Strasburg collision damages No. 475, no one hurt

Steam locomotive passes standing passenger cars

PARADISE, Pa. — Strasburg Rail Road’s 4-8-0 steam engine No. 475 collided with a tracked excavator or “trackhoe” parked on a spur Wednesday morning, Nov. 2, punching a hole in the engine’s smokebox. No injuries resulted and the engine, running light, remained on the track. A combination of a misaligned switch — apparently left open when […]

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Lionel Disney Frozen II train set review

Lionel Disney Frozen II train set

The Lionel Disney Frozen II train set is a great way to make new memories. But let’s look at some old ones first. When you think back, what was the impetus that got you into this hobby of model trains? Usually, those stories begin with a family member, perhaps grandparent, dad, uncle, or brother that […]

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Mainline railroading in the 1950s

yellow model diesel locomotive on garden railway

Mainline railroading in the 1950s Railway at a glance Name: Spring Creek Railroad Size of railroad: Roughly 24′ x 62′ Scale: 1:29, 1:20.3, and 1:32 Gauge: 45mm Era: Circa 1950s Theme: Mainline railroading, mostly passenger and freight; some narrow gauge and branch/trolley line on the inner loop Age: 14 years Motive power: Live steam, track […]

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Canadian Pacific 4-4-0s

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Two of Canadian Pacific’s final three 4-4-0s are seen at Chipman, N.B., in November 1953. Engine 136 is getting ready for the daily run to Norton while No. 144, main rods off and stack covered, watches; sister No. 29 occupied a stall in the enginehouse nearby. Philip R. Hastings photo […]

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Great Northern 4-8-4 from Broadway Limited Imports

Screen capture of product review video.

A Great Northern 4-8-4 from Broadway Limited Imports (BLI) is the latest visitor to our HO scale Milwaukee, Racine & Troy staff layout. The Brass-Hybrid model is offered in open and vestibule cab versions with a Glacier Green boiler in three road numbers each. The model is also available with an open cab and black […]

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Great Northern 4-8-4 from Broadway Limited Imports

Screen capture of product review video.

A Great Northern 4-8-4 from Broadway Limited Imports (BLI) is the latest visitor to our HO scale Milwaukee, Racine & Troy staff layout. The Brass-Hybrid model is offered in open and vestibule cab versions with a Glacier Green boiler in three road numbers each. The model is also available with an open cab and black […]

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Most expensive 2-8-4s: L&N’s ‘Big Emma’ M-1s

Most expensive 2-8-4 posed for portrait in empty rail yard

The most expensive 2-8-4s were Louisville & Nashville’s “Big Emma” M-1s. Perhaps no latter-day steam locomotive wheel arrangement matched the 2-8-4 for dual service, a term for overall efficiency across multiple assignments. Introduced in 1924 by Lima Locomotive Works as the first exponent of what it called “Super Power” — a promotional phrase to highlight […]

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Central of Georgia locomotives remembered

Colorful Central of Georgia locomotive passing through station without train

Central of Georgia locomotives bought a great deal of variety to the South. When the Central of Georgia Railway was organized in 1895, it had 214 steam locomotives of the 4-4-0, 4-6-0, and 2-6-0 types. The roster was expanded in the early 1900s with 2-8-0s, 2-8-2s, 2-10-2s, 4-6-2s, 4-8-2s, and, briefly, 2-6-6-2s. Many of these […]

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Rolling by on the hill

Rolling by on the hill--steam locomotive on garden railway

Name: Ray Wheeler Railroad Name: Jericho & Mt Zion Railway Location: Lynnwood, WA Scale: large scale Theme: Tourist railroad with freight operations in the modern era. Description: “Rollin’ By on the Hill” – J&MtZ trains rolling by on the 3% grade at Laurel Jct. Music from YouTube Sound, “Everything Where It Needs To Be” by […]

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UP 2-8-8-0 in the Blue Mountains

Union Pacific 2-8-8-0 in the Blue Mountains

The Union Pacific’s 3500-class 2-8-8-0s were often found lugging freights in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon. Here, No. 3532 pulls 70 cars of an extra freight upgrade west of La Grande, Ore., in July 1948. Henry R. Griffiths Jr. photo […]

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UP plans move of Challenger, other donated equipment Nov. 11-19

Steam locomotive passes electric locomotive

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Union Pacific has announced plans for its “Heritage Donation Special,” moving two steam locomotives, its Centennial diesel, and other equipment, from Cheyenne to the  Railroading Heritage of Midwest America facility in Silvis, Ill., Nov. 11-19. The schedule was announced in an email to UP Steam Club members. The train will include Challenger […]

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