QJ makes last trips before rebuilding

black Chinese-built steam locomotive

SILVIS, Ill. — Chinese-built No. 6988, a QJ 2-10-2, traveled the Iowa Interstate Railroad on Saturday, June 11, and Sunday, June 12, 2022, for a final time before its FRA 15-year inspection and rebuilding. Although the locomotive’s certification has expired the FRA granted a one-time extension for the two trips. The QJs — Nos. 6988 […]

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90200 isn’t just any former locomotive

Passenger train about to pass over water on a bridge in a city landscape.

CHICAGO—Non-powered control unit 90200 isn’t just any former locomotive that lost its prime mover and traction motors when converted to a glorified baggage car with cab controls. Seen here outside Amtrak’s Chicago locomotive shop on June 2, 2022, coupled to an Illinois-owned Siemens SC-44 Charger, the carbody once was number 200. It is the first […]

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Amtrak adds Capitol Limited bike capacity

Amtrak logo.

WASHINGTON—Effective immediately, each departure of the Chicago-Washington, D.C. Capitol Limited is accepting reservations for up to 12 full-size bicycles along the route of a train that parallels popular trails through Maryland, West Virginia, and southern Pennsylvania. Last Friday, Amtrak announced increased capacity through mid-September, “due to high demand.” For $20, passengers can check a bike […]

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Visiting Rapido Trains Inc

Visiting Rapido Trains Inc | As part of their venture north of the U.S. border, Director David Popp and crew were treated to the world headquarters of Rapido Trains Inc, located in the Toronto, Ontario, metro-area. With company founder Jason Shron leading the way, Trains.com cameras captured the office spaces, plus the very employees responsible […]

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Visiting Rapido – Bus and Train Tour

Visiting Rapido – Bus and Train Tour | When David Popp and Ben Lake recently traveled north of the Canadian Border to explore all that’s new with Jason Shron, President of Rapido Trains Inc., they were treated to a special sidetrack trip. On their way to see what new N and HO scale models Rapido […]

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A small yard garden railway

Night scene of model city, view from the street

Small yard garden railway: My wife wanted a big flower garden, and she had bought me a Bachmann Big Haulers Christmas train. How could she not have seen this coming? We live in a mobile home park in West Virginia and have a very small yard, but that didn’t stop us from building a railway. […]

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Glory Days of Montana Rail Link

Cover of PDF: MRL locomotives lead a train through an S curve under blue skies in a flat area.

What was Montana Rail Link is set to be absorbed back into BNSF Railway in 2022. This PDF download is a collection of images and articles that help remember those brief, but oh-so-glorious years when bold, blue locomotives lead freight trains under big skies. Get your download today! […]

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Getting started in model trains

Man and small boy with a model train layout.

We think modeling trains is the World’s Greatest Hobby. Why? Well, flexibility for one: Part art form, part construction project, a model train display can be as simple or as complicated, scenic or functional, as you wish. Plus there is the joy of watching trains run! To get started, see World’s Greatest Hobby’s free booklet, […]

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May/June 2022

Classic Toy Train's May 2022 cover

Also in this issue: EDITOR’S DESK, pg. 4 LETTERS, pg. 6 MODERN ERA NOTES, pg. 8 PHOTO ALBUM, pg. 10 NEWS & PRODUCTS, pg. 14 Items from the Amherst show QUESTIONS & ANSWERS, pg. 18 S GAUGE NOW AND THEN, pg. 20 VIEWS FROM THE UNDERGROUND, pg. 21 WEEKEND WORKSHOP, pg. 48 New life for […]

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June 2022

Model Railroader June 2022 issue

Also in this issue: ON TRAINS.COM, pg. 6 The latest features on our website FROM THE EDITOR, pg. 8 A welcome step toward clarity NEWS & PRODUCTS, pg. 12 Hobby industry news ASK MR, pg. 20 What roads had merchandise service cars? STEP BY STEP, pg. 24 Detailing a station scene DCC CURRENTS, pg. 54 […]

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