Rapido Alco PA-1 and PB-1 series diesel locomotives

Two red and silver streamlined diesel locomotives

Alco PA-1 and PB-1 diesel locomotives Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model – PA-1, $225; PA-1 and PB-1 set, $425. With dual-mode sound decoder – PA-1, $335; PA-1 and PB-1 set, $625. Era: 1946 to 1970s (varies depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Alco PA and PB […]

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Pullman-Standard 60-foot double-door auto parts boxcar

Model of green boxcar in front of white background

Pullman-Standard 60-foot double-door auto parts boxcar Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $34.98 ($29.98 undecorated) Era: 1960s to 2000s Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com 60-foot Pullman-Standard double door auto parts boxcar features: Updated tooling with new car sides Based on cars with 10- and 6-foot doors 70-ton trucks […]

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New York Central 40-foot steel boxcars from Broadway Limited Imports

Four brown boxcar models with white background

40-foot steel boxcars Scale: N (1:160) Price: Two pack, $54.99; four-pack, $104.99 Era: 1922+ to 1970s (varies depending on railroad) Manufacturer: Broadway Limited Imports LLC, 9 East Tower Circle, Ormond Beach, FL 32174; 386-673-8900; broadway-limited.com 40-foot steel boxcars feature: ABS plastic body and chassis Metal wheelsets Separate, factory-applied doors, running boards, brake wheel, and brake […]

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Lionel F3 sets that never were

Lionel catalog page with train sets

Lionel F3 sets that never existed are a constant source of conversation among collectors. One area of focus is the late 1940s. Amid the ordinary items produced in vast quantities, there were some advertised that were probably never produced – but maybe they were. Lionel’s first O gauge F3 diesels came in freight sets with […]

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Toledo, Peoria and Western strike ends

Two women stand in front of a steam locomotive with large ice block

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story appeared in the June 1947 issue of Trains magazine following the resumption of service on the strike-crippled Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway.     Things are peaceful again after the Toledo, Peoria and Western strike ends. The bitter 19-month strike which was climaxed by the murder of President George McNear is […]

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The runaway train that didn’t

Streamlined, double-ended electric locomotive with passenger train

Mountain railroading always gave the opportunity for a runaway train. In 1949, I was working out of the small town of Avery, Idaho, on the Milwaukee Road. The railroad crossed the Bitterroot Mountains on a 1.7% grade through St. Paul Pass. The grade began just east of the Avery depot. Avery was a crew-change, engine-change, […]

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Life of a railroad tower operator

Wooden interlocking tower along two track rail line where railroad tower operator works

I was working as a relief railroad tower operator on the Lehigh Valley in the late steam era. It was a beautiful late-summer evening when I left an Athens, Pa., diner and began walking along North Main Street. It was quiet as there was little traffic on this main artery that connected the Wilkes-Barre area, […]

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American Z Line September 2022 diesel locomotive announcements

Red, yellow, and black train locomotive with white background

Additional American Z Line diesel locomotive announcements for September 2022 Scale: Z (1:220) Price: Contact manufacturer Era: Southern Pacific Electro-Motive Division SW1500 diesel locomotive, 1980s. Cotton Belt Alco PA-1 diesel locomotive, 1956 to January 1960 (as decorated). Manufacturer: American Z Line, 6142 Northcliff Blvd., Dublin, OH 43016; 614-764-1703; americanzline.com EMD SW1500 features: AutoLatch couplers Prototype-specific details Directional light-emitting-diode lighting Blackened […]

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HO and N scale PS-2 2,600-cubic-foot capacity covered hopper

Drawing of orange covered hopper

PS-2 2,600-cubic-foot capacity covered hopper Scale: HO (1:87.1) and N (1:160) Price: HO, $51.99; N, $36.99 Era: 1965 to present (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com PS-2 2,600-cubic-foot-capacity covered hopper features: Flush or overhanging roof as appropriate Etched metal crossover platforms (HO) and running boards (HO and N) […]

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Athearn 40-foot ballast hopper

Drawing of a green ballast hopper

40-foot ballast hopper Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Single car, $42.99; four-pack, $149.99 Era: 1960s to present (varies depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com  40-foot ballast hopper features: Removable load Separate, factory-applied wire grab irons and brake wheel Injection-molded plastic body Body-mounted McHenry scale couplers Solid nickel silver wheels with RP-25 […]

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Atlas Model Railroad Co. Electro-Motive Division SD24

Screen capture of video clip.

A new run of Electro-Motive Division SD24 diesel locomotives is available now from Atlas Model Railroad Co. Join Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he hosts a Product Review video of this HO scale six-axle road locomotive. See the details and lighting effects, listen to the sounds from the dual-mode ESU LokSound decoder, and watch it […]

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Atlas Model Railroad Co. Electro-Motive Division SD24

Screen capture of video clip.

A new run of Electro-Motive Division SD24 diesel locomotives is available now from Atlas Model Railroad Co. Join Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he hosts a Product Review video of this HO scale six-axle road locomotive. See the details and lighting effects, listen to the sounds from the dual-mode ESU LokSound decoder, and watch it […]

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