CN completes CTC on former Missabe Road main line NEWSWIRE

An ore train passes old and new signals on Canadian National’s Missabe Sub in September 2016. Steve Glischinski DULUTH, Minn. – Canadian National has activated centralized traffic control signaling on the last portion of its former Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway Missabe Subdivision main line. CTC has now been activated over the 6-mile stretch between […]

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Trains Presents: West Chicago

Join Trains Magazine Assistant Editor Brian Schmidt for a day trackside at West Chicago, Ill., in July 2016. We’ll see Canadian National and Union Pacific freight action, along with ubiquitous Metra commuter trains. We’ll also look at JB Tower, which guards the junction of the two freight carriers. […]

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Trains Presents: West Chicago

Join Trains Magazine Assistant Editor Brian Schmidt for a day trackside at West Chicago, Ill., in July 2016. We’ll see Canadian National and Union Pacific freight action, along with ubiquitous Metra commuter trains. We’ll also look at JB Tower, which guards the junction of the two freight carriers. […]

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New model trains for the week of February 9, 2017

HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division F45 diesel locomotive. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (“Kodachrome” scheme); Burlington Northern (Great Northern patchout); and Great Northern. Three road numbers per scheme. Road-number-specific details, Flexicoil-C truck sideframes with high brake cylinders, and 4,000-gallon fuel tank. Direct-current model with 8- and 9-pin connectors for Digital Command Control decoder, $179.98; with […]

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New model trains for the week of January 19, 2017

Atlas Model Railroad HO scale 1932 American Railway Association boxcar HO scale freight cars 1932 American Railway Association boxcar. New paint schemes: Soo Line (modern), Erie (1945 repaint), Pennsylvania RR (fictional paint scheme on two road numbers), Missouri Pacific (“Route of the Eagles” slogan), Roberval Saguenay, Seaboard Air Line (1934-37 scheme), and Western Maryland. Three […]

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New toy train products from the February 2017 issue

SPECIAL VALUE CARS: Three new cars have been added to the Menards line of O gauge rolling stock. The nos. 279-3178 Chesapeake & Ohio flatcar with die-cast metal concrete mixer and 279-3476 Pennsylvania RR flatcar with excavator. The excavator has lights and sounds that activate with the press of a button. The latest addition to […]

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New model trains for the week of December 1, 2016

Athearn HO scale Electro-Motive Division SD39 diesel locomotive HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division SD39 diesel locomotive. Illinois Terminal; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (four road numbers); Minneapolis, Northfield & Southern (two numbers); Norfolk & Western; and Southern Pacific (four numbers). Three road numbers per scheme unless noted; also available undecorated. Railroad-specific details, factory-installed and painted […]

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New toy train products from the January 2017 issue

44 TONNER TIMES TWO: Williams by Bachmann has added two road names to its list of General Electric 44-ton locomotives: nos. 23106 Canadian National and 23107 Union Pacific. The O gauge diesels require O-27 or wider-diameter curves and feature die-cast metal trucks and frame, dual flywheel-equipped motors, scale dimensions, and the True Blast Plus sound […]

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MTH HO scale EMD GP38-2

MTH HO scale GP38-2 diesel locomotive The HO scale locomotive’s die-cast metal frame encloses the motor, flywheels, and gear towers. The printed-circuit board is attached to the top. The MTH Ready-2-Rail model’s molded detail is well-defined and matches the prototype. The handrails are flexible plastic to resist breaking. A four-axle road switcher that would look […]

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Early Amtrak trains in color

FULL SCREEN John F. Bjorklund, Collection of the Center for Railroad Photography & Art In its early days, Amtrak relied solely on equipment provided by its member railroads. The passenger carrier is barely two months old in this Independence Day view from Chicago in 1971, where train No. 18, the eastbound Super Chief-El Capitan, still […]

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New model trains for the week of June 23, 2016

HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Diesel SD70ACe diesel locomotive. Canadian National (SD70ACe demonstrator patchout), Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern (Lackawanna, New York Central, and Wabash heritage units in one number each and horsehead silhouette), Union Pacific (George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum and Chicago & North Western, Denver & Rio Grande Western, and Southern Pacific […]

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Wisconsin Great Northern begins hauling freight NEWSWIRE

A Wisconsin Great Northern railroader checks on the first revenue load for the tourist railroad-turned short line. Steve Smedley Trego, Wis. Google Maps TREGO, Wis. — Wisconsin short line Wisconsin Great Northern, long known for its popular “bed and breakfast” tourist trains train powered by former Chicago & North Western F7 No. 423, has loaded […]

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