Chicago & North Western 4-6-0 steam locomotive No. 1385 homecoming

Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom, Wisconsin, is celebrating the return of Chicago & North Western 4-6-0 steam locomotive No. 1385 after more than a ten-year restoration effort. Trains.com staff writer Lucas Iverson was there to witness and capture No. 1385 as it arrived back at the museum on July 18, 2025, to the excitement […]

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East Troy Electric Railroad celebrates Milwaukee Day

Come along with Trains.com staff writer Lucas Iverson, as he visits The East Troy Electric Railroad in the summer of 2025. Located in East Troy, Wis., the railroad (completed in 1907) was originally part of The Milwaukee Electric Railroad and Light Company (TMER&L). When the company planned to abandon the line in 1939, East Troy […]

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The Roundhouse | Using Employee Timetables

In this episode of The Roundhouse, host Brian Schmidt and Bob Lettenberger continue to explore how employee timetables offer rail enthusiasts a “behind the curtain” look at operations. These official documents are vital for planning photography, conducting historical research, and accurately modeling railroads. They also serve as an index to other crucial railroad documents. Be […]

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Spaces to Places VII | Roundhouse Interior Detail

Trains.com video series host and Master Model Railroader Gerry Leone sets his sights on the interior details of the previously assembled three-stall roundhouse he reworked for his latest HO scale (1:87.1) Bona Vista model railroad. From the inspection pit, to the interior flooring and wall, to the oil stains, to a full complement of racks […]

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July 2025

In every issue News, p. 4 CSX fights operating issues; the FRA rescinds a Texas high-speed rail grant Bill Stephens, p. 12  Fight over freight delays could hit Amtrak’s wallet History with Hankey, p. 14 Train music or music in trains Brian Solomon, p. 48 Handy tools for a photographer seeking trains Preservation, p. 50 […]

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Midday Modeler – June 26th, 2025

Midday Modeler – June 26th, 2025 | See what David Popp, Cody Grivno, and other Trains.com staffers are working to accomplish this month! In this replayed Midday Modeler livestream event, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look how our all-new model railroad project is coming together. Plus, the crew also fields a number of burning questions you […]

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The Roundhouse | Collecting Employee Timetables

In this 33rd episode of The Roundhouse, an on-camera interview series established in 2013, Trains Magazine Associate Editor Bob Lettenberger plays host to Brian Schmidt, Editor of Classic Trains Magazine. The two gather at the roundtable to discuss an endeavor they both enjoy – collecting employee timetables! Listen in, as Bob and Brian reveal the […]

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Olympia & Sand Creek, Episode 26 | Ballasting the rails

In this episode, David shares a proven technique for adding and shaping a rustic course of ballast along the rails of the Olympia & Sand Creek On30 logging layout. But first he works to complete several scenery details, including realistic fencing, water effects, muddy cow paths, and more along the terrain and trackwork too! View […]

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