St. Paul Union Depot — Another great Amtrak station

St. Paul Union Depot is a 105 year-old grand structure in the heart of downtown St. Paul, Minn. In the early 20th century, it was the transportation center for this entire area. Then, like many depots in America, it fell on hard times. But today it’s been restored and remodeled. Now, it’s not only a […]

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How to disassemble a locomotive in HO scale

Hands pulling apart a locomotive from its shell.

How to disassemble a locomotive without damaging it and then reassembling it is one of the more advanced tasks of a model railroader. Some people just want to see the inside of the locomotive, while more often, there’s a circuit board that needs repair or replacement, gears that need lubricating, or a faulty wire or […]

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Amtrak Midwest Venture car adventure

In August of 2022, Trains.com staff had a chance to travel from Chicago, Ill., to St. Louis, Mo., along the Illinois Hi-speed Rail corridor. For this trip, riders were treated to the newest equipment operating in the Amtrak Midwest fleet, Siemens-built Venture coaches. Discover some of the major (and subtle ones too!) features these coaches […]

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Amtrak Midwest Venture car adventure

In August of 2022, Trains.com staff had a chance to travel from Chicago, Ill., to St. Louis, Mo., along the Illinois Hi-speed Rail corridor. For this trip, riders were treated to the newest equipment operating in the Amtrak Midwest fleet, Siemens-built Venture coaches. Discover some of the major (and subtle ones too!) features these coaches […]

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The Lionel Acela exposed

The Lionel Acela exposed

  “The Lionel Acela exposed” was originally published in the May 2013 Classic Toy Trains. Noted Kalmbach illustrator Rick Johnson produced numerous cutaway illustrations for various brands during his career, but few were this detailed. Along with text by toy train mechanical expert Matt Troester and based on photography by Bill Zuback, this is a […]

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Amtrak insider travel tips from Marc Magliari

Trains.com Director David Popp sits down with Amtrak spokesperson Marc Magliari for a casual conversation about traveling aboard Amtrak’s Empire Builder, one of America’s premiere, long-distance passenger trains. On the Empire Builder route between Chicago, Ill., and Seattle, Wash./Portland, Ore., passengers get to experience bustling urban centers and the natural beauty of two mountain ranges. […]

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Amtrak insider travel tips from Marc Magliari

Trains.com Director David Popp sits down with Amtrak spokesperson Marc Magliari for a casual conversation about traveling aboard Amtrak’s Empire Builder, one of America’s premiere, long-distance passenger trains. On the Empire Builder route between Chicago, Ill., and Seattle, Wash./Portland, Ore., passengers get to experience bustling urban centers and the natural beauty of two mountain ranges. […]

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Amtrak Hiawatha adventure in 2022

Discover just how easy and affordable it is to travel about the United States by passenger train! In this video you’ll see why the Chicago, Ill., to Milwaukee, Wis., route, serviced by Amtrak’s multiple daily Hiawatha trains, is one of the most popular in the nation! The Hiawatha service provides easy access for those living […]

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Superliner dining on Amtrak

Amtrak Empire Dining

A significant part of the Amtrak long-distance service centers around the onboard dining experience. Rightfully so, as there’s nothing better than enjoying a good meal paired with stunning scenery! When traveling on Amtrak’s premier long-distance trains, sleeping car passengers are provided with complimentary meals in the dining car, including breakfast, lunch and dinner. Amtrak’s website […]

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