HO scale Autoflood III coal hopper from Rapido Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Single car, $59.95; six-pack, $359.70 Era: 2004+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Autoflood III coal hopper features: Die-cast frame and floor Full interior rivet and K-member details Detailed […]
Model steam locomotive troubles and how to fix them: Compiled by John Page, Editor of the Model Railroader, in 1952. Many of the tips here address problems with open-frame motors and direct-current operation. However, many of the same gear and wheel-quartering issue still apply to locomotive models in any scale and manufacture. Model steam locomotive […]
The Lionel American Flyer EP-5 is the latest version of a locomotive with a lot of history in S gauge. The General Electric prototype gained fame in service with the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad. A.C. Gilbert first produced its model numbered 449 in 1956-57 with one motor and a horn. In 1958 […]
Arriving in hobby shops now is the Athearn HO scale General Electric Dash 9-44CW diesel locomotive. The newly tooled model features a variety of railroad-specific details. Road names offered on the first run of the six-axle road locomotive are Canadian National (red, white, and black with “wet noodle” herald); Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (warbonnet); […]
BESSEMER, Ala. — A Norfolk Southern conductor trainee was killed early this morning (Tuesday, Dec. 13) in what is being described as a freak accident, Al.com reports. Bessemer police report they were called to the accident scene about 1 a.m. The trainee and conductor were on a train when it passed another NS train. One […]
NEW ORLEANS — The state of Louisiana, Port of New Orleans, and two major maritime firms on Monday announced plans for the Louisiana International Terminal, a $1.8 billion container facility to be built in Violet, La., on the lower Mississippi River. The project announced by Gov. John Bel Edwards is expected to handle 180,00 to […]
SEATTLE — Sound Transit’s East Link light rail line to Redmond, Wash. — which had been slated to open next year — may not be fully completed until 2025. The transit agency will consider opening a portion of the line in 2024 at an upcoming board meeting. But the delay in opening the East Link […]
RANDOLPH, N.H. — A hiker who fell to his death off the summit of Mt. Willard in Crawford Notch on Saturday, Dec. 10, has been identified as a longtime employee of the Mt. Washington Cog Railway. WMUR-TV reports that New Hampshire Fish and Game officials on Monday identified the victim as Joseph “Eggy” Eggleston, 53, […]
BISMARCK, N.D. — BNSF Railway’s plans to replace a more than century-old bridge across the Missouri River took another step forward Monday, while a preservation group’s effort to stop the bridge project sustained another setback. The Bismarck Tribune reports the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality issued the water quality certification necessary for BNSF to […]
SISSETON, S.D. — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem’s proposed state budget includes $6.25 million to help upgrade the Sisseton-Milbank Railroad, a 37-mile line serving a grain elevator which has deteriorated to the point that traffic can only creep along at 5 mph or less, and averages about one derailment a year. The Mitchell Republic reports […]
NEWARK, N.J. — The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has issued a Request for Qualifications for a 2.5-mile elevated train system to replace the current Newark AirTrain. This is the Port Authority’s second attempt to advance the project, approved by Federal Aviation Administration last year [see “Newark AirTrain project gets federal environmental […]
NEW YORK — Wabtec’s FLXdrive battery-electric locomotive project has been named “Commercial Technology of the Year” at the annual Platts Global Energy Award ceremony, held last week. In a Commodity Insights Magazine report, judges indicated they liked the fact that Wabtec “has engaged a lot of customers” and is “already generating revenue” from the project. […]
