ASK TRAINS: Why Big Boy’s bell is painted red on the inside

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Union Pacific Big Boy 4-8-8-4 No. 4014 pauses overnight at Rawlins, Wyo., in May 2019. Big Boy’s bell is painted red to keep it looking clean and well-kept. 19143-50 Ryan Nicolay Q: Why are the insides of the bells on Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 No. 4014 and 4-8-4 No. 844 painted red? — Scott Zygutis, Antioch, […]

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2019 National Train Show report, part 2

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Athearn HO scale Electro-Motive Division SD70ACe diesel locomotive. Pre-production sample shown. HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division SD70ACe diesel locomotive. Pre-production sample shown. Union Pacific (George Bush 41 Presidential Library and Museum). One road number (2018 version with black radiator fan housings). Removable cab roof secured with magnets, light-emitting-diode headlights and ditch lights, and commemorative box. […]

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Rapido Trains HO scale Santa Fe rebuilt RDC set

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Rapido Trains HO Santa Fe rebuilt RDC set The two motors are concealed by the housings between the painted seats. Overhead lighting is provided by LEDs on the printed circuit board. For the first time in plastic the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Ry.’s rebuilt pair of Budd Rail Diesel Cars (RDCs) are available in […]

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Quick Look: Fox Valley Models N scale Pullman-Standard coal gondola

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Fox Valley Models N scale Pullman-Standard coal gondola Price: Single car, $27.95; six-pack, $159.95 Manufacturer Fox Valley Models P.O. Box 1970 Des Plaines, IL 60017 www.foxvalleymodels.com Era: 1975 to present (as decorated) Road names: Burlington Northern (four six-packs), Cajon Electric Power (three six-packs), and Fayette Power (three six-packs and one single car) Comments: Modeling unit […]

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‘737’ aircraft bodies still being made, traveling by train

The worldwide grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX fleet in the wake of two fatal crashes has not stopped rail shipments of new fuselages from Kansas to Washington State via BNSF Railway and regional Montana Rail Link. Boeing has curtailed production of the 737 MAX for the duration of the grounding, which is related to […]

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‘Broadway Limited’ rolls again as temporary addition to Amtrak’s ‘Pennsylvanian’

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Former Pennsylvania Railroad observation car Frank Thompson, carried the tailsign or drumhead for the Broadway Limited for a portion of a recent trip as part of a weekend New York-Pittsburgh excursion. Three former Pennsy streamlined cars made the journey coupled as part of Amtrak’s daily Pennsylvanian service. The Thompson car is shown at the Amtrak […]

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WalthersMainline HO scale chop-nose GP9

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The GP9 (CNW sample shown) has drill-starter points for grab irons. Walthers offers a detail kit for the model separately. The layout of the components under the shell is pretty typical, with the printed-circuit board and decoder located above the motor and flywheel. The chop-nose GP9 is equipped with light-emitting-diode headlights. A newly tooled chop-nose […]

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New Menards products at the International Toy Train Expo

International Toy Train Expo

In early July, Classic Toy Trains traveled to the International Toy Train Expo in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The show is sponsored by Menards, Kalmbach Media, Model Train Classics LLC, and Operation Lifesaver. This video includes a sneak peek at upcoming Menards O gauge products — and much more! […]

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