An HO Olympic logging layout in less than 64 square feet

At twilight, a black steam engine refills its tender from the water tank in front of a green and white depot

By Greg Privette Vacationing near the Olympic mountains of Washington state birthed a vision for my new HO scale layout. Logging was the industry and Shelton, Wash., was home to the last logging railroad in the United States. Old-growth timbers harvested near Camp 5 were delivered by the Simpson Railroad to Shelton starting around the […]

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Olympia & Sand Creek, Episode 10 | Installing Tortoise switch motors

Host David Popp promises to show you the easiest way you’ll ever see to install a Tortoise by Circuitron Switch Motor! Plus, you’ll also see simple techniques for attaching feeder wires, soldering rail joints, and even painting the track for a more realistic appearance. Let’s get started! Curious about alternative installation solutions? Be sure to […]

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Judge rules BNSF oil trains violated tribal agreement

Unit oil train

ANACORTES, Wash. — BNSF Railway violated terms of an easement agreement with the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community by running 100-car trains of crude oil across the Swinomish reservation in Anacortes for years, a federal judge ruled Monday. The Seattle Times reports that U.S. District Court Judge Robert Lasnik said in a written order Monday that […]

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Improperly aligned derail led to BNSF derailment in Washington

Locomotive on its side at night

ANACORTES, Wash. — An improperly aligned derail was responsible for the derailment of a BNSF Railway train on the Swinomish Reservation last week, a Federal Railroad Administration representative told a local National Public Radio station. KUOW radio reports the derail, which is mean to keep trains from proceeding when a swing bridge over a portion […]

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Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad Heisler No. 3

In October of 2022, restored former Craig Mountain Lumber Co. 2-truck Heisler steam locomotive No. 3 began operation along the rails of the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad. Since its 1917 origins, No. 3 has journeyed from lumber hauls in Idaho to sites in Wisconsin to Arizona to Oregon. Now at home on the OCSR, No. […]

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Genesee Valley Transportation prepares for move of PA

Men shaking hands in front of blue and white diesel locomotive

BATAVIA, N.Y. — The move of a preserved Alco PA locomotive from Oregon to its new home at Genesee Valley Transportation’s shops in Scranton, Pa., is tentatively slated to begin in April, although exact plans have yet to be finalized, GVT President Michael D. Thomas says. Thomas, speaking Sunday with Trains News Wire, said no […]

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BNSF derailment spills fuel in Washington state

Locomotive on its side at night

ANACORTES, Wash. — Two locomotives and at least one railcar of a BNSF Railway train derailed early Thursday morning near Anacortes, leading to a spill of fuel from the overturned diesels, the Seattle Times reports. No injuries were reported. The railroad said the cause of the derailment was under investigation The Washington Department of Ecology, […]

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Canadian Pacific in the Rocky Mountains

Even as news of the impending mega-merger of CP and KCS operations continues to break, the rails through the Canadian Rockies remain active. Although the paint schemes routing this transcontinental main line are subject to change, the challenge of traversing one of the globe’s most sensational mountain passes will always remain. Catch a glimpse of […]

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Olympia & Sand Creek, Episode 9 | On the right track

After host David Popp cleans up a few foibles around the cork roadbed, he turns to the task of modifying turnouts to accommodate Tortoise switch motors. And then his full focus goes to laying down the trackwork! Follow his fastidious process for aligning the main line and gluing into place…to perfection! And be sure to […]

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