Dubuque depot In 1916, the Illinois Central’s Dubuque, Iowa, freight house had three tracks, including one that passed through the building. Photo by Illinois Central […]
Dubuque depot
Era: Pre - 1920
Casey at the throttle
In the only known photo of legendary engineer John Luther “Casey” Jones at the throttle of a locomotive, Jones and fireman J. W. McKinnie are ready to take Illinois Central 2-8-0 638 out for a break-in run after a shopping at Water Valley in summer 1898. Less than two years later, Jones perished in a […]
Deciphering the Baldwin Locomotive Works classification system
History of the Baldwin classification system The Baldwin classification system originated in 1842, when Asa Whitney was a partner of M.W. Baldwin and continued in use until 1938. The system was based on use of a letter to designate the number of pairs of driving wheels on a steam locomotive. The letter A designated a […]
Pennsylvania Railroad electric locomotives
The Pennsylvania Railroad is famed for its GG1 electric locomotives, but casual observers might be surprised to learn how extensive Pennsy’s electric operations were. After a tentative start with a limited D.C. third-rail system in the early 1900s, the PRR built an A.C. catenary empire between 1915 and 1938 — and fielded an impressive array […]
Thom Radice’s HO scale W&A background images
It’s before sunrise on April 12, 1863, at the Atlanta Car Shed, and Western & Atlantic 4-4-0 locomotive The General is steaming up for its 4 a.m. run to Chattanooga, Tenn. While the crew eats breakfast at the Lacy Hotel, about 20 Union soldiers disguised as civilians will commandeer the train, leading to the events […]
Modeling a narrow gauge railroad in a small space
Modeling a narrow gauge railroad in a small space: Modeling a logging camp requires a variety of structures, trackwork, scenery, figures, and activities. The camp includes not only loggers involved in different pursuits, but also woodchoppers, a laundress, checkers players, engineers and mechanics, stable hands and horses, bears, garbage cans, railroad materials, and more, surrounded […]
Remembering Clinchfield Railroad locomotives
Classic Trains editors are celebrating the heritage, history, and lore of famed (and infamous) railroads. In March 2020, we celebrate the Clinchfield Railroad. Please enjoy a collection of locomotive images located in the David P. Morgan Library archives at Kalmbach Media that include the Clinchfield’s iconic locomotives and classic scenic photos. You might also enjoy […]
HO scale Virginia & Truckee RR
Name: Virginia & Truckee RR Layout owner: Donn Tolley Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 21′-7″ x 21′-10″ Prototype: Virginia & Truckee RR Locale: northwestern Nevada Era: 1888 Style: walk-in Mainline run: 1541⁄2 feet Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: no. 3 stub-ended Maximum grade: 2 percent (V&T), 6 percent (Lake Tahoe RR) Benchwork: L-girder Height: 42″ to […]
Modeling the East Broad Top
East Broad Top Railroad combine No. 18 has long fascinated the author. The opportunity to walk through the still existing, circa 1876 railroad car prompted him to build this 1:20.3-scale model of the car. Kevin Strong EBT combine No. 18 waits in the Rockhill Furnace yards for its next trip south to the mines at […]
Ice harvesting at Crystal Lake Ill on the Chicago North Western
The Cold hard tracks Crystal Lake was once used for harvesting ice. Blocks of ice were cut from the lake in winter, then stored in warehouses along the shore. The ice was shipped in refrigerator cars to Chicago via the “Ice Track,” a 2-mile branch that ran from the C&NW main line through the west […]
HO scale Stockton & Copperopolis
The layout at a glance Name: Stockton & Copperopolis RR Layout designer: Don Ball Scale: HO (1:87) Size: 37′-0″ x 40′-3″ Prototype: Stockton & Copperopolis RR Locale: California Era: 1895 Style: linear walkaround Mainline run: 240 feet Branchline run: 100 feet Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 2 percent Train length: […]
A model railroad that turns the clock back to 1895
Why would anyone model the Stockton & Copperopolis, an obscure short line with a name that sounds made up? Or model this little-known prototype in the 1890s? Most importantly, would it be practical to build it as a large, prototypically faithful model railroad capable of realistic operation and equip it with authentic locomotives and rolling […]
