Okay, I’m scratching my head with this one. Years back, when I first read the story of the Santa Fe 3000-series 2-10-10-2s, I thought something like, “Why’d they do something crazy like that?” When I took this Lionel model out of the box, as Yogi Berra said, “It was deja vu all over again.” The […]
The evolution of modern diesel locomotives has been continual, and it is always a surprise to realize that something you might have that was modern is now so old-school that it is mostly out of service. The SD35 built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors (EMD) falls into that category. The “I shot one […]
Bridges. If you don’t need one now, as just about every model railroader knows, you will eventually. And there’s no shortage of options for the S or O gauge modeler, whether you want a steel, a plastic, or a wooden bridge. I recently had a chance to check out a pre-production sample of a good, […]
Okay, let’s give a big shout-out to the Union Army for giving Johnny Reb what for! And one of the things that helped make Atlanta “Hotlanta,” was the United States Military Railroad (USMRR). The USMRR provided strategic direction and operational management to the North’s transport efforts. Col. Daniel C. McCallum, former superintendent of the Erie […]
In the declining years of private passenger haulage, one of the illusions held out for consideration was that the public might be drawn back to the rails if passenger trains ran at or near airline speeds. In the caveman days of the 1960s, high-speed rail was pretty much just finding a way to match the […]
Although horse-drawn trolleys could be found in many American cities, rapid movement of commuters really became practical when the routes were electrified. Interestingly, many vintage photos show trolleys running along dirt streets in relatively large cities, with pedestrians, horse-drawn wagons, carts, and even a few carriages being their only competition for the roadway. As time […]
Modeler Rick Wright never quits pushing himself to greater heights in the hobby. In the November 2000 issue we showcased his beautiful O gauge hi-rail layout. Ten years later we are privileged to show you the updated version. […]
Modeler Rick Wright never quits pushing himself to greater heights in the hobby. In the November 2000 issue we showcased his beautiful O gauge hi-rail layout. Ten years later we are privileged to show you the updated version. […]
Bill Hildebrand used scale drawings and inexpensive hardboard material to construct an O gauge model of the famous Hoboken Terminal. Ornate architecture, magnificent concourses, and a seemingly endless parade of people and trains are just a few of the characteristics that make large passenger train terminals just as captivating on toy train layouts as they […]
Richard Van de Kieft formed an impressive O gauge passenger terminal out of two MTH structures. Photos by Michael Raynor 2. A motor tool with a cutting disk quickly removes a tapered support along the interior ledge. 3. Use a razor saw to cut the ledge and separate the walls. 1. Use a Phillips-head screwdriver […]
F3s, Hudsons, and Girls’ trains – those are the postwar jackpots that everybody knows about. Here, though, are six underexposed Lionel items that are quickly moving up the charts. Models courtesy Joe Algozzini What’s hot today among postwar Lionel trains and accessories? I attend several train shows each year, check out eBay listings almost every […]
A GIFT FROM THE HEART IS SOMETHING TO TREASURE. If the gift happens to be a train, that’s all the better. Such is the case with the Christmas train I created for my club layout to operate throughout the holiday season. While a variety of special holiday sets are readily available from toy train manufacturers, […]
