Trainfest 2011 show report

Athearn Trains HO scale Electro-Motive Division SD70ACe HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division SD70ACe. New paint schemes: Montana Rail Link, CSX, Ferromex, and Union Pacific (Missouri-Kansas-Texas heritage scheme). Five-pole skew-wound motor with two flywheels, factory-installed detailed parts, and detailed cab interior. Direct-current models, $189.98. With SoundTraxx Digital Command Control and sound, $289.98. Genesis series. Athearn Trains, […]

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Large scale Miami Rail Service Co

Name: Miami Rail Service Co. Layout designer: Bob Springs Scale: 1:29 Size: 20 x 36 feet, plus outdoor staging Prototype: CSX industrial spurs Locale: Miami Era: present day Style: around-the-walls shelf Mainline run: 200 feet (loop) Minimum radius: 66 inches Minimum turnout: no. 6 (main), no. 4 (one spur) Grade: none Originally appeared Great Model […]

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Voodoo and palmettos

Bob Springs used Lance Mindheim article from Great Model Railroads 2008 to build his large scale Miami CSX layout. Read Lance’s article about his HO scale shelf layout by clicking here. […]

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BLMA Models HO scale 64-foot refrigerator car

BLMA Models HO scale 64-foot refrigerator car A correctly proportioned model of a modern mechanical refrigerator car is now available from BLMA Models. The injection-molded plastic car features separately applied wire, plastic, and etched-metal details. The prototype cars began rolling out of the TrinityRail factory in late 2003. These excess-height cars, designated Plate F, can […]

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Railroads and their environment

FULL SCREEN Photo by Kevin Scanlon CSX power for the Piney Creek Turn is parked in Quinnimont Yard in Quinnimont, W.V., on Jan. 20, 1991. To the left of the engines across the tracks is the foundation for the iron furnace. FULL SCREEN Photo by Kevin Scanlon A CSX westbound empty hopper train passes the […]

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New products for August 25, 2011

HO scale locomotives  Baldwin AS-16, AS-616, and DRS 6-6-1500 diesel locomotives. Lehigh Valley (AS-16, two road numbers), National Ry. of Mexico (AS-616), Norfolk Southern (pre-1982 company, AS-616), Pacific Electric (DRS 6-6-1500 with trolley pole), Peabody Coal Co. (AS-16), Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines (AS-16), Union Pacific (AS-616). Four road numbers each except as noted above. Can motor […]

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Latest high speed rail news and plan overview, map NEWSWIRE

High speed rail headlines from Trains News Wire News: Wisconsin legislature funds ‘Hiawatha’ projects, July 19, 2011 News: House passes bill to rescind high speed rail funds, July 18, 2011 News: California may bypass Tehachapis on high speed rail route, May 5, 2011 News: Illinois wins Florida high speed rail money, May 5, 2011 News: […]

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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 […]

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Railroad timeline, 1950-1989

An Alco PA diesel and Berkshire 2-8-4 diesel meet on Tony Koester’s HO scale Nickel Plate Road model train layout. This timeline will help you choose an era for your model railroad. Tony Koester 1950: Dieselization. Ten Class 1 railroads had already dieselized before this year, including the Atlanta & St. Andrews Bay; Chicago, Indianapolis […]

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ExactRail LLC HO scale Trinity TrinCool refrigerator car

ExactRail LLC HO scale 64-foot refrigerator car A contemporary 64-foot mechanical refrigerator car is now available as a well-detailed injection-molded plastic model. This latest HO scale freight car from ExactRail is based on a prototype built by TrinityRail. The full-size “TRINCool” reefers are commonly seen in 55-car unit trains on Union Pacific (UP) and CSX. […]

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The waiting game

Looking east through the side of the 24th Street bridge in downtown Birmingham, Ala., CSX offers up a variety of EMD power. This train is waiting for clearance into the railroad’s Boyles Yard. Drew Halverson photo […]

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