Diesel-hydraulic locomotives

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Krauss-Maffei diesel-hydraulic No. 9120 pulls an excursion for the Pacific Locomotive Association out of Oakland, Calif., in April 1967. The same organization would later work to restore sister unit No. 9010 to operation. Robert L. Hogan Q What can you tell me about the Krauss-Maffei diesel-hydraulic locomotives that operated in the U.S. in the 1960s? […]

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Tracking train lengths

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Controls for measuring the length of a train (circled) are integrated into the touch screen Video Information Display on an EMD SD70ACe. Tom Danneman Q If an engineer has a train with 100 or more cars and he gets a signal to take the siding, how does he know when he and all the cars […]

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Ask MRVP: Episode 30

David Popp standing in front of an N scale model railroad and holding up his pointer finger.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page His mind might still be on vacation, but our heroic host is still able to answer your questions in a single breath! In this episode, David handles Ask MRVP inquiries related to trackwork, kitbashing, painting, making scenery, buildings structures, prototype car type usage, […]

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Ask MRVP: Episode 30

David Popp standing in front of an N scale model railroad and holding up his pointer finger.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page His mind might still be on vacation, but our heroic host is still able to answer your questions in a single breath! In this episode, David handles Ask MRVP inquiries related to trackwork, kitbashing, painting, making scenery, buildings structures, prototype car type usage, […]

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Railroad business trains

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On June 8, 2015, Montana Rail Link’s business train soars high over the white waters of Fish Creek, near Rivulet, Mont. During this trip, the railroad’s owner, Dennis Washington, hosted business partners aboard the train. Steven Welch Q What is the purpose of railroad business and inspection trains, and who would use them? – Dennis […]

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Ask MRVP: Episode 29

Kent Johnson writing a to-do list on a chalkboard.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page No David? No problem…at least this month! Why? Because you’ve still got the entire MR/MRVP staff ready and willing to help address your hobby questions! This time Jenny, Ben, Cody, Eric, Hal, and even Contributing Editor Gerry Leone pitch in to cover topics […]

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Ask MRVP: Episode 29

Kent Johnson writing a to-do list on a chalkboard.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page No David? No problem…at least this month! Why? Because you’ve still got the entire MR/MRVP staff ready and willing to help address your hobby questions! This time Jenny, Ben, Cody, Eric, Hal, and even Contributing Editor Gerry Leone pitch in to cover topics […]

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Ask MRVP: Episode 28

David Popp walking by a hallway entrance with his hands in the air and making a silly face.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Ask MRVP host David Popp tackles YOUR hobby questions with some assistance from Cody Grivno, Dana Kawala, and even Off The Rails host Gerry Leone! Topics cover benchwork, track, wiring, scenery, modeling, painting and weathering, and plenty more! […]

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Ask MRVP: Episode 28

David Popp walking by a hallway entrance with his hands in the air and making a silly face.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Ask MRVP host David Popp tackles YOUR hobby questions with some assistance from Cody Grivno, Dana Kawala, and even Off The Rails host Gerry Leone! Topics cover benchwork, track, wiring, scenery, modeling, painting and weathering, and plenty more! […]

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Biodiesel fuel in locomotives

Q Certain states require fueling stations to blend biodiesel into diesel fuel for cars and trucks at different times of the year. Do railroads use biodiesel in their locomotives? – Brett Schmidt, Madison, Wis. A Class I railroads, regionals, short lines, and commuter agencies have tried biodiesel with a variety of blends from a 10-percent […]

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Ask MRVP: Episode 27

David Popp and Cody Grivno standing in the MR&T layout room at Kalmbach Media.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page The questions keep coming to Ask MRVP (Thank YOU!), so this month host David Popp enlists help from none other than Cody Grivno. Together they address inquires related to our MR&T HO scale layout, diesel detailing, working with foam scenery, layout trackwork, wiring, […]

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Ask MRVP: Episode 27

David Popp and Cody Grivno standing in the MR&T layout room at Kalmbach Media.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page The questions keep coming to Ask MRVP (Thank YOU!), so this month host David Popp enlists help from none other than Cody Grivno. Together they address inquires related to our MR&T HO scale layout, diesel detailing, working with foam scenery, layout trackwork, wiring, […]

Read More…