Rock Island FA diesels 151 and 145 doublehead with 4-8-4 5119 on a westbound freight at Joliet, Ill., in fall 1951. The train is passing JD tower, where RI crossed the Santa Fe and GM&O. Wallace W. Abbey photo […]
Rock Island FA diesel
Type of Train: Diesel Locomotives
E7 on B&M’s Mountaineer
Brand-new E7 3810 leads Boston & Maine’s Mountaineer out of Boston in June 1946. The diesel illustrates the as-delivered scheme of B&M’s E7’s, with silver at the rear of the maroon and yellow carbody. Albert G. Hale photo […]
Fairbanks-Morse Locomotives, Vol. 1: Diesels from SilverLake Images LLC
Book: Fairbanks-Morse Locomotives Vol. 1: Diesels Price: $35 Publisher: SilverLake Images LLC, available from Ron’s Books, P.O. Box 714, Harrison, NY 10528; 914-967-7541; ronsbooks.com Fairbanks-Morse Locomotives Vol 1 features: 50-page softcover reproduction of two Fairbanks-Morse publications (Fairbanks-Morse Train Master: 2400 Horsepower Diesel Locomotive and Lackawanna Story) Train Master features look at the power plant, transmission, fuel […]
American Z Line August 2022 diesel locomotive announcements
American Z Line diesel locomotive announcements for August 2022 Scale: Z (1:220) Price: Contact manufacturer Era: Southern Ry. Electro-Motive Division SW1500 diesel locomotive, 1969 to 1980s. Union Pacific Alco PA-1 diesel locomotive, January 1949 to early and mid-1960s. Manufacturer: American Z Line, 6142 Northcliff Blvd., Dublin, OH 43016; 614-764-1703; americanzline.com Electro-Motive Division SW1500 features: AutoLatch couplers Prototype-specific details Directional light-emitting-diode […]
Athearn Genesis HO scale SD70ACe diesel locomotive
Electro-Motive Diesel SD70ACe diesel locomotive Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin NEM connector, $259.99; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound decoder, $359.99 Era: 2006+ to present (varies depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Electro-Motive Diesel SD70ACe diesel locomotive features: Flexible rubber trainline and m.u. hoses Etched-metal see-through steps Separate, […]
Athearn HO scale General Electric C44-9W diesel locomotive
General Electric C44-9W diesel locomotive Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin NEM connector and factory-installed speakers, $169.99 Era: 1990s to mid-2000s+ (varies depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com General Electric C40-9W diesel locomotive features: Body-mounted McHenry knuckle couplers Road-name-specific horn, snow plow, rear grills, trucks, and antennas Factory […]
In service cab signals on mainline railroad routes — August 2022
In service cab signals: When you watch trains these days just about any locomotive can show up on the point of a train. From run-through agreements to precision scheduled railroading keeping locomotive rosters lean, you just never know what may show up leading the next train. Over the years, a railfan seeking home road power […]
News photo: San Diego commuter diesel moved to museum
CAMPO, Calif. — The newest piece of equipment for the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum is arriving at the museum’s Campo location by truck, since there’s no active rail access between the site and San Diego. Recently retired Coaster F40PHM-2C No. 2103 is shown on Interstate 8 at El Cajon, Calif, on Sunday, Aug. 7, during […]
DL109’s with New Haven’s Merchants Limited
Two Alco DL109’s roll the New Haven’s crack New York–Boston Merchants Limited through East Haven, Conn., in mid-1947. The last all-parlor-car train in the U.S., the Merchants got coaches in 1949. T. J. Donahue photo […]
Amtrak LionChief 2.0 Genesis shines in traditional O gauge
National passenger carrier Amtrak recently turned 50 years old. To mark the occasion, Lionel has released a LionChief 2.0 version of its P42 Genesis locomotive. These engines will run on O-31 curves and they’re loaded with detail. They feature operating couplers front and rear, a nice pilot with MU detail, ditch lights, headlights, a spectacular […]
What locomotive generators do
What locomotive generators do is no secret: They produce electricity. Alternators and generators in locomotives convert mechanical energy from the prime mover to electrical energy to pull the train. They are the main device connected to the prime mover. Advances over the years have improved the type and size of alternators and generators, enabling locomotive […]
Iowa Interstate returns SD38-2s to service
The Iowa Interstate Railroad has reactivated SD38-2s Nos. 152 and 153 after three of its General Electric ES44-AC locomotives suffered damage in grade crossing accidents. The locomotives handed train PESI (Peoria-Silvis, Ill.) on Sunday, July 31, with ES44AC No. 508, pulling 90 grain empties and two steel loads. The non-turbocharged, normally aspirated engines are fan […]
