Common methods for uncoupling cars

Photo showing two flatcars and assorted uncoupling items.

Automatic knuckle couplers have been a part of model railroading for more than 60 years. Not only do these couplers look more like what you see on full-size locomotives and freight cars, they’re easy to install and use. You can learn more about them in my articles on HO and N scale couplers on Trains.com. […]

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A diesel locomotive’s family tree

Black switch engine with silver stripes

Diesel locomotives Elvis Presley may have had just one broken heart for sale back in 1963, but when it comes to the number of types of diesel locomotives built in the last three decades that you can find on most Class 1 railroads, the right number is five: switchers, light road-switchers, medium road-switchers, high-horsepower road-switchers, […]

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Broadway Limited Imports HO EMD GP30

Title screen of Product Review video featuring Broadway Limited Imports HO scale GP30 diesel locomotive.

In our latest Product Review video, we’ll head down to the quarry on our Milwaukee, Racine & Troy staff layout to see the Broadway Limited Imports HO EMD GP30 in action. Join Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he shares a brief history of Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe No. 2710; points out the […]

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Broadway Limited Imports HO EMD GP30

Title screen of Product Review video featuring Broadway Limited Imports HO scale GP30 diesel locomotive.

In our latest Product Review video, we’ll head down to the quarry on our Milwaukee, Racine & Troy staff layout to see the Broadway Limited Imports HO EMD GP30 in action. Join Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he shares a brief history of Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe No. 2710; points out the […]

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Dynamic braking 101

Wide-field image of an orange locomotive in a barren mountain scene.

The dynamics of dynamic braking A half-century ago, when diesel locomotives were replacing steam engines, a revolutionary breakthrough — dynamic braking — was making freight operations safer and more efficient. Dynamic braking is the method of train braking whereby the kinetic energy of a moving train is used to generate electric current at the locomotive […]

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Diesel locomotive builders explored

Streamlined diesel locomotives under construction

Diesel locomotive builders 1. American Locomotive Company For many years after World War II, Alco — the American Locomotive Company — was the second place diesel builder in the United States. The company’s history as a steam locomotive manufacturer dates from 1901. The Schenectady, N.Y.,-based firm began producing its first diesels in conjunction with suppliers […]

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Thoughts on the Lionel 2024 Big Book catalog

model Berkshire engine with blue paint scheme

The Lionel 2024 Big Book catalog is here! At 228 pages, there’s a lot of products to sort through. I’ve given it a good luck and have thoughts and observations. Maybe you do too. If so, leave a comment or send an email to editor@classictoytrains.com Roger Carp explained the history of when Lionel releases catalogs […]

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