Mother Nature’s wrath

20200324

Nature quickly began to reclaim the right-of-way at High View Tunnel soon after New York, Ontario, & Western abandoned in 1957. This 1963 view at the south portal shows rails and tie plates gone and weeds encroaching upon the weathered ties. George Weidner photo […]

Read More…

New Orleans’ new terminal

20200313

Arrival and departure boards at New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal’s main entry are chock-full of trains in the mid-1950s. The $25.5 million facility had 12 tracks and opened in May 1954. James G. La Vake photo […]

Read More…

Convertible cowl

20200304

Santa Fe requested the custom U30CG from General Electric, offering 3,000 hp and a steam generator in a distinctive cowl body considered more aesthetically suitable for passenger service than a road-switcher. The railroad carried six such units on its roster, Nos. 8000–8005, which went into freight service following the 1971 transfer of passenger service to […]

Read More…

Engineer’s eye view

20200312

A clear signal over track 2 beckons the Pennsylvania’s St. Louisan near Radebaugh, Pa. On track 1, a J1 2-10-4 pushes on an eastbound freight while a set of Baldwin Sharknose helpers approaches on track 3. Philip R. Hastings photo […]

Read More…

Intermodal pioneer

20200302

New York Central’s Flexi-Van system, unveiled in spring 1956, employed truck trailers with detachable wheels that locked on special flat cars, saving time, weight, and height. Other railroads that bought into the concept included Illinois Central and Milwaukee Road. Jim Shaughnessy photo […]

Read More…

HO scale Boston & Maine RR

HOscaleBostonMaineRR

Name: Boston & Maine Layout owner: Thomas Oxnard Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 18 x 28 feet Prototype: freelanced, inspired by the Boston & Maine Locale: Boston, Seacoast region of New Hampshire into the mountains Era: 1953 Style: walk-in Mainline run: 194 feet Minimum radius: 20″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 3 percent Benchwork: L-girder […]

Read More…

HO scale Norfolk & Western of the 1950s

HOscaleNorfolkWestern

Name: The Norfolk & Western of the 1950s Layout owner: Gary Hoover Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 24 x 49 feet Prototype: Norfolk & Western Ry. Locale: Virginia and West Virginia Era: 1954 to 1957 Style: multi-level walk-in Mainline run: 120 feet Minimum radius: 30″ (N&W), 27″ (Virginian Ry.) Minimum turnout: no.8 (main), no. 6 (yards) […]

Read More…