American Car & Foundry 2,980-cubic-foot Center Flow covered hopper Scale: N (1:160) Price: $44.98 Era: 1985+ Manufacturer: Produced by Micro-Trains Line Co., available from Kalmbach Hobby Store, KalmbachHobbyStore.com Features: Injection-molded plastic construction Separate roof, end cages, and stirrup steps Factory-installed brake wheel and four round hatch covers Two-piece outlet gates Pin-mounted roller-bearing trucks Plastic wheelsets […]
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Spokane Portland and Seattle passenger trains: All through August 2022, Classic Trains editors are celebrating the history and heritage of Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway. The Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway was the product of sparring during 1905-1909 between “Empire Builder” James J. Hill of the Great Northern and Edward H. Harriman of the Union […]
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Pennsy Santa train ride: There is an indelible link between kids, trains, and Christmas; even the mighty Pennsylvania Railroad found a way to offer a Santa train ride to kids. Growing up in 1950s Fort Wayne, Ind., I remember the Pennsylvania Railroad as a prominent player in the city’s life. Also prominent was Fort […]
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Amtrak electric locomotives went through a period of uncertainty early in the passenger railroad’s existence. Not long after its inception, Amtrak began to focus on the fact that its non-Metroliner passenger service in the “Northeast Corridor” would require a replacement for the stalwart GG1 electrics that hauled its “conventional” trains over the electrified […]
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The Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway was the product of sparring during 1905-1909 between “Empire Builder” James J. Hill of the Great Northern and Edward H. Harriman of the Union Pacific and Southern Pacific, by which Hill’s GN, as well as Northern Pacific (which Hill controlled at the time), got much-improved access to Portland, while […]
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August 2022 freight car kit announcements Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: See individual cars below Era: Varies depending on car type Manufacturer: Accurail, P.O. Box 278, Elburn, IL 60119; 630-365-1173; accurail.com Features: Injection-molded plastic kits Plastic wheelsets Solid-or roller-bearing trucks as appropriate Steel weight(s) Screws for trucks and draft-gear box covers Accumate couplers with modeler-installed trip […]
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Christmas train starter set Scale: Large scale (1:22.5) Price: $425 Manufacturer: LGB (Märklin, Inc.), 1406 Creek Trail Dr., Ste. 100, Jefferson City, MO 65109; 800-321-8811; lgb.com Features: Tank engine with Bühler motor, headlight, and smoke unit Two passenger cars in Christmas paint scheme 48” circle of track Electrical hookups Power supply Locomotive controller Release date: […]
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Meeting the Electro-Motive Division SW1 The time-tested Electro-Motive Division SW1 has long been one of my favorite diesel locomotives. My fascination with the 600hp end-cab switcher didn’t start when the locomotives were earning their keep on the big railroads. Instead, my introduction came at the Crookston (Minn.) Farmers Co-op Elevator, less than a block from […]
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Annual Christmas car Scale: Large scale (1:22.5) Price: $189 Manufacturer: LGB (Märklin, Inc.), 1406 Creek Trail Dr., Ste. 100, Jefferson City, MO 65109; 800-321-8811; lgb.com Features: Positionable doors Solid metal wheelsets Clear window glazing Plastic icicle detail Hook-and-loop couplers Release date: Third quarter 2022 Paint scheme: Christmas 2022 News & Products is a regular feature of […]
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40-foot stockcar Scale: HO (1:87:1) Price: Single car, $34.99; four-pack, $121.99 Era: 1940s+ to 1970s (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Features: Separate, factory-applied brake wheel Underbody brake system details Machined metal wheels with RP-25 contours Body mounted McHenry scale couplers Minimum radius: 18” Release […]
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40-foot smooth-side intermodal container Scale: HO (1:87:1) Price: Three-pack, $41.99 Era: 1970s to 1990s Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Features: Injection-molded plastic Stackable Release date: September 2023 Paint schemes: American Mail Line (off-white), American Presidential Line (gray with red logo), “K” Line (gray with red logo), Mitsui O.S.K. Lines […]
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PALESTINE, Texas — The city of Palestine and Anderson County, Texas, are asking a federal court to rehear their case attempting to uphold a 1954 agreement, with roots dating to 1872, which requires Union Pacific to maintain a set number of jobs in Palestine. A July ruling by a three-member panel of the U.S. Appeals […]
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