebrating the heritage, history, and lore of famed (and infamous) railroads. In January 2020, we celebrate the Pennsylvania Railroad. Please enjoy a collection of locomotive images located in the David P. Morgan Library archives at Kalmbach Media that include the Pennsy’s iconic locomotives and classic scenic photos. You might also enjoy […]

Read More…

A model railroad that turns the clock back to 1895

MRR012720Stockton01

Why would anyone model the Stockton & Copperopolis, an obscure short line with a name that sounds made up? Or model this little-known prototype in the 1890s? Most importantly, would it be practical to build it as a large, prototypically faithful model railroad capable of realistic operation and equip it with authentic locomotives and rolling […]

Read More…

2020 Railroad Hobby Show report

logoamherstrailroadshow300x214

The 2020 Amherst Railway Society Railroad Hobby Show is being held Jan. 25 and 26 at The Eastern States Exposition Fairgrounds in West Springfield, Mass. The two-day show, now in its 52nd year, features model railroad manufacturers, railroad historical societies, vendors, and clinics. Athearn Genesis 2.0 HO scale EMD SD80MAC diesel locomotive HO scale locomotives […]

Read More…