Pennsylvania’s Northern Central Railway to mark 10th anniversary

Modern recreation of 19th-century steam locomotive at wooden passenger station

NEW FREEDOM, Pa. — A 10th-anniversary “Ages of the Railroad” celebration is scheduled for this weekend, June 17-18, on the Northern Central Railway of York nonprofit tourist line in southeastern Pennsylvania. Highlights will include two operating steam locomotives and a diesel, with a range of passenger trips available over varying stretches of the railroad’s 17.5 […]

Read More…

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 […]

Read More…

Santa Fe No. 3415 officially debuts for 2023

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

ABILENE, Kan. — Santa Fe steam locomotive No. 3415 officially debuted for its 2023 operating season on June 10, heading the regular excursion and dinner trains on the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad. This comes after the railroad’s 104-year-old 4-6-2 was temporarily sidelined right before the Memorial Day weekend due to unforeseen repairs needing to […]

Read More…

L&N “Big Emma” on empties

20160607

Louisville & Nashville class M-1 No. 1954, one of 42 “Big Emma” 2-8-4s built by Baldwin and Lima during 1942-49, hurries empty hopper cars east along the road’s Eastern Kentucky Division in September 1954. Philip R. Hastings photo […]

Read More…

Locomotive No. 4960 steams to the Grand Canyon unassisted

Two steam locomotives pulling passenger trains

WILLIAMS, Ariz. — Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel’s 2-8-2 No. 4960 led a charter train on June 10, one week after its scheduled “First Saturday” excursion. The Williams-Grand Canyon National Park trip was part of the itinerary for last week’s National Model Railroad Association’s PSR Grand Canyon Special Convention, hosted by the Arizona Division. With […]

Read More…

Big Boy Men: The genius behind a steam legend

Smoking steam locomotive entering cut on curve. The Big Boy men.

The Big Boy Men William M. Jeffers, Union Pacific Railroad president, and Otto Jabelmann, vice president — research and mechanical standards, began their careers in the lowest ranking positions. Both men were known for their tempers and a belief that the only way to get a job done was to do it with their own […]

Read More…

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 […]

Read More…

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 […]

Read More…

Must-See Big Steam for Summer 2023

CP2816

Summer has arrived, and so has the busy season for museums and tourist railroads! Mainline steam excursions were once a flourishing tradition around this time. While this summer’s schedule is relatively slim, there are still opportunities to experience Big Steam in summer 2023. Here are eight mainline steam locomotives for you to check out. Grand […]

Read More…

Flagging for a PRR 0-6-0

20160620

The conductor of Union Transportation Co.’s daily train raises his hand in warning to an approaching motorist as 0-6-0 5244, leased from UT parent Pennsylvania Railroad, eases over a road crossing in Hornerstown, N.J., on Aug. 28, 1958. Aaron G. Fryer photo […]

Read More…

The promise of Silvis

Steam locomotives inside shop building

When we drove off Illinois Route 92 onto former Rock Island property recently at Silvis, I was singularly focused on seeing steam locomotives. Three of them, to be specific, including one very special engine, former Union Pacific 4-6-6-4 Challenger No. 3985.   The Challenger was among equipment that made headlines last year as Railroading Heritage […]

Read More…

News & Products for the week of June 5th 2023

An image of a model freight car

News & Products for the week of June 5th 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 5th 2023. […]

Read More…