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,” […]

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Art Volz’s O gauge layout

scene on toy train layout

Name: Art Volz’s O-27 gauge layout Dimensions: 10 x 20 feet Track and switches: Lionel (diameters range from 27 to 31 inches) Motive power: Lionel (postwar, modern) Rolling stock: Lionel (postwar, modern), Menards Controls: Lionel Nos.1033, 1034, type-ZW transformers Accessories: Lionel, MTH Structures: Atlas O, Lionel, Menards, MTH, scratchbuilt, Woodland Scenics See more in the […]

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Last and heaviest 2-10-2

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The Reading’s 20 class K-1sb locomotives, constructed by Baldwin in 1931 and tipping the scales at a whopping 451,000 pounds, were the last-built and heaviest 2-10-2s in North America. Here, No. 3012 leads a train of anthracite down the Schuylkill River near Tamaqua, Pa., in July 1953. Classic Trains coll. […]

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Inside a CN caboose

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Safe from the frigid weather outside, the conductor of a Canadian National freight train examines his wheel reports as his brakeman takes a break for tea inside their caboose in New Brunswick in 1955. Philip R. Hastings photo […]

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Celebrating “Flyer Fest”

vintage photo of train on track

Editor’s note: This manuscript was purchased in December 1990 for Model Railroader magazine. Over the years, it made its way around the office and finally landed in my hands last fall. Dave Ingles was a friend of mine, and with his passing and my becoming editor of CTT, it seemed fitting to finally share his […]

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GG1 with the Keystone

GG1 north of Aberdeen

North of Aberdeen, Md., in about 1957, a Pennsylvania Railroad GG1 speeds toward Washington with the new Budd-built Keystone consist. GG1s normally operated with the rear pantograph raised, so this view is rather unusual. James P. Gallagher photo […]

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The HO scale Southern Pacific Tehachapi Subdivision layout

A model railroad track plan

Facts and features Name: Southern Pacific Tehachapi SubdivisionScale: HOSize: 72 x 128 feetPrototype: Southern Pacific Tehachapi SubdivisionLocale: Bakersfield to Mojave, CaliforniaEra: 1950s-1960sStyle: Multi-level walkaroundMainline run: Bakersfield to Mojave: 1,500 feet; between staging yards, Goshen Jct. to Lancaster: 1,800 feetMinimum radius: main tracks, sidings and yards: 48″; branch lines and industry tracks: 36″Minimum turnout: main tracks, […]

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D&NE brass and steam

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Duluth & Northeastern Vice President and General Manager E. A. Blinn walks down the platform of the short line’s station and general offices at Cloquet, Minn., followed by Superintendent E. A. Kruger. In the background of this September 1954 scene, 2-8-0 No. 14 takes water. Philip R. Hastings photo […]

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Clifton Forge hump yard

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A string of coal hoppers crests the hump at Chesapeake & Ohio’s yard in Clifton Forge, Va., in June 1955. The cars are bound for C&O’s Atlantic Ocean docks at Newport News. W. A. Akin Jr. photo […]

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Why do railroads use catenary?

Orange, black, and white model electric locomotive running under catenary.

When you think about electrified rail lines today, the first thing that probably comes to mind is Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor. But in the first half of the 1900s, before the start of the diesel era, railroads used electrified lines to move freight and passengers. Examples in the east included the New York, New Haven & […]

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ScaleTrains HO Rivet Counter EMD GP30

Color photo of HO scale engine painted blue and black on scenic base.

An Electro-Motive Division GP30, one of the most recognizable diesels of the second generation, is now available in HO scale from ScaleTrains. The Rivet Counter line model has railroad-specific details, semi-scale Type E couplers, and all-wheel drive and electrical pickup. Prototype history Electro-Motive Division produced the GP30 between July 1961 and November 1963. During the […]

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