A BNSF Railway eastbound passes a disused water tower at Bellmont, Ariz., on July 5, 2013, on the former Santa Fe main line. Photo by Michael T. Burkhart […]
Desert skyscraper
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Right-of-way
Looking out of place, two CSX GEs take Canadian Pacific train No. 470 down North Second Street in Bellevue, Iowa, on Jan. 19, 2014. Photo by Matt Krause […]
Local hero
With a short five-car train, Canadian National’s local out of Dubuque, Iowa, has just crossed the Mississippi River and pops out of the short tunnel in East Dubuque, IL. The train will travel down the BNSF Railway using trackage to an industry that CN switches before calling it a day and returning home after dark. Photo […]
How to add Lionel’s TMCC and RailSounds to an old streamliner
Robert Rello In the July 2014 issue, Robert Rello upgrades a Williams brass locomotive. Learn how to add Lionel’s TMCC and RailSounds in this companion article download. […]
New products for July 2014
HERITAGE IN TWO SIZES: MTH Electric Trains’ salute to the Norfolk Southern Heritage paint schemes is well under way, with examples of several road names available in both the RailKing and Premier product lines. Shown on the left is the no. 30-20136-1 RailKing Illinois Terminal SD70ACe. On the right is the no. 20-20273-1 Premier Wabash […]
Lionel LionChief Plus Canadian Pacific 4 6 2 Pacific steam
The LionChief Plus Canadian Pacific 4-6-2 Pacific steamer is a traditionally sized locomotive with a body style familiar to most O gaugers. The resemblance to a postwar classic is purely cosmetic, however, because this version has a full suite of modern operational features and the added flexibility of being able to operate in command or […]
MTH Premier line GP40 locomotive
When I was growing up, the face of the Florida East Coast Ry. was pretty much F units and rusty-around-the-louver GP7s and 9s. Then one momentous day I was at a grade crossing (probably going home from Ernie’s Hobby Shop in Melbourne, Fla.) and it happened: Wham! It was an FEC GP40 blazing down the […]
Amtrak crew districts
At the beginning of February 2006, the company had 56 active “T & E” (train and engine) crew bases at 53 locations, where conductors and engineers reported to work, ready to handle from 233 to 286 daily departures. (New York, Washington, and Harrisburg, Pa., have two districts originating from one base.) That year, Amtrak closed […]
Watco wins bid for North Carolina branches, famed Saluda route severed
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Watco is the winning bidder for a cluster of Norfolk Southern lines in western North Carolina. The short line holding company has filed a “Certificate Of Compliance” with the Surface Transportation Board. The name of the new operation will be Blue Ridge Southern Railroad LLC. According to the filing, the new railroad will […]
Broadway Limited Imports N scale PA-1 and B units
Broadway Limited Imports N scale PA-1 and B units One of the most striking locomotives of the steam-to-diesel transition era hits the rails in N scale thanks to Broadway Limited Imports’ new release. The Alco PA-1 and PB-1 are offered separately in multiple road names, or as a set of a powered PA-1 with a […]
Athearn Trains HO scale EMD SDP45 diesel locomotive
Athearn Trains HO scale EMD SDP45 diesel locomotives For the first time, a General Motors Electro-Motive Division SDP45 rumbles down HO scale rails as a ready-to-run plastic model. Part of Athearn Trains Genesis series, this HO scale SDP45 rivals the finest brass locomotives in terms of roadname- and road-number specific detail. I tested a version […]
Spring Mills Depot HO scale NACC PD3000 covered hopper
Spring Mills Depot HO scale covered hopper Spring Mills Depot has released an interesting three-bay, 100-ton covered hopper that’s offered in 22 paint schemes. Of particular note, the model comes in numerous variations that have specific detailing to match the prototype paint schemes. Each of the cars is also offered in a variety of correct […]
