The Lionel trains in The Fabelmans movie will enthrall postwar O gauge enthusiasts, if only for a little while. The motion picture, released in November 2022, provides a partially autobiographical look at the early life of famed director Steven Spielberg. At the beginning of The Fabelmans, young Sammy Fabelman – based on Spielberg – is […]
Rainier Rail summary Rainier Rail (WRL) is a short line railroad that operates in southwestern Washington. It’s controlled by WRL, LLC as part of the Frontier Rail group of companies under Paul and Robert Didelius’ leadership. This includes the Columbia Rail group of short lines in eastern Wash., and Oregon. With nearly 40 miles of […]
Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad Corporation summary The Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad Corporation (WNYP) is a short line railroad that operates across southwestern New York and northwestern Pennsylvania. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Livonia Avon and Lakeville Railroad. With 330 miles of standard-gauge track, the railroad is renowned for rostering […]
West Virginia Line summary The West Virginia Line (RJCV) is a short line railroad, owned by R.J. Corman Railroad Group, that operates in the mountains of West Virginia. Starting at the railroad and coal town of Thurmond, the line travels 18 miles west to Pax. History Long before serving under R.J. Corman, the West Virginia […]
Washington County Railroad summary The Washington County Railroad (WACR) is a short line railroad that operates in Vermont. It’s a subsidiary of Vermont Rail System, a privately held firm that is owned by the Wulfson family for more than 50 years. The railroad uses multiple divisions of standard-gauge track throughout the state from Montpelier to […]
Omaha Lincoln and Beatrice Railway Company summary The Omaha Lincoln and Beatrice Railway Company (OLB) is a short line railroad that operates in Lincoln, Nebraska. Known as the “Big Red Line,” it’s owned by NEBCO Incorporated. Roughly 8 miles of standard-gauge track is used as part of a Class III switching operation out of downtown […]
West Michigan Railroad Company summary The West Michigan Railroad Company (WMI) is a short line railroad that operates in southwest Michigan. It’s owned by Hamilton Hartford Group LLC, led by Linus Starring. The railroad traverses a standard-gauge branch line of the former Pere Marquette Railway heading east from Hartford, Mich. History Years before Hamilton Hartford’s […]
Northern Lines Railway summary The Northern Lines Railway (NLR) is a short line railroad that operates in central Minnesota. Although under BNSF Railway’s ownership, the line is operated by Anacostia Rail Holdings Company. At 17 miles of standard-gauge track, the route is set up as a giant letter “Y” in an east-to-west direction from the […]
Pacific Harbor Line summary The Pacific Harbor Line (PHL) is a Class III short line railroad that operates in Southern California. It’s owned by Anacostia Rail Holdings, a privately held firm that manages multiple short lines throughout the United States. Though only using over 19 miles of standard-gauge track, the railroad serves the busy ports […]
UP Challenger No. 3985 On Jan. 6, Railroading Heritage of Midwest America began work on UP Challenger No. 3985 at its shop in Silvis, Ill. The main focus of the day was first to move the Milwaukee Road turntable from Bensenville, Ill., donated by Canadian Pacific to the Silvis sandblasting booth where it will be […]
Builder’s plate Imagine walking around all of your life with your birth certificate attached to your forehead. Anyone could walk up to you and in one glance (assuming they understood your birth certificate’s cryptic codes) ascertain your age, lineage, weight, maybe how many legs you should have, and possibly how much work you can do. […]
Meet James Kottkamp How did you get started in the hobby? My interest in model trains came from the real thing. After church on Sundays, Dad would park the car next to the Missouri Pacific Railroad tracks in Kirkwood, Mo. Kirkwood was the crest of the hill; westbound from St. Louis and eastbound from Valley […]
