News & Products for the week of August 19th 2024

A black and orange model caboose

News & Products for the week of August 19th 2024   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 August 19th […]

Read More…

Rails to the sky: Cass Scenic Railroad

black steam locomotive on track in woods

Cass Scenic Railroad THIS IS A STORY ABOUT ONE SUMMER in the life of a fireman on the Cass Scenic Railroad in Cass, W.Va. I was hired in 1972 as a shop hand and extra fireman. I worked about six months in the shop and then was put on as regular fireman on the short […]

Read More…

More semaphores fall on Southwest Chief route

Passenger train passing semaphore signals

LAMY, N.M. — The last segment of U.S. mainline railroad still using semaphore signals has gotten smaller. Railroad officials in New Mexico replaced five semaphores with modern day CTC signals on Saturday, Aug.17, on a stretch between Lamy and Cerrillos on a section of original Santa Fe now owned by the state of New Mexico. […]

Read More…

Canadian National DC to AC fleet expands

red and black locomotive on track

CN DC to AC Canadian National is receiving its next DC-to-AC rebuilds this summer. The first conversions already on CN’s roster are 50 former Canadian National C44-9Ws converted to AC-traction AC44C6Ms by Wabtec in its Ft. Worth, Texas, facility in 2022 and 2023. The latest group of rebuilds on order include additional AC44C6Ms and EMD […]

Read More…

Ask Trains.com August 2024 compilation

Ask Trains.com August 2024 compilation | From our new Firecrown Media office space in Wisconsin, host Cody Grivno fields a wide array of modeling and prototype railroading questions. This month Cody addresses your questions regarding locomotive paint schemes for the legendary MR&T HO scale layout; airbrushing skills; prototypical placement of railcar data; selecting industry-appropriate freight […]

Read More…

Views from a Colorado narrow gauge garden railroad

model steam engine next to yellow structure on garden railway

I model Colorado narrow gauge, specifically the Denver & Rio Grande Western and Rio Grande Southern. I own two separate garden railroads (not connected and about 8 feet apart). Trains run around approximately 250 feet of mainline tracks with a couple of short lines for logging and running the Galloping Goose. I can run five […]

Read More…

New York Central diesel roster showed diversity

Black-and-white three-quarter-angle photo of road-switcher diesel locomotive .

The New York Central diesel roster showed diversity in an era known for experimentation.     Major railroads with deep financial pockets have the freedom to spend money for equipment like the proverbial kid in the candy store. Among them, you’d have to include the mighty New York Central. Nicknamed the “The Water Level Route,” […]

Read More…

News photos: Reading & Northern officially opens Nesquehoning station

Ribbon-cutting ceremony at train station

NESQUEHONING, Pa. — Port Clinton, Pa., based-Reading & Northern officially opened the newest station for its busy passenger excursion business on Saturday, Aug. 17, holding a ceremony for the new facility on its Nesquehoning campus that also includes training and mechanical facilities. The ribbon-cutting preceded an excursion featuring former Reading Co. T-1 4-8-4 No. 2102, […]

Read More…