Heaviest 4-6-4 Hudsons: Chesapeake & Ohio’s L2a

Heaviest 4-6-4 Hudson steam locomotive under signal bridge

Ask someone to associate a railroad with the heaviest 4-6-4 Hudsons and they’ll likely guess “New York Central.” After all, it was NYC and its supplier, American Locomotive Co., that first developed the 4-6-4 in 1927, and it was NYC that gave the engine its famous name: Hudson, named for the river the Central’s main […]

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William N. Deramus III and Deramus red locomotives

Red-and-white diesel locomotives by shop facility

The three railroads that shared Deramus red locomotives also shared the leadership of William N. Deramus III. He began working on the Wabash in 1939 and served in the U.S. Army Transportation Corps in British India before becoming general manager of the Kansas City Southern after the war. He died Nov. 15, 1989, at age […]

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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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Madison Hardware’s gold Lionel EP-5 shells

Madison Hardware’s gold Lionel EP-5 shells are a story akin to getting lemons and making lemonade. The store sold unusual Lionel trains from all periods of production. Lou Shur and Carl Shaw, the brothers who ran the legendary retail outlet in New York City until it closed in 1989, seemed to have endless supplies of […]

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Adding diesel sound to American Flyer trains

Adding diesel sound to American Flyer trains

Adding diesel sound to American Flyer trains is easier than ever thanks to ready-made electronics. If you can accomplish basic wiring tasks, you can install the needed components. I run a mix of postwar American Flyer and Flyer produced by Lionel. That means with newer stuff I’m quite used to the sounds of modern electronics […]

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Rapido Trains HO scale P-S New Haven County-series baggage-lounge cars

Orange, silver, and black model train passenger cars showing silver baggage door with two small windows.

Rapido Trains HO scale P-S New Haven County-series baggage-lounge cars: Rapido Trains has been a great friend to New Haven passenger train modelers, providing icons such as the EP-5 electric passenger locomotive, EMD FL9s, and an ever-growing fleet of HO scale NH Pullman-Standard stainless-steel and lightweight Osgood-Bradley passenger cars. The most recent additions are the […]

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The MTH Baldwin VO1000 is a sturdy O gauge switcher

MTH Baldwin VO1000 front view

The MTH Baldwin VO1000 switcher has arrived. This Premier line model was announced in mid-April 2022. It’s a solid locomotive for any size layout with wonderfully detailed features. It’s not uncommon for MTH to put smaller locomotives like the VO1000 in its scale RailKing lineup; however, for this run we get a purple box and […]

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Locomotives We Love: Lionel No. 1656 0-4-0 steam engine

Lionel No. 1656 0-4-0 steam engine

Peter H. Riddle has written books and many stories for Classic Toy Trains. What toy train locomotive means the most to you? The beginning of my story is a familiar one, undoubtedly shared by many thousands of other youngsters in the fall of 1948. With Christmas just two months away, my treasured Lionel catalog was […]

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John Grosner’s New Haven Derby Junction in HO scale

First showcased in the April 2009 issue of Model Railroader, John Grosner’s HO scale (1:87.1) 15 x 19-foot model railroad depicts the sights on and along the tracks of Derby Junction, Conn., in the late 1940s to mid 1950s. In this walking/talking video tour of his basement, John’s attention to fine detail brings New Haven […]

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John Grosner’s New Haven Derby Junction in HO scale

First showcased in the April 2009 issue of Model Railroader, John Grosner’s HO scale (1:87.1) 15 x 19-foot model railroad depicts the sights on and along the tracks of Derby Junction, Conn., in the late 1940s to mid 1950s. In this walking/talking video tour of his basement, John’s attention to fine detail brings New Haven […]

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The Lionel Fairbanks-Morse C-Liner rolls out

Lionel Fairbanks Morse C Liner

The Lionel Fairbanks-Morse C-Liner brings a unique look and truck arrangement to O gauge. This Legacy model has plenty of great features and has been released in the following road names: F-M Demonstrator; Pennsylvania; Canadian National; New York Central; Long Island; and New Haven. Check out the control placement! Read more about this engine. Get […]

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The Lionel Fairbanks-Morse H15-44

Lionel Fairbanks Morse H15-44

The Lionel Fairbanks-Morse H15-44 is out and ready to pull whatever you can throw behind it! This O gauge Legacy model has been released in a variety of road names including Rock Island; Central of Georgia; Rio Grande; Kansas City Southern; Monon; and Union Pacific. Reviewer Chris Montagna has a custom-run item from Trainworld in […]

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