Lionel F3 sets that never existed are a constant source of conversation among collectors. One area of focus is the late 1940s. Amid the ordinary items produced in vast quantities, there were some advertised that were probably never produced – but maybe they were. Lionel’s first O gauge F3 diesels came in freight sets with […]
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story appeared in the June 1947 issue of Trains magazine following the resumption of service on the strike-crippled Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway. Things are peaceful again after the Toledo, Peoria and Western strike ends. The bitter 19-month strike which was climaxed by the murder of President George McNear is […]
Mountain railroading always gave the opportunity for a runaway train. In 1949, I was working out of the small town of Avery, Idaho, on the Milwaukee Road. The railroad crossed the Bitterroot Mountains on a 1.7% grade through St. Paul Pass. The grade began just east of the Avery depot. Avery was a crew-change, engine-change, […]
I was working as a relief railroad tower operator on the Lehigh Valley in the late steam era. It was a beautiful late-summer evening when I left an Athens, Pa., diner and began walking along North Main Street. It was quiet as there was little traffic on this main artery that connected the Wilkes-Barre area, […]
Additional American Z Line diesel locomotive announcements for September 2022 Scale: Z (1:220) Price: Contact manufacturer Era: Southern Pacific Electro-Motive Division SW1500 diesel locomotive, 1980s. Cotton Belt Alco PA-1 diesel locomotive, 1956 to January 1960 (as decorated). Manufacturer: American Z Line, 6142 Northcliff Blvd., Dublin, OH 43016; 614-764-1703; americanzline.com EMD SW1500 features: AutoLatch couplers Prototype-specific details Directional light-emitting-diode lighting Blackened […]
PS-2 2,600-cubic-foot capacity covered hopper Scale: HO (1:87.1) and N (1:160) Price: HO, $51.99; N, $36.99 Era: 1965 to present (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com PS-2 2,600-cubic-foot-capacity covered hopper features: Flush or overhanging roof as appropriate Etched metal crossover platforms (HO) and running boards (HO and N) […]
40-foot ballast hopper Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Single car, $42.99; four-pack, $149.99 Era: 1960s to present (varies depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com 40-foot ballast hopper features: Removable load Separate, factory-applied wire grab irons and brake wheel Injection-molded plastic body Body-mounted McHenry scale couplers Solid nickel silver wheels with RP-25 […]
A new run of Electro-Motive Division SD24 diesel locomotives is available now from Atlas Model Railroad Co. Join Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he hosts a Product Review video of this HO scale six-axle road locomotive. See the details and lighting effects, listen to the sounds from the dual-mode ESU LokSound decoder, and watch it […]
A new run of Electro-Motive Division SD24 diesel locomotives is available now from Atlas Model Railroad Co. Join Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he hosts a Product Review video of this HO scale six-axle road locomotive. See the details and lighting effects, listen to the sounds from the dual-mode ESU LokSound decoder, and watch it […]
International Car Co. Baltimore & Ohio I-18 steel bay-window caboose Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $106.95 Era: 1968+ to 1980s+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Tangent Scale Models, P.O. Box 6514, Asheville, NC 28816; 828-412-3886; tangentscalemodels.com International Car Co. Baltimore & Ohio I-18 steel bay-window caboose features: Kadee scale couplers Era-specific body details, including bay […]
Woodward Dream Cruise series 1 Scale: 1:64 Price: Single-sale car, $6.99; six-pack, $41.94 Era: 1967-1969 Manufacturer: Greenlight Collectibles 5901 Lakeside Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN., 46278, 317-287-0600, greenlighttoys.com Features: Chrome accents Die-case metal chassis Rubber tires Scale details Limited edition Paint Schemes: 1967 Pontiac GTO Convertible (blue and silver), 1967 Shelby GT500 (scarlet and gray), 1968 […]
Railfan photographer with flash Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $20 Manufacturer: East Coast Circuits LLC, P.O. Box 25412 Providence, RI 02905; 401-400-0668; eastcoastcircuits.com Photographer features: Works on 9-12V AC or DC power Track sensor included Barriers and display not included Release date: October 2022 News & Products is a regular feature of Trains.com for model railroad operators and builders to […]
