What is an operating weekend and how does it work? Answer: Well, a group of layout owners who live somewhat near one another decide they want to have folks from out of their area come run their layouts. Organizing an operating weekend But there’s more to an operating weekend than inviting people over to run […]
Lima-Hamilton locomotives history Lima-Hamilton locomotives were built out of Lima, the youngest and smallest of the Big Three steam builders. The Ohio manufacturer was synonymous with steam at its best, and it upheld the steam standard to the bitter end. Even as legions of diesels were rolling off the erecting floors of competitors, Lima Locomotive […]
BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. – Veteran railroader and well-known railfan Burdell L. “Bud” Bulgrin died Aug. 18 of complications of Covid-19. He was 82. Bulgrin’s long railroad career included stints in the communications departments at Santa Fe, Illinois Central, Soo Line, and Canadian Pacific. But he was probably best known as a life-long railfan and photographer […]
When you think of engine facilities on the BNSF Ry., images of large, multi-bay structures; wash racks; and sand towers and fuel columns that can handle 10 or more locomotives at a time probably come to mind. And that makes perfect senses considering the railroad’s size. BNSF has facilities like this in Alliance (Neb. and […]
Introduction to the Matteson, Illinois, railfan hotspot Matteson’s status as a truly significant railroad junction dates only to October 2011, when Canadian National completed a new connection between its north-south former Illinois Central line, and its recently acquired Elgin, Joliet & Eastern, the belt line that gave it a way to avoid much of […]
If you’ve been trackside in the past five or six years, you’ve probably noticed blue metal signs at grade crossings. These are called Emergency Notification System signs, or ENS for short. The top two lines of the sign read “Report problem or emergency.” Hazard may be used in place of problem in some instances. Below […]
Yes it is, Brian. In fact, intermodal passed coal in 2013 as railroads’ biggest revenue source. In 2014, U.S. railroads tacked more than a half million intermodal loads onto their 2013 totals, notching a record 13.5 million shipments. Intermodal is likely to become even more significant in coming years as the industry spends […]
Yes it is, Brian. In fact, intermodal passed coal in 2013 as railroads’ biggest revenue source. In 2014, U.S. railroads tacked more than a half million intermodal loads onto their 2013 totals, notching a record 13.5 million shipments. Intermodal is likely to become even more significant in coming years as the industry spends […]
But this new source of revenue has a troubling side. Rapid growth strains the capacity of railroads to move crude oil. And, safety has become an even bigger issue following the tragic derailment of a crude oil train in Quebec in July 2013 that killed 47 people and leveled a town. Other spectacular […]
But this new source of revenue has a troubling side. Rapid growth strains the capacity of railroads to move crude oil. And, safety has become an even bigger issue following the tragic derailment of a crude oil train in Quebec in July 2013 that killed 47 people and leveled a town. Other spectacular […]
Lake Superior Railroad Museum’s restored Soo Line GP30 No. 700 will appear at Union Depot Trains and be the subject of a night photo session on May 31. Steve Glischinski ST. PAUL, Minn. – Train Days 2019 at the Union Depot in St. Paul this June will feature LakerRail, an exhibition of railroad photos and […]
FULL SCREEN Follow along with the Model Railroader staff as they visit six model railroads, including Steve Otte’s HO scale Cincinnati, Lebanon & Northern model railroad. FULL SCREEN Our group met at Maxim’s train depot restaurant in Oconomowoc, Wisc., for breakfast. The town’s name is pronounced Oh-con-o-mo-woc. The train depot is on the route of the […]
