Q I saw an ad for Chinese steam locomotives by Multipower International Inc., in Towaco, N.J. The company offers used and rebuilt steam locomotives for sale or can provide a custom built one. Can you tell us more about this company?— Robert Holland, Palmdale, Calif. A Multipower International is owned by Ge Qiang, who is […]
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Hooded signal lights
The hood on this Norfolk Southern signal better directs the light’s beam. Doug Koontz Q CSX lineside signals all have “blinders,” a cone about a foot long that surrounds all three signal lights, so the lights only show straight down the track. Why are they used?— Richard Hoffman, Bowling Green, Ky. A The use of […]
“Shoo-fly track”
Q Does anyone know the origin of the term “shoo-fly track?”— Gordon Osmundson, Oakland, Calif. A According to the Historical Thesaurus of the Oxford English Dictionary, this is an American expression, first noted in 1903 and denoting a temporary track. The word “shoo” means go away, and presumably to do so “on the fly” is […]
The ultimate degree of nomenclature
A Rutland RS3 switches at the road’s hub of Rutland, Vt., in 1957; 31.5 miles to the southeast on the Bellows Falls line is a road crossing with a memorable and long-lasting nickname. Jim Shaughnessy Many places are named for things associated with or located near them. Well-known examples include Niagara Falls, N.Y.; Warm Springs, […]
A Railroader’s Work is Never Done
The conductor of train BUSW, “The Peoria Rocket,” sweeps the north switch at the Limit Yard on the edge of Peoria, Ill., as the crew, southbound on Subdivision 2 of the Iowa Interstate, prepares to interchange an empty Cedar Rapids, Iowa, coal train with the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad on Dec. 13, 2010. Steve Smedley […]
News & Products for May 26, 2011
Blackstone Models HO scale Denver & Rio Grande Western class C-19 2-8-0 Consolidation steam locomotive HO scale locomotives Denver & Rio Grande Western class C-19 2-8-0 Consolidation steam locomotive. HOn3. Available with Royal Gorge Route herald (green or black boiler jackets), Flying Grande lettering, and modified “bumblebee” paint scheme as used in the movie Denver […]
Train Derailment Diagrams and Analysis
When seeking the cause of a train wreck, investigators sketch out relevant details, such as the starting and ending points of a derailment, the relative position of derailed and standing cars and locomotives, and the surrounding terrain. As a railroad surveyor with Farnsworth Group’s Railroad Services, I provide drawings and descriptions of wrecks, like the […]
Railroad Photographer Richard Steinheimer’s Legacy, Part 2 of 2
Richard Steinheimer TRAINS collection Last week, five members of the Center for Railroad Photography & Art shared their stories of how legendary photographer Richard Steinheimer influenced their work. “Stein,” as he was known, is often called the “Ansel Adams” of railroad photography for his highly original and creative work. Following a long battle with Alzheimer’s, […]
Standard station drawings
The early 1900s were a period of great expansion and modernization on the Prince Edward Island Ry. (PEIR). Existing stations were replaced or expanded, new locomotives and cars were acquired, and a number of branch lines were built. Three of these branch lines shared a very attractive standard station design. These stations were built at […]
Amtrak’s 40 years in New England
Connecticut resident Bob LaMay has been photographing Amtrak in his native New England since the carrier turned its first wheel in 1971. We present a small sampling of his work over the decades. For more on Amtrak’s 40th anniversary, pick up the July 2011 issue of Trains magazine, which looks back on the five biggest […]
Amtrak switcher fleet
Amtrak MP15 No. 576 leads a work train across the Northeast Corridor at Newark, Del., on Jan. 19, 2011. Michael S. Murray In the July 2011 issue, we look at Amtrak’s switcher fleet. Here’s a glimpse at where the passenger railroad assigned its switchers in April 2011. […]
Video: Kato N scale Union Pacific City of Los Angeles
Watch as four powered Kato N scale E9 diesels lead the 11-car Union Pacific City of Los Angeles. We ran the N scale passenger train on our Salt Lake Route model railroad. […]
