The Making of Tom Miller’s Fabulous F-scale Layout

Kevin Strong The Making of Tom Miller’s Fabulous F-scale LayoutPacific Vista Publishing, LLCPO Box 220 Newberg OR 97132Running time: Approx. 3 hoursPrice: $34.95 plus shippingWeb site: www.pacificvistapublishing.com If you’ve been reading the model-railroad press over the past two years, you’ve undoubtedly encountered an article on Tom Miller’s 1:20.3-scale indoor railroad (Garden Railways featured it in […]

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Trainmax “Bark Box”

Subscriber extraSee Vance Bass’ video of this device! Vance Bass Trainmax “Bark Box”R&R Train Company2459 OdinNew Orleans LA 70122Price: $100-$125, depending on model (+ s&h)Web site: www.trainsales.com/barkbox.htm Smokebox resonator to enhance exhaust sound of live-steam locomotives; available for a number of popular gas-fired locomotives Pros: Remarkable increase in volume and depth of steam exhaust sounds; […]

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How Genesee & Wyoming deploys its 583 locomotives

St. Lawrence & Atlantic

Genesee & Wyoming-owned St. Lawrence & Atlantic units congregate at Danville Junction, Maine, in August 2006. Matt Martin In Trains June 2010 issue, we told you how a 14-mile New York short line became a holding company with 62 railroads. How does Genesee & Wyoming manage its power? As of spring 2010, Genesee & Wyoming […]

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Chesapeake & Ohio in the West Virginia coal fields

Eastern coal railroads issued maps of coal mines they served for the information of customers. This map (redrawn for clarity) shows C&O’s New River and Kanawha (Ka-NAW) Districts in 1966. their common border marks the divide between high and low volatile coal measures, an important distinction that determines whether coal is used to make coke […]

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Intermodal trains per day in 1984

Intermodal haulage on railroads initially resembled loose-car railroading: Cities of varying sizes had ramps that originated a few flatcars, which were added to merchandise freights. A trucker, though, could beat that service easily. Larger cities generated solid intermodal trains, but the cost of terminals, equipment, and operations made the business lucrative only in lanes of […]

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High green, but no go

As the sun rises over a brutal Chicago morning, Wisconsin Central train T045 stares at a clear signal at Chatham Ave. at CSX’s Barr Yard. The train’s air is slow to come up on a -20 Jan. 17, 1997. William M. Beecher Jr. photo […]

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Camera Lenses and Railroad Photos

California Zephyr

With a normal lens, the photographer takes a photo of the westward California Zephyr running through the Feather River Canyon in east-central California on the Western Pacific Railroad in summer 1968. Thomas Taylor With a normal lens, the photographer takes a shot of Operator Art Simmons putting his feet up at Canadian Pacific Railway’s West […]

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An Amtrak special move

An Amtrak special move, with private car Ohio River at the back, rolls along Canadian Pacific’s former Delaware & Hudson main line on Sept. 4, 2009. The train is on its way from Albany, N.Y., to Railfest 2009 in Scranton, Pa. Jim Conroy photo […]

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MR Insider: A Memorable MR Moment with Gerry Leone

Gerry Leone

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In celebration of Model Railroader magazine’s upcoming 1000th issue, we’ve captured candid comments and memorable moments straight from the staff and employees who helped the leading hobby resource reach this publishing milestone. MRVP Contributing Editor Gerry Leone shares a story. […]

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How to build a paper structure

While David and Co. continue construction on the N scale project layout, Steve Sweeney shares his techniques for assembling a cardstock house kit. Follow along, as Steve walks and talks you through all of the essential tools, supplies, and processes — start to finish!   […]

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How to build a paper structure

While David and Co. continue construction on the N scale project layout, Steve Sweeney shares his techniques for assembling a cardstock house kit. Follow along, as Steve walks and talks you through all of the essential tools, supplies, and processes — start to finish!   […]

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Micro-Mark HO scale Wheel Tuner

Micro Mark HO scale Wheel Tuner

Micro Mark HO scale Wheel Tuner For around $10, I can’t think of anything that improves the rolling characteristics of freight cars better. I’ve recently upgraded some of my older rolling stock to metal wheelsets. Invariably the replacements are slightly different in width causing some binding, similarly some RTR stuff also has varying degrees of […]

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