News Photo: New Coaster locomotives begin testing

San Diego’s North County Transit District has received the first part of its eight-locomotive order for new Siemens SC-44 Chargers for Coaster commuter train service, and began testing the weekend of Oct. 4-5, leading short test trains on runs between Oceanside and San Onofre, Calif. Five of the locomotives are slated to enter service next […]

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Metra Chicago & North Western heritage unit makes debut run

CHICAGO – Metra’s Chicago & North Western-inspired heritage unit, F59PHI No. 90, made its inaugural run on the UP-NW line on Wednesday. The train was a non-revenue move from Chicago to Crystal Lake and return. After the run, the cars were put away at the California Avenue yard, along with Illinois commemorative locomotive No. 402, […]

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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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Remembering Great Northern locomotives

Two diesel locomotives and one steam locomotive posing beside each other in a rail yard.

  All through September 2020 Classic Trains editors celebrate the history, legends, and grandeur of the Great Northern Railway. This month, we hope you enjoy a photo gallery of GN steam locomotives, electric locomotives, and diesel locomotives through time. You might also enjoy this history article; a photo gallery of passenger trains or Great Northern […]

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Genesee Valley Transportation opens new Scranton locomotive shop

SCRANTON, Pa. — Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad Alco C420 No. 405 gently broke through a ceremonial ribbon this morning, officially opening Genesee Valley Transportation’s Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad Von Storch Locomotive Shops. Located in the Green Ridge section of Scranton, the steel structure features two 200-foot tracks inside, with an 83-foot walk-in inspection pit. A 20-ton crane will allow […]

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Prototype diesel

Prototype diesel

An A-B set of drawbar-connected Boston & Maine EMD FTs (in Boston in March 1950) shows the distinctive four-porthole styling and close spacing between units. The boxy structure on the roof is the dynamic brake housing. The F unit’s “bulldog” carbody styling blended nicely with passenger cars but did not facilitate clear views to the […]

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Summer Camp: Day 4 Morning

David Popp in workshop

Camp Director David Popp was up’n at’m early to powder up his passenger cars and work out the weathering effects, top-to-bottom, for his HO scale Rapido RS-11 diesel locomotive. If that’s not enough, he also shares a technique for removing lettering from an RPO car. […]

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Summer Camp: Day 4 Morning

David Popp in workshop

Camp Director David Popp was up’n at’m early to powder up his passenger cars and work out the weathering effects, top-to-bottom, for his HO scale Rapido RS-11 diesel locomotive. If that’s not enough, he also shares a technique for removing lettering from an RPO car. […]

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An 80-year-old Alco comes home

SCRANTON, Pa. — Genesee Valley Transportation, operator of four freight railroads with 318 total route-miles in Pennsylvania and New York, has added an old, rare Alco switcher to its fleet. The 80-year old HH660, built as Delaware, Lackawanna & Western No. 409, “came home” to Scranton, Pa., on August 12. Genesee Valley’s railroads are well […]

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Digest: Locomotive firm NRE consolidates operations at two sites

Friday morning rail news: NRE consolidating operations to two sites NRE, which sells and leases new and remanufactured locomotives and components, and provides overhaul and maintenance services, will consolidate operations to its headquarters location in Mt. Vernon, Ill, as well as its shops in Paducah, Ky. Operations at Dixmoor, Ill., Silvis, Ill, and Milwaukee will […]

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