British vs. U.S. practices

LondonNorthEasternClassD49

A former London & North Eastern Class D49 4-4-0 displays the British-style method of securing the smokebox door and using buffers with couplers. Kenneth G. Williamson Q Why did British steam locomotives use a center-locking device on the smokebox and buffers with link and chain for car coupling? How did U.S. railroads do it differently? […]

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New model trains for the week of July 10, 2018

Bowser Manufacturing Co. HO scale Bowser 70-ton two-bay covered hopper

HO scale freight cars 50-foot single-sheathed boxcars. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (single steel doors and Dreadnaught ends); Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (double steel doors and auto door end); Missouri Pacific (double wood doors and auto door end); Northern Pacific (double steel doors and auto door end); and Texas & Pacific (double steel doors and […]

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Troubleshooting vintage O gauge locomotives

Troubleshooting vintage O gauge locomotives

Troubleshooting vintage O gauge locomotives isn’t difficult. There are some common issues to look for when they won’t run, and most are fairly easy to fix. It happens to all of us sooner or later. You place your favorite vintage locomotive on the track, power up the transformer, and the darn thing just sits there, […]

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New model trains for the week of July 5, 2018

Wm. K. Walthers Inc. HO scale Electro-Motive Division Phase II GP9 with low short hood

Electro-Motive Division GP50 diesel locomotive. BNSF Ry. (Heritage III, three road numbers), and Genesee & Wyoming (Indiana & Ohio and Toledo, Peoria & Western; two numbers each), Illinois Central (black, one number), and Union Pacific (four numbers). Roadnumber-specific details, light-emitting-diode headlights, and vinyl m.u. hoses. Direct-current model with 21-pin connector for Digital Command Control decoder, […]

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Debuting the Emma Nevada

Train on a garden railroad

Name: Mark Kimball Railroad Name: M&P RR Location: Midwest Scale: 1:29 standard gauge Theme: Short Line Description: M&P RR, a standard gauge short line in the Black Hills, has a replica of Disney Animator Ward Kimball’s Emma Nevada (a Bachmann Mogul). Just got battery power, and AirWire control, out for its first spin. […]

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Baltimore & Ohio, circa 1950

TRNM1118

Here’s a rare chance to look at a Trains map before it appears in the magazine. This foldout map was originally scheduled to appear in the July issue, in time for the Baltimore & Ohio’s 190th anniversary, but as occasionally happens, outside forces intervened (in this case, short hospital stays for both the mapmaker and […]

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Amtrak’s P40s

AmtrakGenesisP40AMD103

Amtrak P40s that didn’t make the first cut for rebuilding wait their turn in Bear, Del., on June 7, 2010. Bob Johnston Q Whatever became of Amtrak’s P40s? They were numbered in the 800 series and looked very similar to the P42s in service today. What’s the difference between them? Does Amtrak still have any […]

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