Kato HO scale GE C44-9W

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Kato HO scale GE C44-9W For more than 20 years, the General Electric C44-9W, the most popular locomotive of GE’s Dash 9 series, has maintained a dominating presence on North American main lines. The prototypes were only a couple years old when Kato released its first HO scale Dash 9, reviewed in the September 1996 […]

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Rapido N scale EMD FL9

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Rapido’s N scale EMD FL9 A split die-cast metal frame surrounds the motor and flywheels. Driveshafts transfer power to the trucks, driving four of the five axles, just like the prototype. N scale modelers who want to model commuter operations on the New York, New Haven & Hartford don’t have to pine for the HO […]

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Galvanic corrosion

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This coal hopper, seen in Butler, Wis., has a main body built from aluminum and a center sill made of steel. Freight-car makers use non-conductive materials to separate the metals and prevent galvanic corrosion. Steve Sweeney Q There are aluminum-body Talgos and aluminum-body coal cars, both with steel center sills. High school chemistry teaches that […]

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Quick Look: WalthersMainline HO 53-foot Thrall corrugated-side gondola

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WalthersMainline HO 53-foot Thrall corrugated-side gondola Price: $24.98 Manufacturer Wm. K. Walthers Inc. 5601 W. Florist Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53218 www.walthers.com Road names: Great Northern; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Burlington Northern; Conrail; Southern Pacific; and Union Pacific Era: Late 1960s to 1990s Comments: Walthers is offering a ready-to-run version of the HO scale Thrall […]

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Quick Look: Atlas N scale FMC boxcar

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Atlas N scale FMC boxcar Price: $23.95 (undecorated, $18.95) Manufacturer Atlas Model Railroad Co. 378 Florence Ave. Hillside, NJ 07205 www.atlasrr.com Era: late 1980s to present (as painted) Road names: Burlington Northern; Atlanta & St. Andrews Bay; Atlantic & Western; Cadiz RR; Escanaba & Lake Superior; Lake Erie, Franklin & Clarion; Port Huron & Detroit; […]

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Trains under the Christmas tree

Vintage Lionel steam locomotive

Name:    Neal Mayer Forum User Name:    NealM Railroad Name:    Trains Under the Tree Location:    Boston, MA Scale:    Traditional O Gauge Theme:    Christmas trains Description:    My Dad’s childhood train from the ‘30s, a Lionel 259, became my childhood train in the ’60’s. During my kids’ childhood in the 90’s, It became the Christmas train. The kids […]

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Trains under the Christmas tree

Vintage Lionel steam locomotive

Name:    Neal Mayer Forum User Name:    NealM Railroad Name:    Trains Under the Tree Location:    Boston, MA Scale:    Traditional O Gauge Theme:    Christmas trains Description:    My Dad’s childhood train from the ‘30s, a Lionel 259, became my childhood train in the ’60’s. During my kids’ childhood in the 90’s, It became the Christmas train. The kids […]

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The time I got to run ‘my unit’

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On June 15, 1972 — six years before author Olson’s ride on it — Illinois Central Gulf SD40 6000 pulls into Markham Yard at Homewood, Ill., with GP40 3011. J. David Ingles I have always had a thing for “class units,” that is, the first in a series, and “my engine” is Illinois Central 6000, […]

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O gauge Alco RS-3 from MTH Electric Trains

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O GAUGE ALCO RS-3 FROM MTH ELECTRIC TRAINS Price: $319.95 (no. 30-20295-1) Min Curve: O-27 Cmd Low: 2.1 smph Cnv Low: 5.2 smph High: 63 smph Drawbar pull: 1 lb., 4 oz. Features: Can-style motor, ProtoSound 3.0 command and sound system, smoke, coil couplers Current-production road names: CP Rail, New Haven, New York Central, Providence […]

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O gauge train station from Menards

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O gauge train station from Menards Price: $99.95 (no. 279-3846) plus shipping (free shipping to your local Menards), see your local Menards or go to www.menards.com to order. Unless your O gauge railroad is freight-only, you need a place for passengers to embark on their cross-layout journeys. There is certainly no shortage of stations in […]

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The Railroad Comes Through The Middle of The House

Silver Rail Club railroad goes through the middle of the house

Name:    Peter Martens Forum User Name:    Peter_J_M Railroad Name:    The Silver Rail Club (founding chapter) Location:    Cumberland, Virginia Scale:    O-scale Theme:    A different kind of ‘music video’. Description:    Inspired by Rusty Draper’s 1956 hit song, ‘The Railroad Comes Through The Middle Of The House’, Peter J. Martens, founder of the Silver Rail Club, built this […]

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The Railroad Comes Through The Middle of The House

Silver Rail Club railroad goes through the middle of the house

Name:    Peter Martens Forum User Name:    Peter_J_M Railroad Name:    The Silver Rail Club (founding chapter) Location:    Cumberland, Virginia Scale:    O-scale Theme:    A different kind of ‘music video’. Description:    Inspired by Rusty Draper’s 1956 hit song, ‘The Railroad Comes Through The Middle Of The House’, Peter J. Martens, founder of the Silver Rail Club, built this […]

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