The big picture

  A westbound Union Pacific manifest freight works its way toward Los Angeles in October 2013 in the “Blue Cut” section of California’s famed Cajon Pass. With the lead locomotives a mile away in the distance, you gain a better perspective of magnitude of the San Gabriel Mountains and the challenges railroads overcame more than […]

Read More…

ScaleTrains.com HO scale UP water tenders

ScaleTrains.com HO scale UP water tenders Both ends of the ScaleTrains.com tenders feature independently controlled lights. Union Pacific’s steam excursion program began almost as soon as the use of regular steam power ceased on the railroad in 1960. Over the years, the UP has operated FEF-3 4-8-4 no. 844 and Challenger 4-6-6-4 no. 3985 in […]

Read More…

BIG BOY WORK BEGINS NEWSWIRE

Union Pacific 4-8-4 No. 844 acts as a shop switcher to place 4-8-8-4 No. 4014 on a turntable at the railroad’s Cheyenne, Wyo., shops in July. Hayley Enoch CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Two weeks after Union Pacific 4-8-4 No. 844’s successful excursion for the 2016 Cheyenne Frontier Days, the railroad says that the Heritage Operations team […]

Read More…

Lancaster & Chester receives new six-axle power NEWSWIRE

A new mother-slug combination arrives at South Carolina’s Lancaster & Chester Railroad recently. David B. Clarke New power recently arrived on the Lancaster & Chester in Chester, S.C., with fresh blue paint. The mother-slug combination is the first six-axle power the railroad has ever received, with the mother being the SD40T-2 (ex-Union Pacific No. 8802, […]

Read More…

New model trains for the week of July 28, 2016

HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division E8Am and E9A diesel locomotives. E8Am: Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe. Four road numbers (two each in DC and Digital Command Control). E9A: Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (post-1959 repaint). Three road numbers (one in DC, two in DCC). Both models feature metallic finish, railroad-specific details, die-cast metal underframe, and Proto-Max […]

Read More…

N scale Geneva Subdivision

Name: Geneva Subdivision Layout owner: Daryl Kruse Scale: N (1:160) Size: 25 x 48 feet Prototype: Union Pacific (ex-Chicago & North Western) Locale: Northern Illinois Era: Present Style: single deck Mainline run: 160 feet Minimum radius: 36″ Turnouts: no. 10 (mainline), no. 8 (secondary and yard track) Maximum grade: 0.5 percent Benchwork: open-grid Height: 55″ […]

Read More…

2016 National Train Show report, part 1

Athearn HO scale Electro-Motive Division GP40P-2 diesel locomotive HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division GP40P-2 diesel locomotive. Southern Pacific (American Revolution Bicentennial scheme in one road number, scarlet and gray in two numbers). Single rear headlight, detailed cab interior, long hood with steam generator, split fuel tank with steam generator water tank, and train indicator number […]

Read More…

Amtrak releases ‘Southwest Chief’ Pueblo extension report NEWSWIRE

The Southwest Chief Commission wants to use the Pueblo Union Station, pictured here in this July 28, 2013 view. Bob Johnston PUEBLO, Colo. — An Amtrak revenue and ridership study requested by the Colorado Department of Transportation’s Southwest Chief Rail Line Economic Development, Rural Tourism, and Infrastructure Repair and Maintenance Commission Fund projects that the […]

Read More…

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 […]

Read More…

CSX begins testing EMD SD70ACe T4 demonstrators NEWSWIRE

EMDX SD70ACe T4s Nos. 1609 1610 are being outfitted for demonstration service at CSX’s Queensgate Yard locomotive shop on June 19, 2016. J.E. Landrum CINCINNATI, Ohio – Railfans along CSX Transportation’s Cincinnati to Nashville, Tenn., rail lines may have caught a glimpse of new Electro-Motive Division SD70ACe Tier 4 demonstrators early this week. EMDX SD70ACe […]

Read More…

Walthers HO scale Capitol Limited

The Walthers HO scale Capitol Limited is lead by two prototype-specific Electro-Motive Division E units EMD E9A, EMD E8Bm, PS baggage-dormitory-coffee shop-lounge, and Budd Slumbercoach sleeper Pullman-Standard 56-seat coach, Pullman Standard Strata-Dome coach, Pullman-Standard kitchen-dormitory, and Pullman-Standard 56-seat diner Budd Strata-Dome sleeper, Budd 16-4 sleeper, Pullman-Standard 10-6 sleeper, and Pullman-Standard 5-bedroom buffet lounge observation car […]

Read More…

UP No. 844 moved under her own power Thursday NEWSWIRE

Union Pacific 4-8-4 Northern-type No. 844 pictured at LaSalle, Colo., in 2009. Sources in Cheyenne, Wyo., say the giant locomotive had a steam test this week in preparation for a July return to mainline operation. Bruce A. Daugherty CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Working toward returning their much loved 4-8-4 to the high iron, the Union Pacific […]

Read More…