An ancient scale test car

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Scale test cars are used to calibrate in-track scales that weigh freight cars. The car shown above was built in 1891 and served until the 1980s. Jim Battle Q The car in this picture was in the New York, Susquehanna & Western’s Little Ferry, N.J., yard in September 1978. Do you know if it is […]

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Trains Presents: Triple Crown’s Fort Wayne yard

Locomotive with its headlight on at night

Take a look inside the Fort Wayne, Ind., hub of Norfolk Southern subsidiary Triple Crown Services. You’ll see a variety of motive power with this unique RoadRailer freight equipment that is now largely retired. Only from Trains Magazine! For another look at the Triple Crown RoadRailer trains, check out our Norfolk Southern’s Fostoria District video. […]

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Trains Presents: Triple Crown’s Fort Wayne yard

Locomotive with its headlight on at night

Take a look inside the Fort Wayne, Ind., hub of Norfolk Southern subsidiary Triple Crown Services. You’ll see a variety of motive power with this unique RoadRailer freight equipment that is now largely retired. Only from Trains Magazine! For another look at the Triple Crown RoadRailer trains, check out our Norfolk Southern’s Fostoria District video. […]

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Classic Chicago freight trains

FULL SCREEN John Bjorklund, collection of Center for Railroad Photography and Art The Chicago & North Western switches newsprint cars in downtown Chicago in September 1981. FULL SCREEN John Bjorklund, collection of Center for Railroad Photography and Art The Chicago & North Western switches newsprint cars in downtown Chicago in September 1981. FULL SCREEN John […]

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Galvanic corrosion

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This coal hopper, seen in Butler, Wis., has a main body built from aluminum and a center sill made of steel. Freight-car makers use non-conductive materials to separate the metals and prevent galvanic corrosion. Steve Sweeney Q There are aluminum-body Talgos and aluminum-body coal cars, both with steel center sills. High school chemistry teaches that […]

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Low-numbered Pennsy engine

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Pennsylvania class L1 Mikado No. 26, trailing an additional tender for extra water capacity, heads a train of empty coal hoppers west out of Renovo, Pa., in September 1955. Under PRR’s unorthodox numbering system, the 574-member L1 fleet ranged from No. 2 to No. 8636. Philip R. Hastings photo […]

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