A great diesel: EMD SD40

Three red diesels lead freight train

For railroading, the EMD SD40, was a stellar standout.     Between January 1966 and August 1972, more than 1,250 units were built, with orders coming from most major railroads. Through upgrades and rebuildings, many are still working today, some still on mainline trains, others rebuilt and earning their keep on short lines. So well […]

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Fox Valley Models HO 55-ton hopper

Color image of three HO scale hopper cars.

Fox Valley Models, a ScaleTrains company, has released an HO scale 55-ton two-bay hopper. The model, based on a United States Railroad Administration (USRA) prototype, features plastic and die-cast metal construction, 33” metal wheelsets, and semi-scale Type E knuckle couplers. Prototype information With railroads facing equipment shortages during World War I, the USRA designed five […]

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Model Railroad Equipment Buyer’s Guide 1965-66

catalog page with train sets

Tucked away in a drawer, I discovered a “Model Railroad Equipment Buyer’s Guide 1965-66” booklet, published by Kalmbach Publishing. It contained a variety of books, tools, and yes, model trains.  While the majority of the booklet focused on HO scale trains, page seven was a surprise. It contains several American Flyer train sets and scenic […]

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Jim Hediger’s HO scale Detroit Western RR

Color photo showing yard scene on model railroad.

Jim Hediger, a member of the Model Railroader staff for 43 years, passed away on February 9, 2024. His family generously donated his slide collection to Kalmbach Media. While going through the images, I found several slides featuring Jim’s HO scale Detroit Western RR. The layout was the successor to the 5 x 9-foot NJ&E […]

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Atlas N scale Fairbanks-Morse Train Master

Title screen of Product Review video with N scale locomotive painted gray, maroon, and yellow.

The Atlas N scale Fairbanks-Morse Train Master, a part of the Master Line since 2000, is the subject of our latest Product Review video. Senior Editor Cody Grivno kicks things off by sharing a brief history of Erie-Lackawanna H24-66 No. 1854. Then he points features on the injection-molded plastic shell and demonstrates some of the […]

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Atlas N scale Fairbanks-Morse Train Master

Title screen of Product Review video with N scale locomotive painted gray, maroon, and yellow.

The Atlas N scale Fairbanks-Morse Train Master, a part of the Master Line since 2000, is the subject of our latest Product Review video. Senior Editor Cody Grivno kicks things off by sharing a brief history of Erie-Lackawanna H24-66 No. 1854. Then he points features on the injection-molded plastic shell and demonstrates some of the […]

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The Yampa Valley arrives at Denver

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Rio Grande train 10, the Yampa Valley, threads through Union Pacific’s 20th Street Yard at right and the Burlington’s coach yard at left to arrive at Denver Union Station in early 1965. The Yampa Valley was a daytime coach-and-mail train running to Craig, Colo. George H. Drury photo […]

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Professor Carp: Lionel 6464-series boxcars

Classic Toy Trains’ Senior Editor Roger Carp, a.k.a Professor Carp, is joined by Postwar Lionel Trains authority Joe Algozzini for a quick study of the ubiquitous Lionel 6464-series boxcar. The two take a close look at the first car of this boxcar series, the No. 6464-1 Western Pacific model and it’s plethora of variations. Settle […]

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Chief and Super Chief at Albuquerque

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At Albuquerque, N.Mex., Santa Fe No. 17, the Super Chief (at left behind E units) has caught up to a late-running train 19, the Chief, at 4:20 p.m. on a spring day in 1946. The Super left Chicago 7 hours after No. 19 and was scheduled to arrive in Los Angeles 1 hour 15 minutes […]

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Plan with a postwar vibe

drawing of track plan

The station scene is in front. It gets its postwar look from the vintage accessories, starting with the Lionel Nos. 133 Passenger Station, 157 Station Platform, and 356 Operating Freight Station. Flanking the stations are a No. 138 Water Tower and a No. 128 Operating Newsstand. Two spur tracks are behind the station. One features […]

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RF&P E8 passenger diesel

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Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac E8 1001, posing for its builder’s photo in November 1949, was one of 15 E8As (and 5 E8Bs) owned by the railroad. RF&P’s dark blue and gray color scheme reflected its slogan: “Links North and South.” Electro-Motive photo […]

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