Antique Trackmobiles in railroading, is one way to describe them. The photographer of Pennsylvania Railroad No. 445 uses “doodlebug” in his caption. They’re more descriptively described as “rubber tired switchers” on a Pennsylvania Railroad railfan site. Whatever you call them, the trackless locomotives once employed by railroads are clearly ancestors of today’s Trackmobiles and similar […]
N scale freight cars Norfolk & Western H2a hoppers: On the Norfolk & Western, hopper cars were the most common type of freight cars on the roster – about a 4-to-1 ratio of hopper cars over all other cars combined. The H2a 3-Bay Hopper was the most common type and was numbered from 15,500 – […]
ARLINGTON, Va. — Rail unions have turned down a proposal for advance payments while bargaining over a new national contract continues, according to the organization representing railroads in the negotiations. The offer to provide advance payments of up to $600 per month will remain on the table, railroads said. The National Carriers’ Conference Committee, the […]
N scale locomotives Heavy and light Pacific 4-6-2 steam locomotives: In 2022, BLI is bringing out our second production of USRA light and heavy 4-6-2 steam locomotives, commonly called light Pacifics and heavy Pacifics. There were 20 original heavy Pacifics built in 1919 for the USRA program, and all 20 went to Erie Railroad. From […]
N scale locomotives USRA light & heavy Mikados: This is BLI’s second production of the USRA light and heavy 2-8-2 designs in N scale, commonly called heavy Mikados and light Mikados. There were 233 original USRA heavy 2-8-2s built plus another 957 copies, covering 23 railroads. It was an extremely successful design. The USRA heavy […]
Gauley Trolley on CSX: The Gauley Trolley represents the destination community it originally served at Gauley Bridge, W.Va. The trolley is a Class I railroad’s local service, originating in Gauley Bridge, an interchange between the Chesapeake & Ohio and the Kanawha & Michigan. It later became part of the New York Central, later Penn Central, […]
Founding of the NMRA The National Model Railroad Association, 20 years ago, grew more or less spontaneously out of two basic needs of the fledgling hobby. The first was the need for standards to assure interchangeable equipment. The second was the social need for getting together with other followers of a hobby which was then […]
Product news Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. Here are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of April 28, 2022. HO scale locomotives Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 Big Boy […]
ROGERS, Texas — Twenty-two cars of a BNSF Railway train derailed Sunday between Rogers and Buckholts, Texas, the Milam County Sheriff’s Office reported. No injuries were reported, and no hazardous materials were involved, KWTX-TV reports. No other information was reported. The derailment site is parallel to U.S. Route 190 about 14 miles south of Temple, […]
NORTH READING, Pa. — The Reading & Northern will conduct another test run of 4-8-4 No. 2102 on Tuesday, April 26, the railroad announced on the Facebook page for its passenger operations. The test train is slated to leave North Reading at 9 a.m. en route to Jim Thorpe, Pa. The T-1 locomotive built by […]
WILLIAMS, Ariz. — Arizona’s Grand Canyon Railway honored late Trains editor Jim Wrinn during a Saturday, April 23, excursion to mark Earth Day, adding a message, “Steam on, Jim Wrinn,” to the tender of 2-8-2 No. 4960. The locomotive is an appropriate one to use for an Earth Day event because the locomotive, built by […]
WESTBROOK, Conn. — A Metro-North/Connecticut Department of Transportation Kawasaki M8 electric multiple-unit trainset passes through Westbrook on Saturday, April 23, during training runs for Amtrak crews to operate the equipment. The qualifying runs between New Haven and Old Saybrook, Conn., are reportedly in preparation for use of the M8s on Connecticut’s Shore Line East commuter […]
