Robert “Bob” Kingsnorth of Medford, Ore., died on Oct. 8. He was 73 years old. Bob’s journey in model railroading began when he received a Lionel set at age 6. He made the switch to HO scale when Kix breakfast cereal began giving freight cars as a promotion. Bob’s first byline in Model Railroader came […]
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Tracklayers reach incredible goals on the transcontinental railroad PART 1
Chinese workers load rail onto a tracklaying car from the piles left by the morning’s supply train. Sixteen rails, a keg of spikes, a keg of nuts and bolts, and 32 splice bars, along with the crew made the load. Horses to pull the car stand ready. The location is Granite Point, Nev., in late […]
Tracklayers reach incredible goals on the transcontinental railroad PART 2
Grading on the Central Pacific was done by hand, relying primarily on Chinese using picks, shovels, and horse-drawn dump carts, though black powder was freely used to break hard soil and move rocks aside. This scene is the 170-foot deep excavation at Prospect Hill, Calif. It dates from summer 1866, when more than a thousand […]
Spikes of the transcontinental railroad and on today’s railroads
A track worker hammers in spikes on a turnout. Steve Smedley Rusty track spikes near Canadian Pacific tracks at Brookfield, Wis, in 2012. Karl Riek The Golden Spike of the first transcontinental railroad was but one of millions in the nearly 2,000-mile route between Sacramento, Calif., and Omaha, Neb. Spikes date back to the first […]
The Golden Spike and other notable track completion ceremonies in the U.S. and Canada
Notable U.S. and Canadian railroad completions Trains: Rick Johnson Promontory Summit, Utah, may have hosted North America’s most famous final-spike ceremony, but the event on May 10, 1869, was not unique. Not all railroads had a completion “moment:” the New York Central is an example of a railroad formed through a series of mergers and […]
Transcontinental Railroad details: Railroad Spikes
Railroad spike diagram Rick Johnson SPIKE dimensions are precise and have been set by such groups as the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association for decades. Spikes are made of relatively low-carbon steel, which is softer than the steel used in rail and spike mauls. This is important because when a spike is driven, it […]
Building a track cleaning car rooted in the Gorre & Daphetid
A simple track cleaning car inspired by John D. Allen and the master model railroader’s Gorre & Daphetid Railroad. Lou Sassi Being an admirer of the late John D. Allen, I read with interest every article I can find concerning his Gorre & Daphetid Railroad. In the process I’ve learned of an interesting device John […]
New model trains for the week of April 25, 2019
Wm. K. Walthers Inc. HO scale Electro-Motive Division Phase II GP9 with low short hood HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division Phase II GP9 with low short hood. Chicago & North Western, Burlington Northern, Milwaukee Road, Canadian Pacific, Norfolk Southern, and Wisconsin & Southern. Four road numbers per scheme (two each in direct current and Digital […]
Twin Cities Hiawatha is Walthers’ next name train
The latest name train from Wm. K. Walthers is the HO scale Milwaukee Road Twin Cities Hiawatha. Walthers HO scale Milwaukee Road 63-foot Railway Post Office Walthers HO scale Milwaukee Road 75-foot express car Walthers HO scale Milwaukee Road 498-series 52-seat coach Walthers HO scale Milwaukee Road 535-series 52-seat coach Walthers HO scale Milwaukee Road […]
MRVP Insider: An overseas visit with Kathy Millatt, Part 2
MRVP’s Charlie Conway continues his UK visit with fellow MRVP Contributing Editor Kathy Millatt. This time Chas gets to explore Kathy’s beautiful home, garden, and HO scale New Haven layout! Of course, cameras were rolling to capture the tour, interview, and a quick look around Kathy’s neighborhood. […]
MRVP Insider: An overseas visit with Kathy Millatt, Part 1
Follow Charlie Conway, as he visits the UK to see fellow MRVP Contributing Editor Kathy Millatt. Chas arrived just in time to capture Kathy on the set of the popular British TV show, The Great Model Railway Challenge! Catch exclusive behind the scene views of the set and the astonishing sights at the hosting Fawley […]
Rail-Scale-Models acquires rights to structures from Rusty Stumps Scale Models
Rail-Scale-Models acquired the design and production rights to Rusty Stumps Scale Models’ Laser-Cut Craftsman Kits product line in March 2019. The structure line features more than 20 buildings in HO, S, and O scales. The deal follows Rail-Scale-Models’ 2018 acquisition of Rusty Stumps Scale Models Laser-Cut Details line. Rusty Stumps Scale Models will continue to […]
