New model trains for the week of August 20, 2020

Bachmann Trains HO scale Pennsylvania RR class K4 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive

HO scale locomotives Pennsylvania RR class K4 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive. Prewar with slat pilot and postwar with modern pilot. Two road numbers each. Dual-mode TCS WOWSound decoder with Keep-Alive capacitor; separate, factory-applied injectors, pump, and piping; metal uncoupling levers; operating headlight; all-metal chassis; die-cast metal trailing truck; blackened-metal side rods; painted engineer and fireman […]

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LGB large scale construction starter set

LGB large scale construction starter set

What’s the easiest way to get going in outdoor railroading? Why, with a starter set, of course. And what’s the easiest way to get someone young interested in the hobby? Also with an entry level package, but it has to be the right one. LGB may have just cracked the code with its Construction Site […]

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New model trains for the week of August 6, 2020

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HO scale freight cars Bi-level auto rack. New paint schemes: BNSF Ry. (Oxide Red with circle-cross herald and yellow with post-2005 herald), Canadian National (white with red “wet noodle” herald, six road numbers), Conrail (brown with “can opener” herald), CP Rail (red), CSX (yellow), Kansas City Southern (yellow with dual heralds), Mexican Rail Transportation (yellow), […]

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A ‘Zephyr’ in the Wisconsin Northwoods

TREGO, Wis. – With the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad’s purchase of the Mark Twain Zephyr completed, the first and certainly the most complex part of the restoration process has been moved to Trego from Gateway Rail Service in Madison, Ill. The Injun Joe locomotive arrived Saturday evening after being moved by Over the Top Construction […]

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Digest: Tempe tank car leak contained

Aereal view of derailment and damaged bridge

Friday morning rail news: Tank car leak at Tempe derailment site contained The tank car leaking a hazardous material at the site of Wednesday’s Union Pacific derailment in Tempe, Ariz., has been contained, officials said Thursday. An estimated 500 gallons of cyclohexanone, a flammable solvent, leaked from the car into a storm drain near the […]

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‘Mark Twain Zephyr’ to run again

TREGO, Wis. — The opportunity may be coming to travel to Northwest Wisconsin and ride one of the first diesel-powered streamlined passenger trains. In a Trains News Wire exclusive, the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad has announced it has purchased the Mark Twain Zephyr, one of nine trainsets built by Philadelphia’s Budd Co. for the Chicago, […]

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Digest: Conrail Historical Society to turn boxcar into museum

More Tuesday morning rail news: Conrail Historical Society to turn donated boxcar into museum The Conrail Historical Society in Shippensburg, Pa., has acquired an 86-foot auto-parts boxcar for use as a Conrail museum. CSX Transportation has donated the car, built in 1970 and formerly Conrail No. 295633. It will eventually be repainted in Conrail colors, […]

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Atlas O Trainman O gauge Chesapeake & Ohio cupola caboose

Atlas O Trainman O gauge Chesapeake & Ohio cupola caboose

Price: $66.95 (undecorated, $64.95) Features: Separate, factory-applied window awnings, window glazing, smokestack, brake wheels, roof grab irons, and see-through running boards; die-cast metal couplers; solid-bearing caboose trucks; plastic underframe with molded brake detail; interior lighting with on/off control switch on underbody Minimum diameter curve: O-31 Road names:Boston & Maine (blue, white, and orange), Burlington Northern […]

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Birmingham (U.K.) out as 2022 NMRA host

The ripple effect of the global COVID-19 pandemic has impacted another National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) National Convention. Birmingham, England, scheduled to host the 2022 NMRA National Convention, announced that it will no longer be able to host the event. Birmingham’s decision to back out as host was driven by scheduling conflicts with another event […]

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Brightline negotiating to operate Miami-Aventura commuter service

Train descends ramp from station

Wednesday afternoon rail news in brief: Virgin Trains, Miami-Dade in talks on commuter operation Virgin Trains USA is in talks with Miami-Dade County about creating a commuter-rail operation on the southern end of its existing Miami-West Palm Beach Brightline route, a $350 million proposal that would see the privately owned passenger operation build five stations […]

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