Stuart tanks and crated loads on flatcars tell of the herculean effort of American industries, including railroads, to bring victory in World War II. Classic Trains collection […]
Railroads at war
Era: 1920 - 1945
20th Century Limited
Streamlined Hudson-type No. 5448 leads New York Central’s 20th Century Limited at LaSalle Street Station in Chicago in the late 1930s. Nos. 5445-5454, known as the J-3a subclass, wore the Henry Dreyfuss-styled streamlining. Alexander Maxwell photo […]
Ask Trains: Who named 4-8-8-4 steam locomotives, a ‘Big Boy’?
Union Pacific Big Boy 4-8-8-4 No. 4014 as it slowly departs Pomona, Calif., in 2013. TRAINS: Jim Wrinn Question: Reportedly, Union Pacific had a name picked out for it’s 4-8-8-4 Big Boy steam locomotive but someone at American Locomotive Co. in Schenectady, N.Y., beat them to the punch by writing the name “Big Boy” on […]
Spiffy Mallet
Rio Grande 2-8-8-2 3404, nicely turned out with white tires, running boards, and cylinder-head covers, assists a train up Tennessee Pass in July 1941. Up front is a 4-8-2; at the rear is another 2-8-8-2 helper. J. W. Maxwell photo […]
St. Louis Union Station at war
An early-1940s view from atop St. Louis Union Station’s trainshed imparts a sense of how busy the big terminal was during World War II. In the foreground a Terminal Railroad Association diesel switcher shares station tracks with New York Central, B&O, and Chicago & Eastern Illinois trains, while in the distance men stand alongside a […]
O gauge Q-Type subway set by MTH Electric Trains
O gauge Q-Type subway set by MTH Electric Trains Price: $439.95 (no. 30-20427-1 powered three-car set) and $219.95 (unpowered three-car set) Cmd low speed: 6.4 smph Cnv low speed: 7.8 smph High speed: 63.2 scale mph Drawbar pull: 1 pound, 6 ounces Features: Two can-style motors, ProtoSound 3.0 command and sound system, directional lighting, and […]
Atlas O Pullman-Bradley lightweight coach
O gauge Pullman-Bradley Coach from Atlas O Price: $139.95 (no. 2002901) Min. Curve: O-45, O-54 recommended Features: Vinyl diaphragms, sprung side vestibule doors, illuminated interior, and wire grab irons. Road names: Boston & Maine, Kansas City Southern, Long Island RR, New Haven, Southern Pacific, and undecorated. For more information: go to www.shop.atlasrr.com Industrial designer Walter […]
Steam engine water treatment
A water tank on the Pacific Coast Railroad in Washington displays discoloration brought by impurities in the local water. Al Farrow photo, Martin E. Hansen collection Q Did steam locomotive operators test the water prior to filling the tender? Was water treated then or prior to filling the tank? Without treatment would there have been […]
Christmas & Electric Trains
Sharing the joys of toy trains at Christmas […]
HO scale Fox Hill & Metuchen RR and Fox Hill Traction Co.
Name: Fox Hill & Metuchen RR and Fox Hill Traction Co. Layout owner: Fred Miller Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 18″ x 11′-8″ plus 9′ x 6′-9″ staging Theme: Generic steam and urban traction Locale: Northeastern United States Era: 1920 to 1930s Style: shelf Mainline Run: 12 feet (steam line), 18 feet (traction) Minimum Radius: 24″ (steam), […]
HO scale New Woodstock
Name: New Woodstock Layout owner: Phil Lord Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 8 x 14 feet Prototype: Lehigh Valley RR Locale: Madison County, N.Y. Era: 1945 Style: shelf Mainline run: 40 feet Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: flat Benchwork: open grid Height: 481⁄2″ Roadbed: none Track: Atlas code 100 Scenery: extruded-foam insulation […]
Video: HO scale Fox Hill Traction Co and Fox Hill Metuchen RR
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page The Fox Hill Traction Co. and Fox Hill & Metuchen RR packs both a steam railroad and a trolley line on to an 18″ wide shelf layout. Set in the 1920s and 1930s, Fred Miller’s HO scale layout features urban scenery inspired by […]
