Industrial switcher locomotives add realism to any layout. Don’t believe me? OK, time for a show of hands. When you pass by a rail-served industry, do you take a quick glance to see if there’s a switcher on the property? That’s what I thought. I’m guilty of this, too. Today, thanks to satellite images on […]
HARTFORD, Conn. — Funding for new locomotives and two new stations is included in $839 million in transportation projects approved Tuesday by Connecticut’s State Bond Commission, the Hartford Courant reports. The commission unanimously approved the set of 58 transportation projects. Included are $280 million for new dual-power locomotives to replace aging diesels used on some […]
ALDERSHOT, Ontario — So spotless you can imagine the smell of fresh paint, a half-dozen freshly rebuilt Wabtec AC44C6M locomotives bound for the Quebec North Shore & Labrador pass through Aldershot, Ont., today (Dec. 21, 2021) on Canadian National train No. 422 today. The units, rebuilt from BNSF C44-9s, will operate on the remote 257-mile […]
MERRILL, Ore. — What is perhaps the single largest private collection of steam locomotives, mostly from the western U.S., has been sold and will soon be dispersed following the death of its long-time owner. The Fred M. Kepner collection of 14 steam locomotives and other railroad equipment has been purchased by the Oregon Coast Scenic […]
Hi-rail O gauge modeler Peter Atonna’s work last graced the cover of Classic Toy Trains in October 2017, but his relationship with the magazine goes back at least two layouts to the May 1997 issue. His current one, the detail-packed Seligman & Paulden Lines, showcases the best of long passenger and freight trains […]
The new Sherman Hill line in 1953 was Union Pacific’s latest improvement over the massive undertaking of building and maintaining a transcontinental railroad begun about 90 years earlier. Since the first surveyors ventured into the uplands west of Cheyenne in 1865, the Union Pacific has been waging intermittent war against the geography of southeastern Wyoming. […]
LOS ANGELES — The man who intentionally ran his train off the end of tracks in San Pedro, Calif., last year, claiming he was trying to draw attention to what he believed was a conspiracy involving a U.S. Navy hospital ship, has pleaded guilty to a terrorism charge resulting from the incident. Eduardo Moreno, 45, […]
MAYFIELD, Ky. — With all employees safe and accounted for, Progress Rail resumed operations at its Mayfield, Ky., plant earlier this week, according to a company spokeswoman. Mayfield was one of the Western Kentucky communities heavily damaged during last week’s series of tornadoes that struck a six-state area. Eight people were killed at a candle […]
What was your first train set (or locomotive)? Before the age of 10, I received a basic Lionel set along with a couple of turnouts for Christmas. I liked it, except for that middle electrical pickup rail on the track sections. I lived with that until I discovered you could have a two-rail railroad. Later […]
Three-decade-old Mikado 1540 stands with spanking new GP7 500 at Louisville & Nashville’s South Louisville Shops in 1951. Jack Fravert photo […]
We’re celebrating the happy holidays on Bob’s Train Box 76! In this installment, Bob Keller and guest Hal Miller look at new Menards buildings including the Ray’s Wrecker building flat. They also examine the O gauge Lionel Super Chief LionChief set. In addition Bob relates a story and a reminder about those oddball train gifts […]
We’re celebrating the happy holidays on Bob’s Train Box 76! In this installment, Bob Keller and guest Hal Miller look at new Menards buildings including the Ray’s Wrecker building flat. They also examine the O gauge Lionel Super Chief LionChief set. In addition Bob relates a story and a reminder about those oddball train gifts […]
