CSX ES44DC No. 5254 pulls the Tropicana Juice Train northbound, crossing the Little Manatee River at Ruskin, Fla., on Aug. 30, 2010. Scott Hartley photo […]
Rushin’ through Ruskin
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Bachmann HO scale 2-8-0 steam locomotive
Bachmann HO scale 2-8-0 steam locomotive This Bachmann 2-8-0 is a wonderful scale model to model railroading with steam. It features NMRA- complaint Digital Command Controller decoder and metal details, such as handrails, bells and steam generator. It also has a detailed cab interior and painted cab figures. The tender has a metal ladder and […]
Small freight house drawings in N, HO, S, and O scales
Small freight houses were once a common sight in rural towns across North America. Built in the early 20th century, they provided a link for less-than-carload-lot (LCL) and full carload shipments between the railroad and its local customers. This freight house served Montour Falls, a small community about two miles south of Watkins Glen, N.Y., […]
Richard Steinheimer: A True Artist
The death of Richard Steinheimer on May 4, 2011, closed out a career that, in the world of railroad photography, was unparalleled. Although he came to prominence in an era marked by other great talents, “Stein’s” visual insights, his astonishing technique, and his storytelling abilities were an especially potent combination. His images of railroading in […]
Mountain railroad grade profiles
For railroad builders in North America, a 2.2 percent climb was considered the standard maximum grade for a well-engineered mountain railroad. But why this number? And how did its adoption become so widespread? Using modern-day analysis of some famous mountain railroad grades, Trains Magazine’s September 2011 issue explores the origins and adoption of 2.2 percent […]
ExactRail HO scale depressed-center flatcar
ExactRail HO scale depressed-center flatcar This modern depressed-center flatcar is a recent release from ExactRail that follows the overall lines of prototype cars built by General Steel Industries (GSI) in the 1970s and 1980s. The prototypes featured one-piece, cast-steel underframes that could carry tall loads because the carbody deck is only 23″ above the rails. […]
Kato N scale General Electric U30C diesel locomotive
Kato N scale General Electric U30C diesel locomotive It’s been 20 years since Kato last offered an N scale model of General Electric’s six-axle U30C hood units, and it’s been worth the wait. The new model, retooled under the hood to make it friendlier to Digital Command Control, is a sharp-looking and smooth-performing engine. Keep […]
MTH HO scale ready-to-run train set
MTH HO scale train set Many model railroaders get started in the hobby with a train set. A loop of track, power pack, a locomotive, and rolling stock will have a new model railroader running trains in a matter of minutes. MTH has taken its ready-to-run sets a step further by including its Digital Command […]
Walthers HO scale Meadowhead barn kit
Walthers HO scale Meadowhead barn kit Price: $38.98 ManufacturerWm. K. Walthers Inc.P.O. Box 3039Milwaukee, WI 53201www.walthers.com Era: 1900 to present Comments: If you’re looking for a structure that you can assemble, paint, and weather in one evening, then you’ll want to check out the Walthers HO scale Meadowhead barn kit. The injection-molded plastic kit has […]
The challenges of firing an oil-burner
Firemen on oil-burners like SP 4-8-2 4360 at Pinole, Calif., had to be sure the fuel was not too hot, not too cold, and adequately pressurized. John C. Illman As a fireman of oil-burning steam locomotives on the Southern Pacific during the 1950s (on the Coast, Rio Grande, Western, and Sacramento divisions), I never envied […]
The Readers’ Choice RR urban extension
The Readers’ Choice Railroad adds street trackage and urban switching with this 3 x 8-foot extension to our O gauge layout […]
Craft store finds for toy-train enthusiasts
By the letter (and number) Vinyl letters with self-adhesive backing as well as dry transfers can be used straight from the package or as masks to letter structures, rolling stock, and locomotives. Alphanumeric sets are typically located with the drafting supplies. Additional self-adhesive and dry-transfer letters can be found in the scrapbooking supplies. Mark it […]
