MTH O Gauge EMD SD70ACe Diesel

PN1012-railking-imperial

The Electro-Motive Division’s SD70 series of locomotives is a winner in the world of modern American diesel power. Since 1992, more than 4,000 have been built for the North American and international markets. A variety of sub-models has been cataloged, and the SD70ACe version was first fielded in 2004 and featured a prime mover upgraded […]

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Lionel O gauge Union Pacific 4-12-2 steam locomotive

PN1012-union-pacific

The Union Pacific was known for the large steam power it used to speed freight across the wide-open west. Perhaps the line’s most eccentric design was the 4-12-2. That was a heavy locomotive designed to pull heavy freights at higher speeds over the vast, fruited plains. Alco constructed 88 of the 782,000-pound giants for the […]

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O Gauge Lake Shore Limited Set by Williams by Bachmann

CTT-PR1112_01

The new locomotive I probably had the most fun testing in the past year was certainly the least complex – the new Williams by Bachmann 4-6-0. This O gauge locomotive is a nifty model of a generic steamer that could have been seen in general operation anytime between the 1890s and the 1930s – possibly […]

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How to create memorable railroad photos

In the Center for Railroad Photography & Art’s annual Creative Photography Awards Program, first-time entrant Todd Halamka placed second in the color category in 2012. Todd is relatively new to photography, but he combines a lifelong love of trains with a long career in architecture, drawing on his design experience to create memorable and unique […]

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Athearn HO scale EMD DDA40X diesel locomotive

Athearn HO scale Electro-Motive Division DDA40X diese locomotive

Athearn HO scale Electro-Motive Division DDA40X diesel locomotive When I took the Athearn Genesis series DDA40X out of the box, I was impressed by its sheer size and heft. Then I put this HO scale model of the world’s largest diesel-electric locomotive on the track and was soon in awe of its sound system and […]

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Bachmann HO Schnabel car

Bachmann HO scale Schnabel car

Bachmann HO scale Schnabel car This new HO ready-to-run car from Bachmann represents one of the largest freight cars in North America. Specialized freight cars like this huge Schnabel car are employed by railroads to carry extra-heavy and oversize loads. The empty car is a scale 169 feet long, and it expands to 200 feet […]

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Con-Cor HO scale PRR MP54 commuter cars

Con-Cor Ho scale PRR MP54 commuter cars

Con-Cor Ho scale PRR MP54 commuter cars Pennsylvania RR fans modeling the electrified Northeast Corridor in HO have a new option for commuter service. Con-Cor International has released its MP54 multiple-unit (MU) cars in prewar and postwar paint schemes and several body styles. The smooth-running models are prototypically accurate with an impressive amount of detail, […]

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Fox Valley Models N scale Milwaukee Road ribbed-side bay-window caboose

Fox Valley Models N scale Milwaukee Road ribbed-side bay-window caboose

Fox Valley Models N scale Milwaukee Road ribbed-side bay-window caboose Price: $32.95 ManufacturerFox Valley ModelsP.O. Box 1970Des Plaines, IL 60017www.foxvalleymodels.com Era: late 1960s to early 1970s (as painted) Comments: A Milwaukee Road ribbed-side bay-window caboose is the latest N scale offering from Fox Valley Models. The firm offers the caboose based on the 1939-41, 1946, […]

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Sunset over Sidney

Local railfans wave at a passing westbound as the sun sinks over Sidney, Ohio, on June 7, 2011. This former New York Central line served as the Conrail – and now CSX – route to the St. Louis gateway. Photo by Brian M. Schmidt […]

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