Doodlebug discontinued

Kansas, Oklahoma & Gulf gas-electric M-23

Kansas, Oklahoma & Gulf gas-electric M-23, assembled by GE in 1939 using parts from other cars, stands at Denison, Texas, on July 8, 1954. M-23 was scrapped a few months later, after its Denison–Muskogee, Okla., run, the last Muskogee Group varnish, was discontinued. Photo by Harold K. Vollrath […]

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News Photo: Battery-electric locomotive set to leave Erie

Wabtec FLXDrive battery-electric locomotive

Wabtec’s FLXDrive battery-electric locomotive is reportedly set to leave the company’s Erie, Pa., locomotive plant to begin its trip to California, where the unit is scheduled to begin testing on the BNSF Railway. The locomotive was spotted outside the plant today, accompanied by two new BNSF diesels. Since its announcement in September 2019, plans have […]

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New model trains for the week of November 5, 2020

Accurail HO scale Milwaukee Road 40-foot ribbed-side double-door boxcar

HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Diesel/Progress Rail SD70ACU diesel locomotive. Canadian Pacific (red with monochrome beaver herald and maroon-and-gray heritage scheme with script lettering in two road numbers each; Army Arid Regions and Navy schemes in one number each) and Norfolk Southern (Thoroughbred scheme, four numbers). Prototype-specific details, light-emitting-diode headlights, and wire grab irons. Direct-current model […]

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New model trains for the week of October 29, 2020

Wm. K. Walthers HO scale Electro-Motive Division GP7 diesel locomotive

HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division GP7 diesel locomotive. Great Northern (Empire Builder scheme); Belt Ry. of Chicago (1950s to 1970s scheme); Chessie System (Chesapeake & Ohio reporting marks); Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (black-and-gray scheme); Erie Lackawanna (gray, maroon, and yellow scheme); and Reading Co. (yellow-and-green scheme). Four road numbers per scheme (two each in direct […]

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New Haven electric

New Haven electric

The first of New Haven’s new 3,600-hp General Electric passenger-service electric locomotives, No. 0361, poses for its builder’s photo in 1938. Photo by General Electric […]

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New model trains for the week of August 27, 2020

Bachmann Trains HO scale United States Railroad Administration 0-6-0 steam locomotive

HO scale locomotives United States Railroad Administration 0-6-0 steam locomotive. Pre-production artwork shown. Baltimore & Ohio, Central RR of New Jersey, New York Central System, Pennsylvania RR, and Union Pacific. Dual-mode TCS WOWSound Sound Value decoder with Keep-Alive capacitor, operating headlight, metal side rods, and E-Z Mate Mark II couplers. $329. Release date to be […]

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New model trains for the week of August 6, 2020

Model Railroader placeholder image

HO scale freight cars Bi-level auto rack. New paint schemes: BNSF Ry. (Oxide Red with circle-cross herald and yellow with post-2005 herald), Canadian National (white with red “wet noodle” herald, six road numbers), Conrail (brown with “can opener” herald), CP Rail (red), CSX (yellow), Kansas City Southern (yellow with dual heralds), Mexican Rail Transportation (yellow), […]

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Digest: Progress Rail introduces new battery-powered switcher

Progress Rail Logo

Tuesday afternoon rail news: Progress Rail announces new battery-powered switcher, to be sold worldwide Progress Rail has introduced a new battery-powered switcher to be available for sale globally. The zero-emission EMD Joule was developed in collaboration with Vale, the mining corporation headquartered in Brazil which operates about 1,200 miles of railroads in Brazil and leases […]

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Remembering Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo locomotives

Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo NW2 diesel locomotive

  Classic Trains editors are celebrating the heritage, history, and lore of famed (and infamous) railroads. In July 2020, we celebrate the Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo. Please enjoy a collection of locomotive images located in the David P. Morgan Library archives at Kalmbach Media that include the TH&B’s iconic locomotives and classic scenic photos. […]

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Wabtec makes first test with battery locomotive NEWSWIRE

WabtecBattery

Wabtec’s GECX 6000 battery-powered locomotive shown in a consist for testing near the company’s Erie, Pa., shops. Stephan M. Koenig ERIE, Pa. — On Tuesday morning, the much anticipated battery powered locomotive from Wabtec made its first trial run on the test track near Erie. The locomotive is the first unit to rely mainly on […]

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