How do I control a turnout with a slide switch?

A skewer is used to move a slide switch disguised as a switch stand to control a turnout

Q: I want to use Tony Koester’s method to control a turnout with a slide switch. Do you know if he powers the frog with this switch or just moves the points? If he powers the frog, how is it wired? – Don DeLay A: The technique to control a turnout with a slide switch […]

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CB&Q troop train departing Aurora

Burlington Route 2-8-2 in Aurora, Illinois

Burlington Route 2-8-2 5304 pulls out of the station at Aurora, Ill., 38 miles west of Chicago, with 22 empty standard Pullmans and troop sleepers in February 1946. The equipment is likely headed to the Pacific Coast for a load of demobilizing troops. Henry J. McCord photo […]

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10 tips for a better holiday toy train display

Model steam engine in Christmas scene

10 tips for a better holiday toy train display With the holidays on the way, we at Classic Toy Trains wanted to share ways to have a better holiday toy train display. Here are 10 tips from hobbyist David Smith. 1. Traditional O-27 tubular track allows for more varied track plans in a small space. […]

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A track plan for under the Christmas tree

A sketch on graph paper of a circular track plan with a hole in the center for a Christmas tree

A lot of railroad modelers got their start in the hobby when they received a train set for Christmas. I’d bet that most of them woke up to find the train not in a box but running in circles under the tree. What dad could resist setting up the train “just to test it?” Arranging […]

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Hitachi Rail will build, maintain, operate equipment for new Toronto subway line

Rendering of subway train in station

TORONTO — Hitachi Rail and its consortium partners will build, maintain, and operate driverless subway trains for Toronto’s 15.6-kilometer (9.7-mile) Ontario Line project under a C$9 billion agreement, Hitachi announced this week. The agreement with Infrastructure Ontario and regional transportation agency Metrolinx covers rolling stock, and well as related systems, and operations and maintenance for […]

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Late bid leads to new owner for San Luis & Rio Grande

Colorado Pacific logo

ALAMOSA, Colo. — In late bidding that trustee William Brandt described as “spirited” to a local newspaper, a short line owned by a Colorado billionaire has won the bankruptcy auction for the San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad. The Colorado Pacific Railroad, owned by Stefan Soloviev, a billionaire farmer and son of late New York […]

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CSX selects engineering, consulting firm to oversee Virginia projects

Virginia_Map

PITTSBURGH — Engineering and consulting firm Michael Baker International will lead program and construction management for projects in the Transforming Rail in Virginia initiative, CSX Transportation has announced. Some $3.7 billion in design and construction projects between Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Va., are involved. The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority is the lead state agency in […]

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Union Pacific “hospital” train detoured onto Iowa Interstate

gray steam locomotive

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – The “hospital” train ferrying historic Union Pacific steam locomotives and other equipment to Silvis, Ill. was detoured onto the Iowa Interstate Railroad at Council Bluffs this morning. The train has been making a slow move across the UP main line since departing Cheyenne, Wyo. on Nov. 11. The slow speed of […]

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Civic group “adopts” Santa Fe locomotive

ATSF train with two guys in front of it

SANTA FE, N.M. — Santa Fe 2-10-4 No. 5030, displayed in a Santa Fe park since 1959, is getting a refresh thanks to the Old Santa Fe Association. Volunteers from the civic association cleared trash and weeds and set up a new fence around the 380,300-pound machine. They repaired some of the rust and corroded […]

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