The Baltimore & Ohio dieselized its named passenger trains with six sets of Electro-Motive EA-EB passenger diesels in 1937–38. Here, two of the sets rest in Chicago between runs. Baltimore & Ohio photo […]
Windy City respite
Era: 1946 - 1970
Wild Mary
The first two of seven Western Maryland 2-8-0s lift a 78-car eastbound train up the twisting grade through Black Fork Gorge toward Thomas, W.Va., on May 16, 1952. Edward Theisinger photo […]
Display layouts and showrooms
Also in this issue: Showroom out west Rare Lionel photos from 1940 take us inside First decade at the Gilbert Hall of Science The company thrilled New York City in the 1940s Tribute to a forgotten showroom display Where Lionel ran accessories in 1945 Lionel builds a hub for the Midwest The Chicago showroom handled […]
Unmistakable profile
Norfolk & Western class J 4-8-4 No. 608 rolls through a tunnel at Shawsville, Va., in June 1956. The unmistakable profile of the classic streamlined steamer cuts through the tunnel portal. H. Reid photo […]
Lionel Legacy Alco S2 switcher
Hidden in the back of the Lionel 2023 Volume 2 catalog — behind large Legacy steam and diesels locomotives, plus a few heavyweight passenger cars — was the small yet proven Alco S2 switcher. The S2 was one of Alco’s most reliable and successful locomotives. Powered by a turbocharged inline 6 cylinder engine, it pumped […]
Train Master
Fairbanks-Morse H-24-66, dubbed the Train Master, was known for its substantial carbody. At 2,400 hp, the Train Master was the highest-horsepower road switcher on the market when introduced in 1953. No. 6301 was one of five Train Masters rostered by the Southern Railway. Ken Douglas photo […]
TOFCEE SERVICE
Trailer Train began acquiring 85-foot flatcars in 1958. This class F85A car, built by American Car & Foundry in 1958, carriers two Baltimore & Ohio 35-foot trailers shortly after delivery. Classic Trains collection […]
Resurrecting unused locomotives
There are many reasons you might need to bring a locomotive back to life. Here are some tips for resurrecting unused locomotives. Disassembly The first thing you’ll need to do is to get inside the locomotive shell. Maybe you’re lucky enough to have an exploded-view diagram of your model. If not, you can check the […]
Streamliner royalty
The eastbound California Zephyr passes the monument to the dome car at the spot where the idea for such a passenger car was conceived near Colorado’s Glenwood Canyon. Such a magnificent train, indeed, such an incredible car, might not have been possible without the Centennial State. Everett L. DeGolyer Jr. photo […]
Tar Branch building sources
Q: On the Winston-Salem Southbound Tar Branch project layout there were three small industries in the middle. Do you have the brands and descriptions of the structures used? — Andy Sestak Before I answer your question, Andy, I want to back up a step to catch everyone up to speed. The Winston-Salem Southbound Tar Branch […]
Southwest scenery
A westbound Southern Pacific freight from El Paso, Texas, passes through the Rio Grande Valley in New Mexico in 1952. SP’s eastward construction reached El Paso in 1881; by 1883, the company had cobbled together a route that reached New Orleans. R.D. McIntyre photo […]
5 tips for great urban scenery
Contrary to popular belief, modeling an urban scene doesn’t require a bunch of space. Want proof? Check out the Winston-Salem Southbound, our 2018 project layout, shown in the photo above. The 2’-9” x 8’-2” HO scale shelf layout depicted the railroad’s Tar Branch in Winston-Salem, N.C. It featured more than a half-dozen rail-served industries, as […]
