O scale USMRR Aquia Line

OscaleUSMRRAquiaLinethumb

Click on the image to download a PDF copy of this track plan. Name: Aquia Line Layout owner: Bernard Kempinski Scale: O (1:48) Size: 31 x 32 feet Prototype: United States Military RR Locale: Virginia Era: late winter 1863 Style: walk-in Mainline run: 115 feet Minimum radius: 28″ Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: 1 […]

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Ask Trains: Why and when did rails get their shape?

RailAskTrains

Rail profiles through time from file: TRN-TC0513 Illustration: Rick Johnson Q: Why and when did rails get their profile? — Rozier Smith A: The basic shape, or profile, of rails that we see today: chucky head, thin web, and wide base, has its roots railroading as early as 1789, according to an illustration Trains printed […]

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Drovers’ caboose

TRNAT1016_01

Missouri-Kansas-Texas drovers’ caboose No. 350 shows off the car’s extra length. The cars could accommodate extra riders overseeing livestock shipments. Harold Schupp Q Where, in the train’s consist, were drovers’ cabooses placed? Were they at the rear with the regular caboose, or somewhere in the train’s consist near the stock cars? Were they used only […]

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Pennsy K4s No. 1361 status

PRR1361HorseshoeCurve

Pennsylvania Railroad donated K4s No. 1361 to the city of Altoona, Pa., on June 8, 1957, shortly before this photo was taken. J.J. Young Jr. Q Why was Pennsylvania K4s No. 1361 returned to Altoona, Pa., for display instead of being restored to service? – Joseph Reihing, Elizabeth, N.J. A Although the 4-6-2 is in […]

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