History according to Hediger 8

Person with model train table

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Model Railroader Senior Editor Jim Hediger grew up in Dearborn, Mich., and lived across the alley from Star Hobbies, a hobby shop owned by noted railroad photographer Emery Gulash. In this episode Jim shares an amusing story that demonstrates Emery’s legendary sense of […]

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Pan Am Railways Locomotive Roster 2009

Pan Am Railways

Late in the day, but early on author Fred Frailey’s trip, Pan Am train AYMO passes Otter Creek, Mass., on Aug. 6, 2009. Ryan Parent In our January 2010 issue, Fred W. Frailey explores Pan Am Railways’ history and its history-making partnership with Norfolk Southern Railway: Pan Am Southern, which provides Pan Am a lot […]

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Cascade Tunnel promo

Great Northern issued this promotional diagram in advance of its opening of the Cascade Tunnel at Stevens Pass, Wash. The January 2010 issue of TRAINS explores another option GN could have used to cross the mountain range. […]

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A Tour Conductor’s trains

Train No., Name — To-From — Accommodation WESTERN TOURSAtchison, Topeka & Santa Fe19, The Chief — Chicago-Williams, Ariz. — Roomette17, El Capitan — Williams-Los Angeles — Coach74-77, San Diegans — Los Angeles-San Diego round trips — Coach123, Grand Canyon Limited — Chicago-Grand Canyon-Riverside, Calif. — Coach63, Golden Gate — Bakersfield-Merced-Richmond, Calif. — Coach1, San Francisco […]

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Santa Fe nights

The Grand Canyon was a stop on several of the tours I conducted in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Our groups would ride Santa Fe Railway trains to Williams, Ariz., then chartered motor coaches to the Canyon. After dinner at the Bright Angel Lodge at the Grand Canyon, the passengers and luggage were aboard […]

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History according to Hediger 6

Man looking at model trains

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Senior editor Jim Hediger is the last staff member to have worked directly for the late Linn Westcott, a model railroading pioneer and the long-time editor of Model Railroader magazine. Jim shares a few of his favorite stories as well as vintage photos. […]

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Wired up: The stages of U.S. railroad electrification

Baltimore railroad tunnels

U.S. railroad electrification In 1939, the United States was the global leader in railroad electrification, with over 20% of the world’s total. Today, electrification is a non-factor on almost all American railroads outside the Northeast Corridor. How did this happen? The heady projects from the early 20th century that propelled the U.S. to world leader […]

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History according to Hediger 5

Two men talking

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Thirty years ago on September 26, 1979, construction began on Model Railroader Senior Editor Jim Hediger’s influential HO scale Ohio Southern. Jim describes the concept and some of the challenges building his HO layout. Learn how a three and a half hour lunch […]

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