2017 National Train Show report, part 1

The 2017 National Train Show was held August 4-6 in Orlando. Here are some of the items that were on display at the show. You’ll find additional model railroading products in part 2 of the 2017 National Train Show report. You can also watch video highlights of the show. Athearn Trains HO scale Altoona, Pa.,-rebuilt […]

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Two locomotives and two cars NEWSWIRE

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — BNSF Railway’s local between Galesburg and Streator, Ill., L CHI 101, is shown running West at Ancona, Ill., from a public grade crossing on Saturday, July 22, 2017. The power on this train for the last several months has been interesting, anything from former Santa Fe “Superfleet” 500 series four-axle GE’s to […]

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Charlie’s Trackside Postcards: Charlie’s New Office

When we first met Charlie, his temporary office was located at a metro Seattle airport. Nowadays, he’s happily situated in a new downtown waterfront office with all of the essential creature comforts – including a rooftop view of BNSF freight, Amtrak passenger, and Sound Transit commuter trains. It’s enough to make Drew and many other railfans […]

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Charlie’s Trackside Postcards: Charlie’s New Office

When we first met Charlie, his temporary office was located at a metro Seattle airport. Nowadays, he’s happily situated in a new downtown waterfront office with all of the essential creature comforts – including a rooftop view of BNSF freight, Amtrak passenger, and Sound Transit commuter trains. It’s enough to make Drew and many other railfans […]

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Appeals court rejects on-time performance standards NEWSWIRE

Amtrak’s southbound ‘Saluki’ rolls past the Canadian National yard into Champaign, Ill., in Feb., 2015. Bob Johnston ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has struck down a U.S. Surface Transportation Board attempt to provide metrics which measure host railroad on-time performance. The action follows a U.S. Supreme Court finding that […]

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New model trains for the week of July 13, 2017

Rapido Trains HO scale General Motors Diesel Division SW1200RS diesel locomotive HO scale locomotives General Motors Diesel Division SW1200RS diesel locomotive. Canadian National (“wet noodle” herald with black cab and red/orange cab, and North America scheme with small “wet noodle” herald) and Canadian Pacific (block and script lettering, Action Red with 5” stripes and Multimark […]

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Santa Fe 4-8-4 No. 2926 passes hydrostatic test NEWSWIRE

Scott Altenbach (right) enjoys the fresh air after emerging from the internal boiler inspection of Santa Fe Railway No. 2926. Also harnessed for safety is Bill McSweeney who assisted the inspection from outside the manway opening atop the boiler. Bill Diven Volunteers working to restore Santa Fe Railway No. 2929 swarm the locomotive during a […]

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New model trains for the week of July 6, 2017

HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division SD50 diesel locomotive. Chessie System (Baltimore & Ohio reporting marks), Chicago & North Western, CSX (gray and blue in one number, Chessie System patchout in three numbers), Erie Lackawanna (fictional paint scheme, three numbers), Norfolk Southern, Northern Pacific (fictional paint scheme, three numbers), and Union Pacific. Four numbers per scheme […]

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New model trains for the week of June 15, 2017

HO scale locomotives Alco RS-32 and RS-36 diesel locomotives. New paint schemes. RS-32: Central Vermont (one road number) and Lamoille Valley (one number). RS-36: Apache Ry. (American Revolution Bicentennial, three numbers); Livonia, Avon & Lakeville (one number); National Railways of Mexico (two numbers); Ontario Central (one number); and Norfolk & Western (two numbers). New numbers. […]

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Amtrak test train draws crowds in the heartland NEWSWIRE

The test train stops at Wichita to allow dignitaries off and on. About 200 people gathered to greet the train, including local newspaper and TV media. Mike Martin WICHITA, Kan. – Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer extension test train brought crowds trackside along the Oklahoma City to Kansas City route on Friday. The train ran from the […]

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Layout tour of the Texas, Colorado & Western

This is a video layout tour of Ron Marsh’s N-scale layout, the Texas Colorado & Western Railway. The TC&W is a protolanced model of BNSF operations From Fort Worth, TX, into central Colorado in 2008. The layout is a double deck, point-to-point style with approximately 100 feet of visible mainline, a 9 1/2 turn helix […]

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