Oddball diesels in North America: Oddball diesel locomotives are the exception, not the rule. For the most part, North American railroads are interested in performance and reliability when it comes to motive power. And why not? A disabled locomotive at the point of a freight train going nowhere is not something – from the people […]
Section: Videos & Photos
Amtrak insider travel tips from Marc Magliari
Trains.com Director David Popp sits down with Amtrak spokesperson Marc Magliari for a casual conversation about traveling aboard Amtrak’s Empire Builder, one of America’s premiere, long-distance passenger trains. On the Empire Builder route between Chicago, Ill., and Seattle, Wash./Portland, Ore., passengers get to experience bustling urban centers and the natural beauty of two mountain ranges. […]
Metropolitan Lounge Chicago Union Station — Amtrak’s Midwest rest stop
Chicago, Ill., is a key waypoint for America’s vast railroad network. As a passenger aboard most of Amtrak’s long-distance trains, it’s likely you’ll make a stop in the Chicago Union Station. While you’re there, learn how you can enjoy a relaxing visit to the exclusive lounge area at the center of this historic structure. The […]
Amtrak Hiawatha adventure in 2022
Discover just how easy and affordable it is to travel about the United States by passenger train! In this video you’ll see why the Chicago, Ill., to Milwaukee, Wis., route, serviced by Amtrak’s multiple daily Hiawatha trains, is one of the most popular in the nation! The Hiawatha service provides easy access for those living […]
Superliner dining on Amtrak
A significant part of the Amtrak long-distance service centers around the onboard dining experience. Rightfully so, as there’s nothing better than enjoying a good meal paired with stunning scenery! When traveling on Amtrak’s premier long-distance trains, sleeping car passengers are provided with complimentary meals in the dining car, including breakfast, lunch and dinner. Amtrak’s website […]
Amtrak Superliner roomettes adventure
When riding aboard an Amtrak long-distance train, you’ll find that reserving a sleeping car accommodation is a great way to make your trek more relaxing and enjoyable! The most economical of sleeping car options is a Superliner Roomette. By day, this space features two facing seats. By night, a Roomette converts into two berths, an […]
National Train Show 2022 Report
National Train Show 2022 Report | Following a two-year pandemic hiatus, Model Railroader Editor Eric White and Senior Editor Cody Grivno attended the NMRA Gateway 2022 National Convention and National Train Show in the St. Louis, Mo., area. In this post-show (August 12-14, 2022) report, you’ll hear their unvarnished impressions of both events, along with […]
20 Amtrak locomotives featured in Model Railroader
20 Amtrak locomotives featured in Model Railroader As we celebrate Amtrak week at Trains.com, we thought it would be fun to take a look back at 20 Amtrak locomotives featured in Model Railroader magazine over the past two decades. As I was compiling this list, I was surprised just how many Amtrak models were produced […]
Pennsylvania RR class K4 4-6-2 from Bachmann
Pennsylvania RR class K4 4-6-2 from Bachmann Senior Editor Cody Grivno hosts this Product Review video featuring the Pennsylvania RR (PRR) class K4 Pacific steam locomotive from Bachmann Trains. The 4-6-2 paid a visit to our Milwaukee, Racine & Troy staff layout, where it led a short train of heavyweight passenger cars. Details on the […]
Midday Modeler — 08-17-2022 — recorded LIVE
Midday Modeler — 08-17-2022 — Join the crew of Model Railroader for more adventures in model railroading! Midday Modeler is a new, regular video segment, recorded live and unscripted from Kalmbach Media beginning in February 2022. The segment features Kalmbach Media staff modeling and talking about model railroads in a casual format. It is unscripted […]
Modeling Foreground Trees | Let’s Make a Scene: Spring & Fall, Part 5
Modeling Foreground Trees | Follow host Kathy Millatt’s Let’s Make a Scene video series on trains.com, to see how she builds up a forest of trees at the front and center of her seasonal scenery dioramas. Even better, Kathy has also documented many of her expert modeling processes in the Kalmbach Media/Model Railroader book, Building […]
A Mikado out West, a Reading diesel in Pennsylvania, and a UP freight on the Plains
September 2022 Trackside Photos Send us your photos Trackside Photos is a showcase for the work of Model Railroader readers. Send your photos (digital images 5 megapixels or larger) to: Model Railroader, Trackside Photos, P.O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612; or upload them to fileupload.kalmbach.com/contribute. For our photo submission guidelines, contact senior associate editor […]