Dick Christianson, the founding editor of Classic Toy Trains and the consummate cheerleader for Lionel trains of the postwar era, was recently asked about his top locomotive. He’s owned several great steam and diesel models from the 1940s and ’50s. As editor, he observed virtually every locomotive Lionel cataloged in those decades and long after. […]
Norfolk & Western built 0-8-0 switchers until 1953, the last conventional steam locomotives built for U.S. service. Devoid of all fittings, a new 0-8-0 boiler is upside down at N&W’s Roanoke, Va., shops. W. A. Akin Jr. photo […]
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The final operations of the 2024 season for Santa Fe No. 2926 can be described as a photo finish. The 1944-built 4-8-4 was chartered by Pete Lerro for a private photo shoot on Oct. 28-29. Originally planned to be entirely at the Rail Yards complex in Downtown Albuquerque for both days, a […]
A new steam restoration group has purchased former Chesapeake & Ohio Class J3a 4-8-4 passenger locomotive No. 614 (Lima Locomotive Works, 1948) and plans to return it to operating condition. RJD America LLC, a group of railroaders and businessmen with ties to the engine, has completed the purchase from American Freedom Train Foundation, Inc., according […]
One of the Milwaukee Road’s dashing F7 4-6-4s accelerates the Hiawatha out of Chicago at the start of the streamliner’s run to Minneapolis on a winter day in 1939. Alfred W. Johnson photo […]
BERLIN — Germany’s famed Harz Mountain Railway — a 140-kilometer (87.5-mile) meter-gauge network run by the Harzer Schmalspurbahnen (HSB) — has announced plans to make long-term changes to its operation including the future “decarbonization of the popular steam locomotives.” The announcement came as part of a funding deal for this year (providing around $20 million) […]
News & Products for the week of November 4th 2024 Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of November 4th […]
Lionel catalog volume 1 for 2024 is filled with plenty of treasures. I should know because several months ago, I spent hours studying the latest additions to the O gauge line and then shared my observations on Trains.com. It was a lot of fun, especially after hobbyists who had read my opinions replied with their […]
Few, if any railroads, duplicated what the Wabash Railroad did in 1930 and ’31 when it ordered 50 big locomotives from the Baldwin Locomotive Co., split half and half between the tried-and-true 4-8-2 wheel Mountain type and the still relatively new 4-8-4 Northern. It was a remarkable decision, given the slight differences between the […]
HARTFORD, Wis. — Soo Line 2-8-2 No. 1003 will make its annual appearance for the Hartford Santa Train on Saturday, Nov. 9. The 1913 Alco, operated by the non-profit Steam Locomotive Heritage Association, is a fixture at the Hartford event, held in conjunction with the community’s annual Christmas Parade. The Santa Train will be at […]
WOODSTOWN, N.J. — The Woodstown Central Railroad, the heritage rail operation of SMS Rail Service, has announced that its restored Alco 0-6-0 locomotive No. 9 will make its revenue debut Nov. 30 in Santa Claus Special passenger service. The locomotive, built for the U.S. Army in 1942, also worked for the Virginia Blue Ridge Railway […]
The first two of seven Western Maryland 2-8-0s lift a 78-car eastbound train up the twisting grade through Black Fork Gorge toward Thomas, W.Va., on May 16, 1952. Edward Theisinger photo […]
