A tribute to Allen McClelland

Photo of two trains passing on HO scale layout

One of the hobby’s most influential contributors, W. Allen McClelland, died at age 88 on October 28, 2022, following a massive stroke the previous day. He had been his usual ebullient self to the very end. I had the privilege of knowing and working with Allen beginning in 1970, and along with Doug Gurin and […]

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Repel deer and rabbits from your garden railway

Bag of blood meal, bag of bone meal, and kitchen spices

There are as many suggested ways to repel deer and rabbits as there are baby bunnies in my neighborhood. Physical barriers (fences) are probably the only sure-fire way to keep critters out of your railroad, but are expensive, often impractical, and usually unsightly. Next in order of effectiveness is to use plants that are less […]

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Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe mechanical reefers from Rapido Trains

Drawing of orange boxcars in different paint schemes

Santa Fe RR-56/60/61 mechanical reefer Scale: N (1:160) Price: Single car, $41.95; four-pack, $167.80 Era: 1955+ (varies depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Santa Fe mechanical reefer features: Separate, factory-applied door posts, door latches, and uncoupling levers Underframe piping and equipment Cushion draft gear detail Positionable roof […]

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News photo: First remanufactured CN units now in operation

Shiny new read and black locomotives on freight train

LONDON, Ontario — The first two Canadian National locomotives in an order for 50 remanufactured AC44C6M units are now in service. Nos. 3300 and 3301 were photographed Sunday, Oct. 30, in London, Ont., on CN’s Dundas Subdivision. No. 3300 was part of a ceremony involving CN and Wabtec officials at Wabtec’s Fort Worth, Texas, plant […]

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Amtrak Midwest equipment problems continue

Passenger train passing additional passenger cars in yard

CHICAGO — “A shortage of available train equipment” is being blamed for the ongoing cancellation of the Illinois-sponsored service between Chicago and St. Louis scheduled to provide a 10 a.m. arrival into Chicago and 5:15 p.m. departure out of the Windy City. Lincoln Service train Nos. 300 and 305 originally had been scheduled to resume […]

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Classic railroad stations to be honored with postage stamps

Postage-stamp art of train station

WASHINGTON — Five classic railroad stations will be featured on a series of postage stamps issued in 2023 by the U.S. Postal Service. Stations included in the series are the Art Deco landmark Cincinnati Union Terminal, which opened in 1933; the Victorian structure at Point of Rocks, Md., completed in 1876; Richmond, Va., Main Street […]

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Companies selected for preliminary work on Glassboro-Camden light rail

Image of light-rail train arriving at station

CAMDEN, N.J. — South Jersey Transit Partners, a joint venture of infrastructure consulting firm AECOM and architectural and enginerering company STV Inc., will handle preliminary engineering and design and project management for the Glassboro-Camden Line light rail project. The 18-mile, 14-station project is being managed by the Delaware River Port Authority with NJ Transit and […]

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Canadian Pacific 4-4-0s

20141014

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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Swiss narrow gauge railway sets record for world’s longest passenger train

Very long red passenger train winding through mountains

After months of preparations, Swiss meter gauge rail company Rhätische Bahn/Rhaetian Railway (RhB) set a new world record for the longest passenger train Saturday, Oct. 29, with a 100-car special train, formed of 25 identical electric multiple-unit trainsets. The train ran on the world-famous UNESCO World Heritage ‘Albula/Bernina’ route from Preda to Bergün via its […]

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