For railroad builders in North America, a 2.2 percent climb was considered the standard maximum grade for a well-engineered mountain railroad. But why this number? And how did its adoption become so widespread? Using modern-day analysis of some famous mountain railroad grades, Trains Magazine’s September 2011 issue explores the origins and adoption of 2.2 percent […]
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ExactRail HO scale depressed-center flatcar
ExactRail HO scale depressed-center flatcar This modern depressed-center flatcar is a recent release from ExactRail that follows the overall lines of prototype cars built by General Steel Industries (GSI) in the 1970s and 1980s. The prototypes featured one-piece, cast-steel underframes that could carry tall loads because the carbody deck is only 23″ above the rails. […]
Kato N scale General Electric U30C diesel locomotive
Kato N scale General Electric U30C diesel locomotive It’s been 20 years since Kato last offered an N scale model of General Electric’s six-axle U30C hood units, and it’s been worth the wait. The new model, retooled under the hood to make it friendlier to Digital Command Control, is a sharp-looking and smooth-performing engine. Keep […]
MTH HO scale ready-to-run train set
MTH HO scale train set Many model railroaders get started in the hobby with a train set. A loop of track, power pack, a locomotive, and rolling stock will have a new model railroader running trains in a matter of minutes. MTH has taken its ready-to-run sets a step further by including its Digital Command […]
Walthers HO scale Meadowhead barn kit
Walthers HO scale Meadowhead barn kit Price: $38.98 ManufacturerWm. K. Walthers Inc.P.O. Box 3039Milwaukee, WI 53201www.walthers.com Era: 1900 to present Comments: If you’re looking for a structure that you can assemble, paint, and weather in one evening, then you’ll want to check out the Walthers HO scale Meadowhead barn kit. The injection-molded plastic kit has […]
The challenges of firing an oil-burner
Firemen on oil-burners like SP 4-8-2 4360 at Pinole, Calif., had to be sure the fuel was not too hot, not too cold, and adequately pressurized. John C. Illman As a fireman of oil-burning steam locomotives on the Southern Pacific during the 1950s (on the Coast, Rio Grande, Western, and Sacramento divisions), I never envied […]
The Readers’ Choice RR urban extension
The Readers’ Choice Railroad adds street trackage and urban switching with this 3 x 8-foot extension to our O gauge layout […]
Craft store finds for toy-train enthusiasts
By the letter (and number) Vinyl letters with self-adhesive backing as well as dry transfers can be used straight from the package or as masks to letter structures, rolling stock, and locomotives. Alphanumeric sets are typically located with the drafting supplies. Additional self-adhesive and dry-transfer letters can be found in the scrapbooking supplies. Mark it […]
REVIEW: O GAUGE NO. 255E BY LIONEL CORP. TINPLATE
Let us go back to those thrilling days of yesteryear before rivets were counted, numbers on the side of a train meant anything, and the color choices for a train were totally at the mercy of the marketing department. Yes, I’m talking about the pre-World War II toy train era. The trains were made as […]
Turbine power all the way
High speed in New England in the 1970s meant these turbine-powered trainsets built by United Aircraft, which sprinted between Boston and New York from 1969 to 1976. The two Turbotrains (Amtrak later bought a third set from VIA Rail Canada) achieved the route’s best-ever timings — 3 hours and 48 minutes between Boston and New […]
2011 National Train Show preliminary report
HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division GP7 and GP9 diesel locomotives. New paint scheme on GP7 is Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (zebra stripes). New scheme on GP9 is New York Central (two-tone gray). Separately applied details, wire grab irons, and plastic handrails. Both road names offered with and without steam generators. Direct-current models with Quick […]
Video: Athearn Trains N scale F59PHI and cars
We tested the Athearn Trains N scale EMD F59PHI diesel locomotive on our Salt Lake Route model train layout. Equipped with a SoundTraxx Tsunami Digital Command Control (DCC) sound decoder, the locomotive looked and sounded great hauling a set of Athearn N scale Bombardier bi-level commuter cars. […]