New model trains for the week of November 5, 2020

Accurail HO scale Milwaukee Road 40-foot ribbed-side double-door boxcar

HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Diesel/Progress Rail SD70ACU diesel locomotive. Canadian Pacific (red with monochrome beaver herald and maroon-and-gray heritage scheme with script lettering in two road numbers each; Army Arid Regions and Navy schemes in one number each) and Norfolk Southern (Thoroughbred scheme, four numbers). Prototype-specific details, light-emitting-diode headlights, and wire grab irons. Direct-current model […]

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New model trains for the week of October 29, 2020

Wm. K. Walthers HO scale Electro-Motive Division GP7 diesel locomotive

HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division GP7 diesel locomotive. Great Northern (Empire Builder scheme); Belt Ry. of Chicago (1950s to 1970s scheme); Chessie System (Chesapeake & Ohio reporting marks); Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (black-and-gray scheme); Erie Lackawanna (gray, maroon, and yellow scheme); and Reading Co. (yellow-and-green scheme). Four road numbers per scheme (two each in direct […]

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Digest: Report says CRRC production issues predated pandemic

Monday midday rail news: News report outlines CRRC production issues which have put MBTA subway cars a year behind schedule Production problems at CRRC’s Springfield, Mass., factory were accumulating well before the facility was shut down for several weeks because of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to delays that mean it will take a decade from […]

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Digest: FreightCar America to shift all production to Mexico

Tuesday morning rail news: FreightCar America to move production to new factory in Mexico, secures $40 million loan Rail equipment manufacturer FreightCar America will shift all manufacturing to Mexico as part of moves announced Monday. The company has completed purchase of its partner’s 50% interest and now is sole owner of its new Castanos, Mexico, […]

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Dead line

Various BNSF Railway yard switchers sit in storage at Galesburg, Ill., in October 2010, waiting for their next assignment. Photo by William B. Cecil […]

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Photo of the Day

General motors train of tomorrow

Aboard the Train of Tomorrow’s observation car Moon Glow, the rear car of the General Motors Train of Tomorrow, contained a variety of lounge spaces, including this sunken area underneath the dome. GM photo […]

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Video: History according to Hediger 2

Orange diesel locomotives

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Model Railroader Senior Editor Jim Hediger has had many experiences working with the real railroads. In this episode he talks about how he acquired his collection of official paint chips from the Detroit, Toledo & Ironton RR, as well as how the DT&I […]

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Produce packing

Packing houses along the Santa Fe

Several packing houses were located in close proximity to each other along the Santa Fe in Placentia, Calif. Styles varied from the frame building at left to the concrete structure at center. Note the semaphore signal installations at right. Photo by Tom Baxter […]

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