What better way to celebrate the festivities around the Fourth of July then by taking a look at a truly presidential locomotive? Members of the Model Railroader staff had a chance to take a close look at the new N scale Electro-Motive Diesel from Broadway Limited Imports. This new Paragon3 series model is decorated for […]
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Spring opening on the Mukwonago Beer Line

Name: Sean Wells Railroad Name: Mukwonago Beer Line (Milwaukee Road Branch) Location: Mukwonago, WI Scale: G 1:29 with USA and Aristo-Craft cars and PIKO track. Theme: Milwaukee Road Beer Line Description: A multiple loop continuous running track with 2 small yards and several sidings. With the track in place now over the last 2 summers, […]
New SEPTA cars from CRRC to be delayed

PHILADELPHIA — The delivery of 45 new Regional Rail cars for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority will be delayed into 2020. The agency’s board learned of the delay at its meeting last week. At the same meeting, it approved $34.2 million in contracts to build a new station in Ardmore, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. The […]
New model trains for the week of July 4, 2019

Atlas Model Railroad Co. HO scale Fairbanks-Morse H-15-44 and H-16-44 diesel locomotives HO scale locomotives Fairbanks-Morse H-15-44 and H-16-44 diesel locomotives. New paint schemes. H-15-44: Rock Island (red and silver). H-16-44: Central RR Co. of New Jersey (blue and yellow); New York Central (black and white with radio stencil); and New York, New Haven & […]
Cleanup continues after derailment in U.S.-Canada rail tunnel

PORT HURON, Mich. — Cleanup continues after a Friday derailment in the St. Clair River tunnel connecting the U.S. and Canada, which resulted in a spill of more than 13,000 gallons of sulfuric acid. The Port Huron Times Herald reported Saturday afternoon crews were preparing to pump out the spilled acid after removing other cars […]
Ask Trains: How can you ride behind the Big Boy?

Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 leads an excursion consist passed Granger, Wyo., in May 2019. Though limited, Union Pacific is allowing limited excursions behind the giant steam locomotive. Justin Franz Q: After 150th Golden Spike excursion, will there be other chances to ride the Big Boy 4014? — Daniel Miltenberger, Jacksonville, Fla. A: Union […]
Ask Trains: How does the Big Boy distribute weight to its front drivers?

A side view of Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 on a test run in May 2019. TRAINS: Jim Wrinn Q: With interest in the completion Union Pacific’s Big Boy’s restoration, how does the weight of the boiler get down to the front drivers? — Carl Amerlan, Downers Grove, Ill. A: Great question! As an […]
Ask Trains: Why was Big Boy No. 4014 picked to be restored?

Union Pacific Big Boy 4-8-8-4 No. 4014 arrives in downtown Cheyenne, Wyo., on May 4, 2019. The locomotive was chosen for restoration for a variety of reasons. TRAINS Staff Q: I may have missed it, but why was UP 4014 picked over all other displayed Big Boys? — Tom Otoski, Dayton, Ohio A: A combination […]
“Like hell they will”

During a 1967 financial analysts’ shop tour of the Southern’s Pegram Shop in Atlanta, an SD35 and GP30 have their high noses out in the Georgia sun. Walter A. Appel Early in 1967, the management of the Southern Railway invited members of the investment and financial communities to ride an inspection train from Cincinnati, Ohio, […]
New model trains for the week of June 27, 2019

HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division F-series diesel locomotives. F3A and F3B: Missouri-Kansas-Texas (red and black) and St. Louis-San Francisco (black and yellow). F7A and F7B: Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (cat whiskers scheme); Milwaukee Road (orange, maroon, and black); and Western Maryland (black and yellow). Prototype-specific details, factory-installed and painted wire grab irons, and body-mounted […]
June new large scale products from Garden Railways magazine

Aster’s live-steam British Railways Standard Class 4-6-0 5MT Accucraft Talyllyn Railways Dolgoch 0-4-0T PIKO America DB IV BR 360 Diesel Switcher Engines & rolling stock Accucraft, 3260 Central Ave, Union City CA 94587, is selling Aster’s live-steam British Railways Standard Class 4-6-0 5MT in 1:32 scale. The engine is brass and stainless steel construction and […]
How to host an open house of your garden railroad

How to host an open house: What fun is a garden railroad if you can’t share it with others? An open house is where you get to show off your creation to fellow garden railroaders, tell them of your triumphs and tribulations, and hear their stories as well. How hard can it be, right? All […]