Q On the front of a typical diesel locomotive are six “hoses.” Please define their purpose. Further, above the coupler is what appears to be a shorting hose. What is that? – Howard Beard, New Port Richey, Fla. A What you’re seeing is two sets of three hoses that are part of a train’s air-brake […]
Atlas O Electro-Motive Division MP 15DC diesel switcher in O scale While this superb MP15DC model may look like a yard switcher, it rides on GP-type trucks that also suit it to road service. Atlas O Electro-Motive Division MP 15DC diesel switcher in O scale While this superb MP15DC model may look like a yard […]
Q My 5-year-old grandson asked me, “Where do engineers go to the bathroom?” I told him that locomotives probably have a restroom similar to those on airplanes. What restroom facilities are available on locomotives, and where are they located? Who runs the train in his absence? Are comfort breaks governed by either federal or union […]
HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division SD40-2 diesel locomotive. Mexican National Ry., Milwaukee Road, Missouri Pacific, Montana Rail Link (one road number), and Norfolk Southern. Three road numbers unless specified. Prototype-specific details, 8-pin Digital Command Control socket, and McHenry scale magnetic knuckle couplers. $99.98. November 2008. Ready-to-Roll. Athearn Trains Southern Pacific Electro-Motive Division F7 diesel locomotive. […]
I thought of “Portrait of the Rails” by Don Ball, Jr. immediately when reading Jim Wrinn’s editorial about favorite railroad books. As a child I spent hours gazing at the photos it contained of steam trains billowing smoke and funny looking streamliners while my dad would tell me stories about the trains of the 40’s […]
Trainfest was held November 10-11, 2007, at the Wisconsin Exposition Center at State Fair Park in West Allis, Wis., a suburb of Milwaukee. The two-day show featured more than 130 vendors and manufacturers, 58 model railroad layouts, and 25 clinicians and demonstrations. Attendance for Trainfest was 20,979, a record for the show. Electro-Motive Division MP15AC […]
iHobbyExpo 2007 was held October 18 through 21 at the Donald E. Stephens convention center in Rosemont, Ill. Below are more model railroad items that were featured at the show. Be sure to click on the link at the bottom of the page to view our preliminary show report to see even more new products, […]
Athearn HO GP40X An Electro-Motive Division GP40X with railroad-specific detail is offered by Athearn Trains. The Ready-to-Roll model, which features an upgraded Rail Power Products shell, is based on the short-lived EMD prototype manufactured from December 1977 through June 1978. Only 23 units were built, all for railroads in the United States. The GP40X was […]
The 2007 iHobbyExpo is being held October 18-21, 2007, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill. The following products listed below are just some of the new items announced today. Look for more iHobbyExpo show coverage next week. HO scale locomotivesElectro-Motive Division SD40-2 diesel locomotive. New paint schemes. Burlington Northern (American Revolution […]
Track plan at a glance Name: Sterling Secondary Scale: N (1:160) Size: 10 x 12 feet Prototype: CSX and Norfolk Southern Period: 1999 Style: around-the-walls Mainline run: 24 feet Minimum radius: 17″ main line, 15″ industrial track Minimum turnout: no. 6, turnouts set at no. 5 angle in Livernois Yard Maximum grade: 0 Originally appeared […]
Track plan at a glanceName: Hooch Junction RRScale: N (1:160)Size: main room 20 x 40 feet, with 12 x 14-foot and 8 x 14-foot extensionsPrototype: Norfolk Southern, CSX, and predecessor linesEra: modernStyle: walk-inMainline run: 1,000 feetMinimum radius: 15″ main, 12″ yardsMinimum turnout: no. 4Maximum grade: 2.5 percentOriginally appeared in the September 2006 issue of Model […]
I had little interest in trains until I went to college and decided to take Amtrak home for a change. My eight hour trek on the Vermonter lead me to instantly love passenger rail as a means of travel. It was relaxing, very comfortable, and provided me with a power outlet so I could work […]
