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Big action on a compact railroad
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The big picture
A westbound Union Pacific manifest freight works its way toward Los Angeles in October 2013 in the “Blue Cut” section of California’s famed Cajon Pass. With the lead locomotives a mile away in the distance, you gain a better perspective of magnitude of the San Gabriel Mountains and the challenges railroads overcame more than […]
Relics
A westbound Napoleon, Defiance & Western train crosses a short trestle over a country road near Antwerp, Ohio, on Oct. 17, 2014. Photo by Brian Schmidt […]
Modeling Union Pacific’s Geneva Subdivision
The cover story for the September 2016 issue, Daryl Kruse’s N scale Union Pacific Geneva Sub was also featured in Model Railroad Planning 2013. Daryl Kruse’s N scale Union Pacific Geneva Subdivision is the cover story of the September 2016 issue of Model Railroader. […]
MTH HO scale DM&IR 2-8-8-4 Yellowstone
MTH HO scale DM&IR 2-8-8-4 Yellowstone The MTH HO scale DM&IR Yellowstone features many separately applied detail parts. One of the last giants of the steam era, a Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 2-8-8-4 “Yellowstone,” comes to life in HO scale complete with sound, smoke, and pulling power that does its prototype proud. The MTH […]
BlueRail Trains Bluetooth control board
Used in speakers, smartphones, and many other devices, Bluetooth is a technology that allows electronic devices to wirelessly communicate with one another. BlueRail Trains uses Bluetooth technology to allow model railroaders to control trains using an Android or Apple iOS smartphone or tablet. I reviewed a BlueRail-equipped Bachmann HO scale E-Z App Alco RS-3 in […]
ScaleTrains.com HO scale UP water tenders
ScaleTrains.com HO scale UP water tenders Both ends of the ScaleTrains.com tenders feature independently controlled lights. Union Pacific’s steam excursion program began almost as soon as the use of regular steam power ceased on the railroad in 1960. Over the years, the UP has operated FEF-3 4-8-4 no. 844 and Challenger 4-6-6-4 no. 3985 in […]
Broadway Limited Imports N scale PRR 4-8-2
BLI N scale PRR class M1b 4-8-2 steam locomotive Broadway Limited Imports N scale Pennsylvania RR class M1a 4-8-2 steam locomotive Detailed and smooth-running steam locomotives are cause for celebration among N scalers. They’re even more so when the engines in question feature onboard Digital Command Control (DCC) and sound. That’s the case with the […]
Two custom-made Marx locomotives
Name: Todd Hein Forum User Name: ToddH Railroad Name: Minneapolis Northern Location: Crystal Minnesota Scale: O scale Theme: Two custom locomotives Description: I have made some custom Marx locomotives and cars for my Minneapolis Northern Railroad, most are repaints of standard Marx locomotives, but these two are modified. The Commodore Vollrath, as I call it, […]
Two custom-made Marx locomotives
Name: Todd Hein Forum User Name: ToddH Railroad Name: Minneapolis Northern Location: Crystal Minnesota Scale: O scale Theme: Two custom locomotives Description: I have made some custom Marx locomotives and cars for my Minneapolis Northern Railroad, most are repaints of standard Marx locomotives, but these two are modified. The Commodore Vollrath, as I call it, […]
Vertical crossing signals
A less common crossing signal warned motorists of oncoming trains by blinking “stop.” Kevin King Q As a child in the 1950s and 1960s, I saw a number of railroad grade crossings on the Wabash that were protected by a row of vertical lights on the signal mast in addition to the standard red alternating […]
Highball
A southbound Norfolk Southern freight takes the clear signal at South Leesburg, Ind., on May 16, 2011. The former New York Central branch line was upgraded with Pennsylvania-style position light signals recycled from other routes during Penn Central ownership. Photo by Bob Jordan […]
