Athearn N Challenger 4-6-6-4 For N scale fans of big articulated steam locomotives, what’s more exciting than a 1:160-proportion Challenger 4-6-6-4? How about one equipped with realistic onboard sound. The Challenger is the first DCC-and-sound-equipped N scale steamer in Athearn’s product line. The model’s dual-mode decoder, manufactured by Model Rectifier Corp., provides controllable sound effects […]
IN THE MIDST of the Great Depression, America’s railroads turned to fast trains to draw the public back to rail travel. In the Midwest, the Chicago & North Western was preparing to launch high-speed service between Chicago and Minneapolis. The Milwaukee Road’s response was to create a fast, reliable, and stylish express train. The name […]
AS THE REVIEW of the locomotive noted, the first car set for Hiawatha service was built in 1935. A second series of cars was built in 1937, and demand for the Hiawatha service was so dramatic that in 1938 a third group was built and entered service in 1939. There were several significant changes between […]
Running side by side, SP 4449 and UP 8444 enter Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal for LAUPT’s 50th Anniversary celebration on May 5, 1989. The two locomotives will doublehead next month in Washington State. Steve Glischinski ALBANY, Ore. – Former Southern Pacific 4-8-4 No. 4449 arrived in Albany on April 4 for wheel repairs at […]
I DON’T HAVE a bond with postwar American Flyer. My grandfather had Flyer trains, my uncle had Marx trains, and I had Lionel trains. So I have a pretty broad view of postwar trains, and my S gauge interests aren’t driven by nostalgia, but rather by what I think will look cool on my layout. […]
I’VE HAD A SOFT spot for Cab-Forward steam locomotion since buying a book called Southern Pacific Steam Locomotives about 40 years ago. To me, even the early versions of the locomotive, with a square, boxy cab mounted in front of the boiler looked amazingly futuristic. Though the Southern Pacific adopted the Cab-Forward design to ensure […]
WHILE THUMBING THROUGH the ads in CLASSIC TOY TRAINS, I discovered a diesel that I’d missed when it originally came out: MTH’s version of the Baldwin AS-616 road switcher. Why? For me, the Pennsy is a secondary road name. But when I saw it offered at a bargain price, I reached for my wallet. The […]
ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO, a friend I knew through non-train circles called me on the phone. He knew of my interest in model railroading, and he said he had a Lionel train set, and could I tell him if it was worth anything. “It’s a bit strange,” he began, “the locomotive is pink. We got […]
Bachmann 1:20.3 three-truck Shay This three-truck 1:20.3-proportion three-foot gauge Shay from Bachmann gives large scale fans an action-packed logger complete with Digital Command Control. A SoundTraxx Tsunami decoder adds realistic steam sound effects to this Spectrum series locomotive. Built to order. Beginning around the turn of the 20th century Lima Locomotive Works built Shay geared […]
IHC HO freelanced 2-10-2 steam locomotive This freelanced 2-10-2 Santa Fe- type steam locomotive is a big HO scale freight engine that performs well. It comes ready-to-run and has a DCC socket for easy conversion to Digital Command Control. A mixed heritage. This 2-10-2, from International Hobby Corp., combines parts from several different prototypes. The […]
Con-Cor N “Galloping Goose” N scale “Galloping Goose” motor car Price: $179.98 Manufacturer Con-Cor International 8101 E. Research Court Tucson, AZ 85710-6750 www.all-railroads.comDescription: N standard gauge ready-to-run motor carComments: This tiny DC motor car is made as an N standard gauge DC model even though its Rio Grande Southern prototype was narrow gauge. A second […]
Replacement drives for Bachmann 4-6-0sBarry’s Big TrainsPO Box 1119Tolleson AZ 85353Contact the builder for pricingWeb site: www.barrysbigtrains.com Replacement drive units for a variety of different Bachmann 4-6-0 locomotives; conversions offered for 4-6-0s or 2-8-0s;Pittman seven pole, ball-bearing motor; ball bearings on flanged-driver axles; anodized aluminum frames; vertical motor mount; 29.8:1 countershaft gear drive to minimize […]
