Green Mountain Railroad expands dinner train service NEWSWIRE

A Green Mountain passenger excursion waits at the Ludlow, Vt., depot in 2015. In addition to the new Burlington trips, dinner trains will resume out of Chester in September. Steve Glischinski BURLINGTON, Vt. – Vermont Railway System’s Green Mountain Railroad is expanding dinner train service next month with the introduction of the Champlain Valley Dinner […]

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Big Boy No. 4014 restoration update

Trains visits Union Pacific’s steam shop in Cheyenne, Wyo., for an update on the restoration of Big Boy No. 4014. Join us on a tour of the shop and hear Ed Dickens, senior manager of heritage operations, describe the project’s status and the effort to have the engine back in steam in 2019! Be sure […]

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Big Boy No. 4014 restoration update

Trains visits Union Pacific’s steam shop in Cheyenne, Wyo., for an update on the restoration of Big Boy No. 4014. Join us on a tour of the shop and hear Ed Dickens, senior manager of heritage operations, describe the project’s status and the effort to have the engine back in steam in 2019! Be sure […]

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New model trains for the week of April 19, 2018

Wm. K. Walthers HO scale Union Pacific Electro-Motive Division E9A and E9B diesel locomotives HO scale locomotives Union Pacific Electro-Motive Division E9A and E9B diesel locomotives. For 1960-1971 City of Los Angeles. Working backup light on A and B units, modified etched-metal Farr air grills, and working Western-Cullen rotary beacon on A unit. Direct-current models […]

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‘X’ locomotive number

Southern Pacific cab-forward 4-8-8-2 No. 4219 leads an extra train at Dunsmuir, Calif., in August 1948. Guy L. Dunscomb, Martin E. Hansen collection Q On some early Union Pacific and Southern Pacific steam and diesel locomotives there is an “X” in front of the number. Why is this done? – Leon Bassik, Langhorne, Pa. A […]

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Bachmann HO scale Sound Value GP30

Bachmann HO scale Sound Value GP30 The model features an accurately detailed plastic body shell with flexible plastic handrails. Bachmann Trains’ GP30 is now part of the Sound Value line of dual-mode Digital Command Control (DCC)-equipped locomotives. This model was first reviewed by now-retired senior editor Jim Hediger in the December 1988 Model Railroader. While […]

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New model trains for the week of April 12, 2018

HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division F-series diesel locomotives. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe F7A, F7B, and F7A-B set (one number each), blue warbonnet. Central RR of New Jersey F3A and F3A-B set (one numbered and unnumbered [includes decals] unit/set each), orange and blue scheme. Electro-Motive Division F7A and F7A-B set (one number each), red and […]

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New model trains for the week of April 5, 2018

HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division SD40-2 diesel locomotive. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (“Kodachrome” scheme, four road numbers); BNSF Ry. (Heritage III scheme, four numbers [two each with 88” and 123” nose]); Norfolk Southern (high short hood, two numbers); RJ Corman (three numbers, two with 88” nose and one with 123” nose), and Union Pacific […]

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RailKing O gauge 2-6-6-6 from MTH

RailKing O gauge 2-6-6-6 from MTH Price: $799.95 (No. 30-1728-1) Min Curve: O-31  Cmd Low: 5.74 smph  Cnv Low: 7.0 smph High: 71.1 smph Drawbar pull: 2 lb., 2 oz. Features: Can-style motor, ProtoSound 3.0 command and sound system, smoke unit, coil coupler on tender Current-production road names: Chesapeake & Ohio, and Virginian Ry. Further […]

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New model trains for the week of March 29, 2018

Atlas Model Railroad Co. HO scale AEM-7 electric locomotive HO scale locomotives AEM-7 electric locomotive. New road numbers: Amtrak (as delivered or Acela) and NJ Transit. Three numbers each. New fictional paint schemes: Milwaukee Road, Pennsylvania RR, and Reading Co. Two road numbers each. Operating pantographs, separately applied wire grab irons, and Accumate couplers. Direct-current […]

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Realistic weathering tips for freight car models

This view of the Daneville Yard on Pelle Søeborg’s HO scale Union Pacific layout shows a variety of equipment with weathered roofs. He completed all of the weathering with powdered pastels, hobby paints, and an airbrush Years ago, when I became interested in weathering model trains, I found it extremely difficult to find roof photos, […]

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