Class One Motive Power–an overview

Class One Motive Power Review Chapter 1

Kansas City Southern hasn’t purchased new locomotives since 2014 as the company has had ample power for its traffic levels with coal deliveries down across its core north-south mainline south of Kansas City. The railroad continues to upgrade its existing power, converting six (confirm) GP38-2s and GP40-2s to GP32ECOs using kits supplied from EMD. KCS […]

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Repair acetal handrails

Athearn HO scale National Railways of Mexico Alco RS-3 diesel locomotive with Loctite plastics bonding system activator and glue

Most recent ready-to-run locomotives use acetal (sometimes called ‘slippery’ or ‘engineering’) plastic handrails. These handrails feature a scale profile and fine detail, but they’re also prone to snapping. Traditional liquid plastic cement and cyanoacrylate adhesive will not bond acetal plastic, but Loctite’s Plastics Bonding System will. 1. This two-part system makes it easy to fix […]

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Clean locomotive wheels

Towel offset on rails with front truck of H-16-44 on clean section of towel wetted with isopropyl alcohol.

Over time, a locomotive’s wheelsets will gather dirt and other gunk that will affect its ability to run smoothly, but regular wheel cleaning keeps your steam or diesel locomotives running at their peak. By using 70 percent isopropyl alcohol and a paper towel, two items that you most likely have in your house, you can […]

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MTH Premier Line O gauge SD40-2 diesel

MTH Premier Line O gauge SD40-2 diesel

Price: $559.95 (no. 20-21314-1; other road names $519.95) Features: O-31 operation, two can-style motors, MTH ProtoSound 3.0 command and sound system, remote couplers, smoke unit, conventional capability, as well as DCS command control and access through the Remote Commander or the MTH app. Low speed (cmd): 2 smph Low speed (conv): 5.5 smph Drawbar pull: […]

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Ann Arbor Railroad locomotives remembered

4-4-2 steam locomotive

  Ann Arbor Railroad locomotives moved freight to and from docks and lake boats. See a sampling of those locomotives with this photo gallery of Ann Arbor Railroad locomotives, only from Classic Trains! If you like this gallery, you may also enjoy an article on AA’s history or an Ann Arbor passenger train photo gallery. […]

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Chicago Great Western Legacy F7 A-A set no. 2033260 by Lionel

O gauge Chicago Great Western Legacy F7 A-A set by Lionel

O gauge Chicago Great Western Legacy F7 A-A set no. 2033260 by Lionel Price: $899.99 Features: O-31 operation, two units totaling four can-style motors, Legacy command and sound system, smoke units in each locomotive, front remote couplers, directional lighting, Conventional command, Lionel Legacy, TrainMaster, Universal Remote, or LionChief App control capability Low speed (Cmd): 1.6 […]

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Coast Line veteran

Coast Line veteran

Atlantic Coast Line E7 No. 526 pauses in Miami in January 1965. The 20-year-old locomotive has had some body panels modified and its fuel-tank skirt removed, and is painted in the railroad’s simplified black scheme. Photo by Louis A. Marre collection […]

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Digest: Metro-North set to buy dual-mode locomotives from Siemens

Blue and silver-painted locomotive at a station platform surrounding by brown steel work and palm trees. Amtrak Pacific Surfliner renewable diesel.

Metro-North set to buy 27 dual-mode locomotives from Siemens The Metropolitan Transportation Authority board is scheduled to vote Wednesday on a $334.9 million contract for Siemens to build 27 dual-mode locomotives for the Metro-North Railroad. A document in the board package for Wednesday’s meeting says the purchase, an order for 19 locomotives with exercise of […]

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