New model trains for the week of January 4, 2018

HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division GP40P-2 diesel locomotive. Southern Pacific (no. 3197 in American Revolution Bicentennial and scarlet and gray schemes; nos. 7600 through 7602 in factory weathered scarlet and gray) and Union Pacific (two road numbers). Light-emitting-diode headlights, vinyl m.u. hoses, and wire grab irons. Direct-current model, $189.98; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound decoder, […]

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Making your rail mileage count

An NS 21st Century Steam excursion adds to the mileage totals for riders at Williamstown, Ky., in May 2014. Two photos, Robert S. McGonigal Railroads are all about places – where the rails go to transport freight and passengers. In the 1920s, the “Index of Railroad Stations” at the back of each edition of The […]

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Railroad bridges, viaducts, and trestles

Bridge: A bridge comprising multiple span types crosses Swinomish Slough on BNSF Railway’s Anacortes Spur in Washington. Three photos, David Honan Q From the perspective of the railroads, what is the difference between bridges, trestles, and viaducts? – Ron Dutton, Los Angeles Viaduct: Union Pacific’s Joso Bridge carries the Ayer Subdivision over the Snake River […]

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Friends of the 261 acquires two dome cars NEWSWIRE

Steve Glischinski MINNEAPOLIS – The Friends of the 261, owners and operators of Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 No. 261, has purchased two dome cars from Canadian National. The cars are former Western Pacific California Zephyr dome coach Spirit of Superior and Algoma Central dome coach observation No. 901. The cars were last used on CN’s Algoma […]

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Last unpatched C&NW locomotives to be repainted UP NEWSWIRE

C&NW Nos. 8701 and 8646 roll intermodal traffic westbound through Rochelle, Ill. earlier this year. Chris Guss NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Union Pacific is on a quest to create a unified fleet of locomotives all wearing its corporate paint scheme, and the two most visual casualties will be Chicago & North Western C44-9Ws Nos. […]

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Cheyenne to restore Big Boy No. 4004 NEWSWIRE

Union Pacific Big Boy-type 4-8-8-4 No. 4004 as it appeared in a Cheyenne, Wyo., park in 2013. The City of Cheyenne is paying to cosmetically restore the locomotive during 2018. TRAINS: Jim Wrinn CHEYENNE, Wyo. — On Monday, Nov. 27, the Cheyenne City Council approved full funding for the cosmetic restoration of Big Boy No. […]

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Matt Van Hattem’s top 10 railfan spots

A southbound CSX intermodal train skirts the Hudson River at Bear Mountain, N.Y., on May 12, 2011. Three photos, Matt Van Hattem Every region has fascinating places to watch trains, and working at Trains brought me to locations I had always longed to visit as well as great spots I might not have otherwise come […]

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Tom Danneman’s top 10 retreats

Two Montana Rail Link GP9s head up the Paradise Local as it crosses the Clark Fork River in Paradise, Mont. Three photos, Tom Danneman When I was asked to come up with 10 of my favorite spots to view and photograph railroading, I knew it wouldn’t be difficult. The difficulty was picking just 10 spots, […]

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New model trains for the week of November 23, 2017

HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division SDP40F diesel locomotive. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (1985 nose and pilot configuration). Four road numbers. Leslie S3L air horn, illuminated Strato-light beacon, and removed steam generator with blank panels at rear of body. Direct-current model, $219.98; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound decoder, $309.98. October 2018. Genesis series. Athearn Trains, […]

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New products from the January 2018 issue of Classic Toy Trains

ADD SOME COLOR TO YOUR STREETS: MTH is offering four new O gauge PCC streetcar road names in colors sure to please. These include the nos. 30-5163-1 Philadelphia Suburban Transit red car (shown), 30-5165-1 Kansas City Public Service beige PCC, 30-5164-1 San Francisco blue-and-yellow streetcar, and 30-5166-1 Illinois Terminal green-and-white PCC. The cars cost $259.95 […]

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ScaleTrains.com HO scale GEVO Tier 4 diesel

ScaleTrains.com HO scale GEVO Tier 4 diesel The Rivet Counter model features many separate detail parts. ScaleTrains.com HO scale Rivet Counter GEVO Tier 4 engineer’s side profile This top down view shows the prototype-specific detail of the CSX (top) and GE demonstrator (bottom) versions.  The demonstrator also features that larger emissions equipment compartment atop the […]

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