New model trains for the week of August 27, 2020

HO scale locomotives United States Railroad Administration 0-6-0 steam locomotive. Pre-production artwork shown. Baltimore & Ohio, Central RR of New Jersey, New York Central System, Pennsylvania RR, and Union Pacific. Dual-mode TCS WOWSound Sound Value decoder with Keep-Alive capacitor, operating headlight, metal side rods, and E-Z Mate Mark II couplers. $329. Release date to be […]

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New model trains for the week of August 20, 2020

HO scale locomotives Pennsylvania RR class K4 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive. Prewar with slat pilot and postwar with modern pilot. Two road numbers each. Dual-mode TCS WOWSound decoder with Keep-Alive capacitor; separate, factory-applied injectors, pump, and piping; metal uncoupling levers; operating headlight; all-metal chassis; die-cast metal trailing truck; blackened-metal side rods; painted engineer and fireman […]

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Panel looks at PSR impact on Class I, shortline railroads

A trio of experts discussed the pros, cons, and reality of Precision Scheduled Railroading this week during the Midwest Virtual Rail Conference. C. Tyler Dick, a lecturer and principal research engineer at the Railtec program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, says the late E. Hunter Harrison’s operating model aims to combine the best […]

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New model trains for the week of August 13, 2020

HO scale locomotives General Electric Dash 9-44CW diesel locomotive. BNSF Ry. (as-delivered Heritage I scheme in three road numbers, Heritage I with yellow hood lettering in one number, and Heritage II), BC Rail (Dash 9-44CWL in red, white, and blue scheme), Canadian National (Dash 9-44CWL in North America scheme, three numbers), Chicago & North Western […]

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STB defers decision in Metra-Union Pacific dispute

CHICAGO – The Surface Transportation Board is declining to intervene in an ongoing dispute between Metra and Union Pacific – for now. In a decision published Wednesday, the STB is holding a decision on its jurisdiction in abeyance and has directed both parties to inform the agency of any rulings issued by the federal district […]

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New model trains for the week of August 6, 2020

HO scale freight cars Bi-level auto rack. New paint schemes: BNSF Ry. (Oxide Red with circle-cross herald and yellow with post-2005 herald), Canadian National (white with red “wet noodle” herald, six road numbers), Conrail (brown with “can opener” herald), CP Rail (red), CSX (yellow), Kansas City Southern (yellow with dual heralds), Mexican Rail Transportation (yellow), […]

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New large scale products for August 2020

Engines & rolling stock Pennsylvania RR double-sheathed cupola caboose. Separate, factory-applied brake wheels, brake cylinder, smokejack, ladders, and grab irons; plastic wheelsets; and hook-and-loop couplers. $94.99. PIKO America LLC, 619-280-2800, piko-america.com General Electric Dash 9-44CW diesel locomotive. Pre-production artwork shown. 1:29 scale. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (warbonnet); BNSF Ry. (Heritage III); CSX (dark blue […]

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Remembering the Lehigh & Hudson River Railway — a history

History of the Lehigh & Hudson River Railway The Lehigh & Hudson River Railway was a bridge route in the most literal sense. For much of its lifetime, New England freight moving via the 6,747-foot-long (including approaches), 212-foot-high Poughkeepsie Bridge over the Hudson River at that New York town was L&HR’s essential lifeblood and key […]

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The story of Squaw Valley

Downhill skiing buffs immediately think of the winter vacation destination (and site of the 1960 winter Olympics) in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains when “Squaw Valley” is mentioned. More than 50 years ago, the name Squaw Valley came to the mountains of Western North Carolina under entirely different circumstances. To set the stage, I was a […]

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New model trains for the week of July 30, 2020

HO scale locomotives Alco RS-11 diesel locomotive. Burlington Northern (Cascade Green and Northern Pacific patchout); Central Vermont (green with “wet noodle” herald); Delaware & Hudson (gray, yellow, and blue “lightning stripe” scheme); Duluth, Winnipeg & Pacific (as-delivered green-and-gold scheme); Maine Central (Pine Green); Portland Terminal (Pine Green, conditional release); New York Central (black); Nickel Plate […]

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