A key connection

A southbound Norfolk & Western freight train approaches the Southern Railway junction at Front Royal, Va., in this undated photo. The junction here will become a key connection when N&W and Southern merge to form the Norfolk Southern Railway in 1982. Photo by Michael S. Murray […]

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Atlas HO dash 8-40C diesel Locomotive

Atlas HO dash 8-40C diesel Locomotive

Atlas HO dash 8-40C diesel Locomotive I just purchased two Atlas Series Dash 8-40C diesel electric locomotives in Direct-Current version in Union Pacific colors. I went shopping for a mixture of second and third generation Union Pacific motive power to handle coal trains and manifest freight cars on my Bayou Division, since UP has trackage […]

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A modeler’s guide to USRA locomotives

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The United States Railroad Administration ordered the construction of 675 light Mikados, more than any other USRA type. This Trix HO scale New York Central version is very close to the original design. Its main differences are the front and rear footboards and the extended coal bunker. Click on the links to download the prototype […]

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The Life and Times of Nickel Plate Road No. 765

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With its restoration complete but its boiler jacket incomplete, Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 No. 765 tests on Sept. 20, 1979. Wayne York, Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society With its restoration complete but its boiler jacket incomplete, Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 No. 765 tests on Sept. 20, 1979. Wayne York, Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society With […]

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O gauge Erie GP9 by Lionel

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This is the ultra-basic Lionel Geep of olden times updated with electronics under the hood. No see-through screens, no add-on grab irons, no crew figures, no smoke unit. Everything that can be said about the exterior of the model has probably been said. It is a decent representation of the real thing, but not a […]

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O gauge Santa Fe Vision Line 2-10-10-2 by Lionel

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Okay, I’m scratching my head with this one. Years back, when I first read the story of the Santa Fe 3000-series 2-10-10-2s, I thought something like, “Why’d they do something crazy like that?” When I took this Lionel model out of the box, as Yogi Berra said, “It was deja vu all over again.” The […]

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Broadway Limited Imports HO scale Baldwin Centipede

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Broadway Limited Imports HO scale Baldwin Centipede The “baby-faced” good looks of Baldwin’s DR-12-8-1500/2 diesel, nicknamed “Centipede” for its long row of driver axles, are captured in Broadway Limited Imports’ new HO scale diesel. Though the prototype proved unreliable, BLI’s model is a smooth performer. Each unit in our sample A-A set is equipped with […]

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Rapido Trains HO scale Osgood Bradley coach

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Rapido Trains HO scale Osgood Bradley coach The distinct paired-window, early lightweight Pullman Standard/Osgood Bradley streamlined coaches have long been sought-after by New Haven and Boston & Maine fans. Highly detailed models of these cars in accurate era-specific configurations are now available in plastic in HO scale from Rapido Trains in multiple road numbers. Rapido’s Osgood […]

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Summit Customcuts HO scale manufactured home

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Summit Customcuts HO scale manufactured home Price: $34.95 ManufacturerSummit USA LLC512 Ford St.Lake Charles, LA 70601www.summit-customcuts.com Era: modern Comments: A contemporary manufactured home is the latest kit available from Summit Customcuts. The model would look great in a residential or rural area on a modern-era layout. The laser-milled styrene kit includes roofing material and clear […]

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Athearn Trains N scale Gunderson Husky Stack

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Athearn Trains N scale Gunderson Husky Stack Either as a standalone car or drawbar connected in multiples of three or four, the Gunderson Husky Stack is a common double-stack container car that’s available as a ready-to-run N scale model from Athearn. The N scale Husky Stack features an impressive amount of separately applied detail parts […]

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Micro-Trains N scale 42-foot stockcar with cattle chute kit

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Micro-Trains N scale 42-foot stockcar with cattle chute kit Price: $17.70 ManufacturerMicro-Trains Line Co.P.O. Box 1200Talent, OR 97540www.micro-trains.com Era: 1947 to 1969 Comments: Laser-cut scenic accessories are now being included with some Micro-Trains freight cars. One of the first of these sets is a 42-foot New York Central stockcar with a cattle chute kit. The chute […]

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