Summer Sharknoses

PRR-Eries

Mistaken identity: Rumors of Baldwin Sharknose diesels in PRR freight service prompted a 14-year-old boy to visit Altoona, where he had a satisfying—if erroneous—encounter with a pair of FM Erie-builts. Fred Kern, Jay Potter coll. From the look of the icicles and snow in this photograph, December 20, 1960, must have been a cold day […]

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Kato HO scale SD9043MAC diesel locomotive

Kato USA HO scale SD9043MAC

Kato USA HO scale SD9043MAC diesel locomotive An accurately detailed model of a General Motors Electro-Motive Division SD9043MAC makes its way back onto HO scale rails with this re-released diesel-electric locomotive model from Kato USA. Model Railroader reviewed the first release back in September 2002. The model can easily be converted to Digital Command Control […]

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MTH HO scale F7A and B diesel locomotives

MTH HO scale F7A and B diesel locomotives

Electro-Motive F units have been popular modeling subjects for decades. Now MTH has thrown its hat into the ring with an HO scale F7 that comes equipped with the firm’s proprietary Digital Command System (DCS) and ProtoSound 3.0 system. Overall the MTH F7 is true to the prototype and has solid performance on direct current, […]

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2012 National Train Show final report

MTH Electric Trains HO scale Alco PA-1 and PB-1 diesel locomotives

HO scale locomotives Denver & Rio Grande Western class C-19 2-8-0 steam locomotive. HOn3. Denver & Rio Grande Western (Flying Grande lettering, Royal Gorge Route herald, or flared top tender), Denver & Rio Grande, Rio Grande Southern (“Rising Sun” herald or “41” on tender), painted black but unlettered with diamond stack, flared top tender, and […]

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2012 National Train Show preliminary report

General Electric AC4400 diesel locomotive in Norfolk Southern heritage schemes

HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division SD70ACe diesel locomotive in Norfolk Southern heritage schemes. Central RR of New Jersey; Delaware, Lackawanna & Western; Erie; Illinois Terminal; New York Central; Norfolk Southern no. 1030 (1982 and 2012 number boards); Penn Central; Reading Co.; Savannah & Atlanta; Virginian Ry.; and Wabash. New m.u. receptacles, turbocharger compartment doors on […]

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Delaware Lackawanna Freights in Action

FULL SCREEN Kevin Scanlon Don Colangelo, Delaware-Lackawanna chief mechanical officer, cleans the handrails on C420 No. 405 at Scranton, Pa., on April 9, 2012. FULL SCREEN Kevin Scanlon Colangelo and author Kevin Tomasic discuss Alcos at Tower 60, Scranton, Pa., on April 9, 2012. FULL SCREEN Kevin Scanlon Delaware-Lackawanna grain train SPG09 heads for Horizon […]

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Me first!

Baldwin AS416 No. 1609 rattles across the diamond at Boylan Tower in Raleigh, N.C., on Aug. 29, 1969, while Southern Railway train No. 22 waits for its turn. The NS unit has 36 cars in tow as it heads south with local freight No. 49. Photo by Curt Tillotson Jr. […]

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Virginian in Victoria

Virginian Fairbanks-Morse units Nos. 20 and 39 leave Victoria, Va., on a westbound empty hopper train in March 1956. Norfolk Southern has revived this paint scheme on its 2012 heritage units. Photo by Herbert H. Harwood Jr. […]

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Norfolk Southern heritage: then and now

FULL SCREEN Top, photo courtesy of Norfolk Southern Corp.; bottom, Robert Palmer photo Top: The first NS heritage unit, ES44AC No. 8098, poses in Conrail blue at Altoona Shops on March 15, 2012. Bottom: Conrail SD60 6702, GP40-2 3220, and an unidentified GE lead a Philadelphia-to-Bethlehem iron ore train out of Black Rock Tunnel near […]

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Alco time in Florida

Seaboard Coast Line C420s Nos. 1214 and 1222 work Rochelle, Fla., on April 13, 1974. The rare units later were shipped to SCL affiliate Louisville & Nashville when that railroad became power short in the late 1970s. Photo by William J. Husa Jr. […]

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Kato N scale EMD SD9043MAC diesel locomotive

Kato N scale Electro-Motive Division SD9043MAC diesel locomotive Whether on 1:1 rails or in 1:160 proportion, an SD90MAC diesel draws the attention of railfans and modelers alike. At more than 80 scale feet long, this re-release of the N scale SD90MAC from Kato USA is an accurately detailed model of its massive prototype. Model Railroader […]

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