Cummins and Indiana Rail Road continue to test new engine NEWSWIRE

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Cummins Inc. No. 1919 on display in Indianapolis on Nov. 9. Chris Guss INDIANAPOLIS — Cummins Inc. and the Indiana Rail Road recently unveiled a testing program featuring Cummins new QSK95 engine on the Midwest regional railroad. The railroad and Cummins hosted an event at the railroad’s terminal in downtown Indianapolis on Nov. 9. Cummins’ […]

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Trains award to gussy-up Alco’s glamour girl NEWSWIRE

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Santa Fe Alco PA No. 59L at the Museum of the American Railroad in Frisco, Texas, is the 2016 winner of the Trains annual preservation award. Museum of the American Railroad SAVANNAH, Ga. — Trains magazine has awarded its $10,000 2016 Preservation Award to the Museum of the American Railroad for the restoration of the […]

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Trainfest 2016 show report

Athearn Trains HO scale General Electric ES44DC

Athearn Trains HO scale General Electric ES44DC HO scale locomotives General Electric ES44DC. BNSF Ry. (Heritage II and III schemes), CSX (primer gray and as-delivered schemes), Norfolk Southern (primer gray and horsehead silhouette). Four road numbers per scheme (primer gray in two numbers each). Detailed cab interior, illuminated ditch lights, and railroad-specific cab detail. Direct-current […]

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Central Maine & Quebec finishes six-axle unit repainting NEWSWIRE

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Two of Central Maine & Quebec Railway’s SD40-2F locomotives stay coupled on a bridge on the railroad. The two paint schemes reflect 1960s Canadian Pacific colors and the Bangor & Aroostook. Kevin Burkholder The Central Maine & Quebec’s heritage painted SD40-2F Bangor & Aroostook locomotive. Kevin Burkholder NORTHERN MAINE JUNCTION, Maine — Central Maine & […]

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Obituaries: Jerry Williams 1937-2016

Jerome (Jerry) M. Williams, founder of Williams Reproductions, died November 1, 2016. He was born March 1, 1937. In 1969, he and Fred Mill founded Classic Models Corporation, producing new standard-gauge model trains. Several years later he parted with Mills to form Williams Reproductions Limited, which made reproductions of popular tinplate Ives and Lionel models. […]

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Meet members of the Model Railroader staff at Trainfest 2016

 Trainfest, America’s largest operating model railroad show, will be held on Saturday, November 12, and Sunday, November 13, 2016, from 9 AM to 5 PM at the Wisconsin Exposition Center at State Fair Park in West Allis, Wis. The show will feature more than 70 model railroad displays and more than 100 hobby manufacturers and […]

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New model trains for the week of November 3, 2016

Märklin HO scale Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe 2-8-2 Mikado steam locomotive

HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division SD39 diesel locomotive. Andesite Rock Co. (Denver & Rio Grande Western scheme, two road numbers); Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Boston & Maine (Guilford scheme); Southern Pacific; Minneapolis, Northfield & Southern (two numbers); and Progressive Rail (one number). Four numbers per scheme unless noted. Factory-installed grab irons, Flexicoil-C trucks with […]

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Member Video: Bob Murphy’s New Haven Railroad

Bob Murphy's New Haven Railroad

The video is of my New Haven layout. My father was a conductor and a trainmaster on the New Haven, so the layout brings back many fond memories of talking trains with him when I was youngster. The video was shot and edited by Jim Spavins who gets the credit for its professional quality. […]

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Member Video: Bob Murphy’s New Haven Railroad

Bob Murphy's New Haven Railroad

The video is of my New Haven layout. My father was a conductor and a trainmaster on the New Haven, so the layout brings back many fond memories of talking trains with him when I was youngster. The video was shot and edited by Jim Spavins who gets the credit for its professional quality. […]

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O gauge GP30 diesel by MTH

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O gauge Milwaukee Road GP30 by MTH Electric Trains Price:  $479.95 Min Curve: O-31 Cmd Low: 2.5 smph Cnv Low: 5.1 smph High: 54.6 smph Drawbar pull: 1 pound, 10 ounces Features: Two can-style motors, coil couplers, smoke unit, DCS command and sound system Current-production road names: Baltimore & Ohio; Chicago & North Western; EMD […]

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Locomotive gear ratios

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Electric and diesel locomotives’ top speeds are governed by gear ratios and safe operations, like this Union Pacific westbound near Franklin Grove, Ill. Brian Schmidt Q What determines the theoretical top speed of a diesel locomotive? Is it the gear ratio? What other factors enter in? – Mike Pedersen, North Berwick, Maine A The maximum […]

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Walthers HO scale SD45 diesel

Walthers HO scale SD45 diesel locomotive

Walthers HO scale SD45 diesel locomotive From its flared radiators to its Flexicoil trucks, the HO scale SD45 from WalthersProto captures the look of this second-generation diesel. All the versions offered also feature roadname- and era-specific detailing. I tested a Wisconsin Central Ry. version that came equipped with a SoundTraxx Tsunami decoder. The prototype. With […]

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