Q: In Model Railroader product reviews, locomotive speed is often measured and compared with the prototype. I was wondering how this is done so I can run my trains at prototypical speeds. — George Smitton A: When we test locomotives at the workbench, we use the Model Railroad Technologies Accutrak II train speedometer for measuring […]
Type of Train: Steam Locomotive
Spring for Big Steam in 2025
Spring has officially sprung, and like warmer days ahead, announcements will soon be heating up for when and where you can experience big mainline steam in 2025. Some of these massive locomotives have already gotten head starts in their operating seasons with more expected to be out of hibernation before Memorial Day Weekend, the unofficial […]
Campaign to restore NYC No. 3001 passes fundraising landmark
ELKHART, Ind. — Initial fundraising for the campaign to restore New York Central 4-8-2 No. 3001 has passed the halfway mark, with a new challenge grant launched to help bring in more funds. The American Locomotive Project seeks to restore the 1940 Alco, ownership of which was transferred from the City of Elkhart to the […]
B&O 2-10-2 on Sand Patch Grade
Baltimore & Ohio S-1 2-10-2 6149 descends the west side of the Allegheny Mountains at Keystone, Pa., after crossing the summit at Sand Patch on April 5, 1947. William P. Price photo […]
Action on the Mesabi Range
A Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 2-8-2 has hold of a caboose at Rainy Junction, Minn., on the Mesabi Iron Range in August 1950. An Oliver Iron Mining RS2 diesel works in the distance. Henry J. McCord photo […]
News & Products for the week of March 10th 2025
News & Products for the week of March 10th 2025 Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of March 10th, […]
Streamlined 4-8-4 with GTW’s Maple Leaf
At 9:52 on the morning of June 2, 1953, Grand Trunk Western U-4 No. 6410 accelerates the Toronto-bound Maple Leaf away from Dearborn Station, Chicago. R. R. Malinoski photo […]
Backdating the MR&T locomotive fleet
Q: The historic cars for the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy featured in the January 2025 episode of Ask Trains were very interesting (I grew up in Spokane, Portland & Seattle territory and am modeling some of that). What sort of steam and early diesel power would have been used to go with the cars of […]
South Wind heading north
Streamlined Louisville & Nashville 4-6-2 275 departs Birmingham, Ala., with the every-third-day South Wind from Miami to Chicago on February 4, 1941. James Wade, L&NHS coll. […]
Kentucky Steam halts planned auction of Nickel Plate steam locomotive
IRVINE, Ky. — An auction by Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. to sell former Nickel Plate Road 2-8-2 No. 587 has been halted on the day the auction’s winner was to be announced. Kentucky Steam said in a brief post on its Facebook page today (March 3, 2025) that the sale has been withdrawn because the […]
News & Products for the week of March 3rd 2025
News & Products for the week of March 3rd 2025 Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of March 3rd, […]
The Rio Grande’s Farmington Branch
It was an oddball branch line with a just-as-odd history that is still worth recounting. The Rio Grande’s Farmington Branch was built in 1905 to connect Carbon Junction, Colo. (just outside of Durango to the southeast), and Farmington, N.M. It was a modest, 47.68-mile standard gauge line (later narrow gauge) that followed the […]
