New model trains for the week of February 5, 2015

Athearn HO scale EMD GP9R diesel locomotive HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division GP7 and GP9R diesel locomotives with head-end power. Chicago & North Western (GP7 with high short hood, GP9R with chopped short hood). Two road numbers per body style. Road-number-specific details, wire grab irons, and detailed cab interior. Direct-current model, $189.98; with dual-mode SoundTraxx […]

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Obituary: Hugh Tarbutton, 82 NEWSWIRE

Hugh Tarbutton, in white shirt, poses at a 1993 event celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Sandersville Railroad. His brother, Ben, is second from left. Tom Hord Hugh Tarbutton, president of Georgia’s Sandersville Railroad, has died at age 82. A lifelong resident of Sandersville, he was employed by or led the short line for more […]

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New model trains for the week of January 8, 2015

Athearn Trains Ready-To-Roll HO scale EMD SW1500 diesel switchers News & Products for the week of January 8, 2015 HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division SW1500 diesel locomotive. New paint schemes: Amtrak (phase 5 scheme in two road numbers), BNSF Ry. (post-2005 herald in one number or Heritage I), Conrail, and Norfolk Southern (River Street Rambler […]

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NS unveils first publicly funded GP33ECO locomotives NEWSWIRE

A new GP33ECO stands outside the Altoona shops. Norfolk Southern ALTOONA, Pa. – The first locomotives funded by the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program have been released for road testing by Norfolk Southern from its Juniata Locomotive Shop in Altoona this week. The first two GP33ECO locomotives, a model previously covered by […]

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Trains’ Top 10 railroad stories of 2014 NEWSWIRE

Once known for mainline steam excursions, the NRHS has struggled to find relevance in the Internet age. David Honan 10. The once-mighty National Railway Historical Society appears to be running out of steam. A hotly contested election and a failed reorganization plan brought attention to the venerable organization, but in the end the status quo […]

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Broadway Limited Imports HO scale EMD SW1500 diesel locomotive

Broadway Limited Imports HO scale EMD SW1500 switcher With its striking color scheme and flashing lights, Broadway Limited Imports’ Southern Pacific “Kodachrome” scheme SW1500 makes a splash. Even in one of the 11 more sedate schemes offered, this highly detailed, sound-equipped model will attract a lot of attention. The model features BLI’s Paragon2 dual-mode sound […]

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Former Illinois Terminal Bloomington station razed NEWSWIRE

A Norfolk Southern freight passes the structure just before its demolition on Thursday. Steve Smedley BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Like so many others before it, a former Interurban station has bit the dust, literally, as the former Illinois Traction System station and warehouse complex, located in the warehouse district south of downtown Bloomington, Illinois was razed […]

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MTH RailKing ES44AC Heritage unit

O gauge RailKing ES44AC diesel from MTH Price: $329.95 (no. 30-20170-1 Features: Two can-style motors, smoke unit, coil couplers, ProtoSound 3.0 command and sound system Current road names: BNSF, General Electric Evolution De-monstrator, Pennsylvania RR Heritage unit, Southern Ry. Heritage unit, Union Pacific Announced by MTH in 2013, the RailKing General Electric ES44AC diesels have […]

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Riding Amtrak’s new electrics

On June 2, 2014, Trains Passenger correspondent Bob Johnston was in the cab of Amtrak ACS-64 electric locomotive 600, joining engineer Darren Avila, road foreman T.C. Williamson Jr., and signal supervisor Joe DiGiacomo aboard Northeast Regional train No. 184 from Washington D.C., to Wilmington, Del. His cover story in the January 2015 issue, “Amtrak’s new […]

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A month in the life of 4 freight cars

This map shows how four freight cars, threading their way through the North American railroad network, can take about two weeks to cross half the continent. The shippers using these four cars enjoyed tremendous efficiencies by sharing the costs of train crews and locomotives, track and signaling, classification yards, and overhead expenses with the other […]

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Trainfest 2014 show report

Athearn Trains HO scale Electro-Motive Division FP45 diesel locomotive HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division F45 and FP45 diesel locomotives. F45: Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (pinstripe scheme); BNSF Ry. (ex-Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe yellow bonnet), Burlington Northern, and Montana Rail Link. FP45: Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (Super Fleet warbonnet) and Milwaukee Road. Railroad-specific […]

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