Lionel No. 11131 Union Pacific 4-8-4 steam engine

steam locomotive model on gray background

Rarely does a locomotive capture both the elements of power and beauty. As train enthusiasts we love the power aspect, but often the result is boxy, odd, or bland. The Union Pacific’s ten FEF-class steam locomotives set a standard for rugged beauty, and one in particular has had an operation life of 79 years. That […]

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Nevada Northern Railway | Be the Engineer insights

Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to run a steam locomotive?  Well, you can!  Come with us as Trains.com visits the Nevada Northern Railway for their “Be the Engineer” program, where trained crews will teach you how to run a steam locomotive.  This short clip is from our feature-length “Introduction to Steam Locomotives: How They Work” […]

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10 household items for model railroading

Color photo showing six clothespins with modified tips attached to wood block.

Though the hobby has evolved throughout the decades, one theme has remained constant: Model railroaders are a resourceful bunch. There are many in the hobby community who have a knack for looking items not for what they are, but for what they might become. In this article, we’ll take a look at 10 household items […]

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Rapido Trains N scale Turboliner

Color photo of red, white, and blue streamlined locomotive on N scale layout.

The Rapido Trains N scale Turboliner, based on the Rohr Industries prototype from the mid-1970s, recently paid a visit to our Milwaukee, Racine & Troy State Line Route layout. Join Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he shares a brief history of the RTL Turboliner, points out the details on a 5-car set, and demonstrates the […]

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Amtrak set to break ridership record in 2024

Passenger train in late afternoon lighting

WASHINGTON — Amtrak has announced it expects ridership to top 2019 — pre-COVID — levels this year and reach a new all-time record high even though it currently has less capacity. Ridership is reported 20% higher in the first 8 months of Amtrak’s budget year that began Oct. 1, 2023. Ticket revenue is showing a […]

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Why Michigan Central Station matters

Shiny marble tiles and columns supporting high ceiling

Walking out the 15th Street side entrance to Detroit’s Michigan Central Station last Friday morning, I found myself channeling the great baseball play-by-play man Jack Buck. “I can’t believe what I just saw!” Buck’s epic quote came, of course, when Dodger Kirk Gibson launched his epic home run off A’s reliever Dennis Eckersley in game […]

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Port of Baltimore reopens main channel

Metal wreckage and container ship

BALTIMORE — The Port of Baltimore’s main shipping channel reopened Monday. The channel had been blocked after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed into the Patapsco River, when it was struck by the container ship Dali on March 26. The reopened shipping lane will allow Norfolk Southern and CSX to resume normal intermodal operations through […]

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Great Railfan Roads | U.S. Highway 460 in Virginia

U.S. Highway 460 is one of the great railfan roads, paralleling the former Norfolk & Western mainline across the state of Virginia for hundreds of miles. Starting in Norfolk on the Atlantic coast, 460 follows today’s Norfolk Southern into the Blue Ridge Mountains to Roanoke and beyond.  West of Roanoke, the Norfolk & Western confronts […]

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Athearn HO scale GE P40DC

Screen grab of title screen from Product Review video.

The Athearn HO scale GE P40DC diesel locomotive is back, this time with new tooling and operating strobe lights. Join Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he provides a brief history of Amtrak No. 813, points out the numerous details on the Genesis-series model, and demonstrates the sound and light functions. Then sit back and watch […]

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Athearn HO scale GE P40DC

Screen grab of title screen from Product Review video.

The Athearn HO scale GE P40DC diesel locomotive is back, this time with new tooling and operating strobe lights. Join Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he provides a brief history of Amtrak No. 813, points out the numerous details on the Genesis-series model, and demonstrates the sound and light functions. Then sit back and watch […]

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