Midwest Mod-U-Track display in HO scale

Midwest Mod-U-Track display in HO scale | Gerry Leone, Trains.com Contributor, continued making the rounds of layouts on display at Trainfest 2024 event in Milwaukee, Wis. At this stop, he visited with Bob Kosic to take a closer look at the HO scale (1:87.1) Midwest Mod-U-Trak display presented by Chicagoland modelers. Bob shared plenty of […]

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Burlington Route diesel locomotives remembered

Burlington Route diesel locomotives showed a strong loyalty to Electro-Motive Division, located in the online community of LaGrange, Ill. The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy was a diesel pioneer with its Zephyr passenger trains in the 1930s, and the railroad began dieselizing mainline freight trains with EMD FTs in 1943. The CB&Q continuing dieselizing with a […]

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Minnesota Vikings take a steam train ride

Person wearing giant foam Viking head with small girl

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold has led his team to a run at a playoff berth this season. On Monday, Dec. 9, Darnold and the team made another kind of run: they took a ride on the North Pole Express powered by Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 No. 261 at St. Paul Union […]

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STB again extends mediation for Union Pacific, Metra

Commuter train passing freight train

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has again extended the mediation process for Union Pacific and Metra as they try to work out the details of the transfer of Metra operation on three UP-owned routes. The board granted UP’s request — agreed to by Metra — to extend the mediation period through Jan. 31, 2025. […]

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New company uses cameras to inform public of blocked railroad crossings

Intermodal train with black locomotives

ELKHART, Ind. — Newly installed cameras that automatically feed real-time information to a website are helping first responders and the general public know when trains are occupying grade crossings near the northern Indiana town of Goshen, Ind., near Elkhart. BlockedCrossings, a private company, recently installed eight cameras at intersections in and south of Goshen, Ind., […]

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Inside scoop

20191203

The truss bracing in the sides of cab units helped support the locomotive’s weight, so cab units required a thinner underframe compared with switchers and road switchers. This is an F unit being assembled at EMD’s La Grange, Ill., plant. Electro-Motive Division photo […]

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Rocky and Suzanne McAlister’s S gauge layout

A toy train layout track plan

Name: Rocky and Suzanne McAlister’s S gauge layoutDimensions: 10½ x 14½-footTrack: GarGraves, Gilbert American Flyer (maximum diameter 42 inches)Switches: Gilbert American FlyerMotive power: American Models, Gilbert American Flyer, Lionel American Flyer, S-Helper ServiceRolling stock: American Models, Gilbert American Flyer, Lionel American Flyer, MTH Electric Trains, S-Helper ServiceControls: Gilbert American Flyer, Model Rectifier Corp. transformersAccessories: Gilbert […]

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The Union Station Kansas City Model Railroad Display in O gauge

Name: Union Station Kansas City Model Railroad DisplayGauge: ODimensions: 20 x 27 feetTrack: GarGraves (maximum diameter is 84 inches)Turnouts: Ross Custom Switches Motive power and rolling stock: Atlas O, Lionel, MTH, 3rd RailControls: Lionel CW-80 transformers (13)Accessories: Coaster Dynamics, Department 56, LionelStructures: Atlas O, Lionel, MTH, scratchbuiltVehicles: Eligor, Ertl, Matchbox, SolidoFigures: Arttista, Preiser, Woodland Scenics […]

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