Model Railroader Photo of the Day: Pont-Rouge station

Sometimes rail photography is all about being in the right place at the right time. Pierre Dion photographed this five-unit consist of CP Rail C-630Ms and C-424s in front of the Pont-Rouge station. The crew of the westbound freight is waiting for a relief crew to arrive. Pierre took the photo on his freelanced HO […]

Read More…

Center Flow

20200515

Early ACF Center Flow cars were nearly cylindrical. This 100-ton Union Pacific car, built in 1964, has three trough hatches and a 3,700-cubic foot capacity. Introduced in 1961, the Center Flow design had no center sill and instead relied on the curved sides for strength. Union Pacific photo […]

Read More…

Totally Tubular

20190514

A man reads a book on the main level of a Budd-built Tubular coach while people relax in the smoking lounge above and behind him. Note the dark-colored ramp up to the end door. The train entered regular service on the Pennsylvania Railroad in June 1956 on the New York–Washington Keystone. Pennsylvania Railroad photo […]

Read More…

Monsters of Mingo

20190513

Six-axle units from three Conrail predecessors mingle at Mingo Junction, Ohio, in April 1976, the month of Big Blue’s creation. Visible left to right are former Erie Lackawanna GE U33C No. 3302, Lehigh Valley Alco C628 No. 628, and Penn Central C630 No. 3626. Jay Potter photo […]

Read More…

T&P steam revival

20160517

Texas & Pacific ended regular steam operations in 1952. When Red River flooding near Boyce, La., became too deep for diesels to wade through in 1957, T&P borrowed a 2-8-2 from the Fort Worth & Denver to haul trains in the high water. In January 1958, T&P bought a different FW&D Mike, No, 410, and […]

Read More…

One half of Milwaukee’s “Famous 15”

20160502

One of the two Electro-Motive E6A diesels that together were known on the Milwaukee Road as “Famous 15” rests between runs at an unidentified location. The E6s’ superb performance and availability in Hiawatha service earned them the nickname. Tevis Freeman photo […]

Read More…

Model Railroader Photo of the Day: West Virginia coal train

West Virginia coal train

The mountains of Virginia and West Virginia provide a picturesque backdrop for trains on Dudley Ross’s freelanced Chesapeake & Ohio layout. In this scene, C&O 2-6-6-2 no. 1530 brings a string of loaded coal hoppers down from the mine. Bernard Kempinski photographed the N scale scene. You can see more photos of Dudley’s layout in […]

Read More…