Santa Fe’s Madame Queen deserves some love

Smoking steam locomotives with freight train in mountains

  Family road trips usually involve self-inflicted detours to see park steam engines, “stuffed and mounted” for the sake of local posterity. They’re usually easy to find, thanks to J. David Conrad’s standard reference “Steam Locomotive Directory of North America, Vols. I and II,” which I’ve consulted for decades, or, in a pinch, Google. A […]

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Better as a model: The Lionel turbine locomotive

The Lionel turbine locomotive No. 671

The Lionel turbine locomotive has gone down in history as one of the model maker’s iconic products. From its success, reputation as a great runner, and longevity, you’d think the locomotive it’s based on was one of the greatest of all time. It wasn’t. The Pennsylvania RR S2 Lionel’s 6-8-6 is based on the Class […]

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‘Shay It Forward’ fundraiser at Illinois Railway Museum honors Wrinn

Woman with shovel in cab of steam locomotive

UNION, Ill. — The Illinois Railway Museum on Saturday played host to “Shay It Forward,” a preservation fundraising event held to honor the memory and legacy of late Trains Magazine editor Jim Wrinn, who died March 30, 2022, after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Fundraising activities included throttle time with the museum’s three-truck Shay locomotive, J. […]

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East Broad Top Reborn DVD Trailer

East Broad Top Reborn DVD | 16112 Get an insider look at one of the most intact steam railroads in America! From the publishers of Trains magazine, East Broad Top Reborn DVD follows the rebirth of Pennsylvania’s East Broad Top Railroad from the opening weekend in 2020 through the return of steam locomotive No. 16 for […]

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Summer season in full steam for Santa Fe No. 3415

Steam locomotive with passenger car and gondola for riders in field with trees in background.

ABILENE, Kan. — Steam locomotive No. 3415 turned in another weekend of successful operations on the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad. This comes after headlining the railroad’s 30th anniversary during Father’s Day weekend, which followed multiple sidelines to the locomotive due to unforeseen repairs in late May and issues with the injector in early June. […]

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News & Products for the week of June 26th 2023

An image of a model freight car with red, white and blue paint scheme

News & Products for the week of June 26th 2023 Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of June 26th 2023. […]

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