What is a wristpin?

With so much talk about Union Pacific’s effort to restore Big Boy steam locomotive No. 4014, the world wants to know … what is a wristpin? Listen in as UP steam boss Ed Dickens Jr. talks about this 50-pound plus hunk of metal without which a live, steaming Big Boy would grind to a halt. […]

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Video: Building a 5 x 8 harbor railroad part 4

Steve Otte working on a model house.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Structures and trackwork dominate this episode of the Model Railroader staff’s Rice Harbor video journal. Associate editor Steve Otte describes the lighthouse for Rice Harbor. Steve built the structure from a Branchline Trains kit, and the model also features a working beacon. Editor […]

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Building a 5 x 8 Harbor Railroad part 3

A Model Railroader holding a model building.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Layout designer David Popp describes his strategy for using various turnouts on the Rice Harbor project layout. The turnouts are controlled by New Rail Models Blue Point controllers. You’ll also get a look at the benchwork for the folding staging track and see […]

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Building a 5 x 8 Harbor Railroad part 2

Hands holding a structure

Work continues on the Model Railroader staff’s HO scale Rice Harbor project layout. David Popp begins track work on the railroad. Editor Neil Besougloff discusses his options for modeling a passenger station that will fit the model railroad’s setting and era. […]

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Winter on the Zavoronki Railroad

Winter on the Zavoronki Railroad

Name:  Ilya Krishtal Railroad Name:  Zavoronki Railroad Location: Russia, Zavoronki village Scale: 1:22.5 Theme: First winter day run! Description:    I installed special equipment in my Baldwin Forney 2-4-4 steam locomotive. Now I can run this locomotive on battery power with radio control even in winter! Russian winters are always very cold and snowy and this […]

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Intermountain Odyssey movies

Diesel locomotive approaching signal bridge

Watch clips from Bob Johnston’s 8mm color movies that he took during his “Intermountain Odyssey,” as recounted in his article of the same name in Classic Trains Special Edition No. 13, All Aboard! […]

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