“Modern” reefer of the 1920s

“Modern” reefer of the 1920s

Pacific Fruit Express was co-owned by Union Pacific and Southern Pacific. This 40-foot class R-30-12 car, built in 1923, had a wood body and steel underframe. It was typical of the thousands of “modern” refrigerator cars through the 1930s. Photo by Standard Steel Car Co. […]

Read More…

Model Railroader Photo of the Day: Snow-capped mountains

A diesel locomotive with a mountain in the background on a model railroad layout

With snow-capped mountains in the background, Denver & Rio Grande Western GP35 no. 3042 brings a Denver-bound local freight past Little Lake. The scene, photographed by Lou Sassi, is on Frank Czubryt’s O scale Denver Union Terminal layout. Model Railroader‘s Photo of the Day features images from our archives, celebrating decades of model railroad heritage […]

Read More…

Workaday Baldwins

Workaday Baldwins

Chesapeake Western, a 54-mile T-shaped west central Virginia road, employed three 1946 Baldwin DS-4-4-660s, two of which drill cars at Harrisonburg, site of the Southern Railway interchange, on November 5, 1958. CW, under Norfolk & Western control after 1954, also reached C&O at Staunton. Bob Krone photo […]

Read More…

Model Railroader Photo of the Day: A curbside view

A model freight train is lead by a black and red model locomotive on a model railroad layout with vehicles and a town in the background

Motorists in Green Junction have a curbside view of rail activity on the Central Vermont (CV). Today, two Electro-Motive Division GP9s, one leased from neighboring Boston & Maine, bring the CV’s Palmer-to-Brattleboro local through Green Junction. Thomas Nordanberg photographed the scene on Ole Pade’s HO scale layout in Sollentuna, Sweden. Model Railroader‘s Photo of the […]

Read More…

Taking it to the streets

Taking it to the streets

Led by 1936 power unit 9905 Zephyrus, the Twin Cities Zephyr rolls down Second Street in La Crosse, Wis., circa 1939. The slow street running was an obstacle when competing with Chicago & North Western and Milwaukee Road for Chicago to Twin Cities traffic. Elden H. Hunter photo […]

Read More…

Model Railroader Photo of the Day: General Electric U-boats

A model freight train is lead by a black, white, and red model locomotive over a bridge in a desert setting

Three South Western & Pacific General Electric U-boats lead a westbound train through rural Texas. The train, on its way to Mesa City, Ariz., was photographed by Doyle Davis of Crockett, Texas. Doyle took the photo on his freelanced N scale layout. Model Railroader‘s Photo of the Day features images from our archives, celebrating decades […]

Read More…

Streamline steam

Streamline steam

The Canadian National’s 4-8-4 U-4s were striking machines from any angle. Colors were black with green stripes, cab, and tender, accented by gold trim and white tires. This scene is at Spadina roundhouse in Toronto, on March 10, 1957. Jim Shaughnessy photo […]

Read More…

Model Railroader Photo of the Day: Southern Belle

Two trains pass a switching tower on a model railroad layout

Kansas City Southern F3 No. 30 leads the northbound Southern Belle past Terminal Ry. tower no. 6 on its last lap into Kansas City Union Station. To the right, a Kansas City Terminal switcher brings in a sleeper to set out for the westbound Super Chief. The action takes place on Nicholas Muff’s HO scale […]

Read More…

SD45 hood comparison

SD45 hood comparison

Erie Lackawanna bought both EMD’s standard SD45 (No. 3602, right) and the lengthened version designated SDP45 (3639, left). The extra space at the rear of the SDP45 was intended to house a steam generator for passenger service, and the additional space between the trucks accommodated a tank for fuel oil and one for water for […]

Read More…