A 1944 photo shows an eastbound Santa Fe freight on the horseshoe curve east of Welch, Ariz. FT diesel 126 (foreground) is on the head end; a steam helper (background) is shoving hard on the caboose. Charles W. Lindenberg photo […]
Facts & features Name: The Eastern Loggers Scale: HO (1:87) in standard, narrow (3-foot), and dual gauges Size: 10 x 20 feet Prototypes: Pennsylvania logging railroads Locale: mountains of Pennsylvania Era: summer, early 1920s Style: sectional Mainline run: 60 feet Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: 6 percent Benchwork: open grid Height: […]
City of San Francisco The City of San Francisco will be the next train in Walthers’ line of name trains. This offering will feature equipment from the various railroads that jointly operated this streamliner from Chicago to San Francisco, including Southern Pacific, Milwaukee Road, Union Pacific, and Texas & New Orleans. Electro-Motive Division E9A and […]
Can you believe hobbyists used to use toxic chemicals on model railroads? In the days before hobby shops sold premade scenery and wiring products, hobbyists made their own. Unfortunately, some of the materials weren’t very safe. Note: We’re providing this article for information and entertainment only. We are definitely not endorsing any of these substances […]
In 1931, two years after placing in service a fleet of 20 conventional 2-10-4s, Canadian Pacific constructed an experimental version. Class T4a No. 8000 had three cylinders and a multi-pressure boiler that supplied 250 PSI steam to the two outside cylinders and 850 PSI steam to the inside cylinder. It was retired in 1936. Classic […]
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe depot Scale: HO (1:87.1) and N (1:160) Price: HO, $195; N, $130 Era: 1934+ Manufacturer: Custom Model Railroads, 3937 Keswick Rd., Baltimore, MD 21211; 410-889-0010; cmrtrain.com Santa Fe depot features: Laser cut acrylic parts Based on an Art Deco-style depot served by the Texas Chief Includes main building and annex […]
Norfolk & Western 46-foot battleship gondola Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $47 plus shipping Era: 1914-1930 Manufacturer: Westerfield Models LLC, 1964 Lacey Ct., Gardnerville, NV 89410; 303-658-9343; westerfieldmodels.com Norfolk & Western class GKa/GKb 46-foot battleship gondola features: Unpainted one-piece cast urethane body with integral frame Cast urethane detail parts Yarmouth etched bronze eyebolts Decals covering all versions […]
40-foot steel boxcars Scale: N (1:160) Price: Two pack, $54.99; four-pack, $104.99 Era: 1922+ to 1970s (varies depending on railroad) Manufacturer: Broadway Limited Imports LLC, 9 East Tower Circle, Ormond Beach, FL 32174; 386-673-8900; broadway-limited.com 40-foot steel boxcars feature: ABS plastic body and chassis Metal wheelsets Separate, factory-applied doors, running boards, brake wheel, and brake […]
Lionel’s 1926 Cardinals Train Set was kind of hidden in the pages of the 2021 Lionel Volume I “Big Book” behind the re-release of the 2-10-10-2; the Mohawks and Camelbacks; the Acela sets; and the Asa Packer, New Hope & Ivyland consists. It’s a high-end Legacy outfit that features a newly cataloged 4-6-2 Pacific steam […]
Major railroad labor disputes haunted the nation during the latter part of the 19th century, highlighted by the “Great Railroad Strike,” which spread from Maryland to California in 1877 and the Pullman Strike 17 years later. Both of these bitter conflicts led to multiple deaths and costly physical destruction. The Shopmen’s Strike of 1922-23, however, […]
S2 class 6-8-6 turbine Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: With dual-mode Paragon4 sound decoder, $874.99 Era: 1944 to 1949 Manufacturer: Broadway Limited Imports LLC, 9 East Tower Circle, Ormond Beach, FL 32174; 386-673-8900; broadway-limited.com 6-8-6 turbine steam locomotive features: Dual-mode Paragon4 sound decoder Brass boiler, cab, and tender body Die-cast metal chassis Built-in capacitor pack Factory-installed engineer and fireman figures […]
70-ton four-bay hopper Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $21.99 Era: 1926 to 1960s (depending on scheme) Manufacturer: ScaleTrains, 7598 Highway 411, Benton, TN 37307; 844-987-2467; scaletrains.com Features: Cast stirrup steps, end ladders, grab irons, underbody, and brake system Molded interior detail with rivets and side wall bracing Separately applied brake wheel Solid-bearing trucks 33” metal wheels with […]
