WM coal train in Blackwater Canyon

Western Maryland Railway coal train

Western Maryland 2-8-0s 840 and 816 swing around one curve and into another as they lead a coal train east through rugged Blackwater Canyon between Elkins and Thomas, W.Va., in May 1952. Three more 2-8-0s at mid-train, and two more on the rear, help the 78-car train upgrade. Ed Theisinger photo […]

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Swift refrigerator cars

Swift refrigerator cars

A mix of older wood reefers and new steel cars mingle on the cleanout and ready tracks at Swift’s Sioux City (Iowa) plant in 1954. A lone car in the old yellow scheme stands out among a sea of cars in the red 1950 paint scheme. George Berkstresser photo […]

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Meat reefers at Hormel

Milwaukee Road switcher at Hormel plant

A Milwaukee Road switcher moves a cut of refrigerator cars at the Hormel plant in Austin, Minn., in 1942. Most of the reefers are wood-sheathed cars leased from North American. Classic Trains collection […]

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GTW 4-8-4 on a freight

Grand Trunk Western Railroad 4-8-4 in Indiana

Grand Trunk Western 4-8-4 6317 approaches South Bend (Ind.) Union Station with a westbound freight in April 1948. A dozen years later, GTW would become one of the final Class I railroads to use steam power. Andrew Corsini photo […]

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Twenty-four hours at Supai Summit

SupaiLucas

On May 23, 1996, Santa Fe train P-CHLA1-21, a 5,338-ton, 7,133-foot train, at Supai Summit in northern Arizona. John C. Lucas Have you read Fred W. Frailey’s October 2017 “Commentary,” “24 hours at Supai Summit?” He spills all of the details of a 1996 visit to Kaibab National Forest 4 miles east of Williams, Ariz., […]

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Railfan camera captures trespassers, vandals at Horseshoe Curve NEWSWIRE

HSCIncidentAug29

A Facebook page promoting railroad safety and education shared screenshots from Virtual Railfan’s Horseshoe Curve camera showing the three trespassers and vandals from Sunday’s incident near Altoona. STOP Photography and Trespassing on Railroad Tracks via Facebook ALTOONA, Pa. — A video streaming service for railroad enthusiasts recently spotted more than just trains at the Horseshoe […]

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How-to Library: Airbrushing with Aaron – Episode 7, Shading techniques

Aaron Skinner holding an airbrush.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page   In this episode of Airbrushing with Aaron, FineScale Modeler senior editor Aaron Skinner demonstrates two airbrushing techniques that help you replicate how sunlight naturally reflects on painted surfaces.   Follow along as Aaron demonstrates post-shading and pre-shading effects on a WWII tank model […]

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