Combining a century of experience

Bad joint in N scale track

My friend Steve Miazga and I have been modeling in N scale for 100 years combined – and what a scary thought that is! We both have medium-sized layouts and run lots of trains, so often we find ourselves in the same quandaries. Lately we’ve been dealing with a problem that has crept up over […]

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New model trains for the week of October 8, 2020

Bachmann Trains HO scale Milwaukee Roads scale test car

HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division GP39-2 diesel locomotive. BNSF Ry. (Santa Fe patchout in two road numbers, Heritage III in one number), CSX (blue, yellow, and gray scheme in three numbers, Reading Co. patchout in two numbers), Delaware & Hudson (Reading Co. patchout in one number, 1989 rebuild in two numbers), Reading Co. (green-and-yellow scheme), […]

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Remembering Pacific Electric passenger service

Lighted streetcar train moving over a city street in darkness.

  All through October 2020, Classic Trains editors are celebrating the history, grit, and grandeur of the Pacific Electric Railway. Please enjoy this Pacific Electric Railway passenger train photo gallery, originally published in February 2015. If you like this gallery, please take a look at an article on the history of the Pacific Electric, here. […]

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Hitachi Rail lands contract for DC Metro railcars

WMATA/DC Metro logo in black and white.

DC Metro has selected Hitachi Rail to build its next generation of railcars, ending a two-year search for a manufacturer. The Washington Post reports Metro officials sent Hitachi a notice of intent to award the contract — for 256 cars, with options that could boost the total order to 800 — on Sept. 30. If all options […]

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New large scale products for October 2020

Eggliner

Large scale locomotives Eggliner motive power. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Denver & Rio Grande Western; fire rescue with flashing roof light; and police with flashing roof light. Self-propelled model with light-emitting-diode headlights and marker lights, two-axle motor block design, and metal wheels. $239. Bachmann Trains, 215-533-1600, bachmanntrains.com Clean Machine Green. General Electric 25-ton diesel […]

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Homewood, Ill., station to get $29 million rebuild

HOMEWOOD, Ill. — Shovels were out Monday, manned for the cameras by masked Amtrak, Metra, and civic officials that helped arrange $29 million of federal and local funding that will enhance the original 1923 Illinois Central Homewood, Ill., facility with features that make it completely accessible to passengers with disabilities. Construction began in July on […]

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