Builder’s plate on a locomotive

A circular builder’s plate affixed to No. 168’s smokebox proclaims it to be an 1883 graduate of the Baldwin Locomotive Works factory in Philadelphia, Pa. Two photos, TRAINS: Jim Wrinn

Builder’s plate Imagine walking around all of your life with your birth certificate attached to your forehead. Anyone could walk up to you and in one glance (assuming they understood your birth certificate’s cryptic codes) ascertain your age, lineage, weight, maybe how many legs you should have, and possibly how much work you can do. […]

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Norfolk Southern Corporation profile

A black and white painted Norfolk Southern locomotive leads a train along NS tracks through a slightly foggy winter afternoon.

A Norfolk Southern train storms eastward through Otis, Indiana. Trains staff Read more Norfolk Southern articles on Trains‘ website. Norfolk Southern summary Norfolk Southern Corporation is a railroad holding company incorporated in Virginia. The company’s corporate headquarters are in Norfolk, Virginia. Operations headquarters are located in Atlanta, Georgia. Norfolk Southern Railway Company (NS), a large […]

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Parts of a 2-8-0 steam locomotive

Photo of HO steam locomotive on white backdrop with callouts

Counting articulateds, compounds, and foreign steam locomotives, there are more than 90 steam engine wheel arrangements listed in the Whyte locomotive classifications. Which arrangement was the most common? The 2-8-0. Approximately 21,000 Consolidations were built between 1866 and 1946. To learn more about the prototype, read “Steam locomotive profile: 2-8-0 Consolidation” on the Classic Trains […]

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“Cabooses” or “cabeese”?

Five colorful model cabooses go into a tunnel on a mountainous train layout

One piece of rolling stock I can bet almost every model railroader owns is a caboose. These cars are a staple in both real life and the model form, to the point where many people who don’t know much about trains at all know what a caboose is. Along with the existence of the word […]

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Electro-Motive Division tunnel motor diesels

red and black train on tracks

Electro-Motive Division tunnel motor diesels Electro-Motive Division tunnel motor diesels solved a tricky problem. Locomotives operate in all climates, from scorching desert heat to frigid Canadian winters. An ample supply of fresh air is always required for cooling and combustion purposes but when trains operate through long tunnels or snowsheds at slow speeds, the ability […]

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Acrylic paints for airbrushing

Two skinny paint bottles, one dark gray, the other gold, next to each other in front of white background

Acrylic paints for airbrushing While there are many different areas of the model railroading hobby that we can all explore, one common theme involved in almost all of these areas is paint. Whether you are painting entire backdrops, buildings, vehicles, or even figures, paint is a product that is necessary for model railroading. If you’re […]

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Kansas City Southern profile

An images of a Kansas City Southern locomotive hauling a train in sunlight with blue skies in winter time.

KCS ES44AC No. 4765 leads a Canadian Pacific freight train through southeastern Wisconsin in 2015. Trains staff Read more Kansas City Southern articles on Trains’ website. Kansas City Southern summary Kansas City Southern is a railroad holding company incorporated in Delaware and operating from a headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri. As a railroad, it’s the […]

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CSX Corporation profile

CSX_Blue_Island_Lassen

A CSX train passes through Blue Island, Ill., in September 2019. CSX led Class I railroads in operating ratio in 2019. TRAINS: David Lassen Read more CSX articles on Trains’ website. CSX summary CSX Corporation is a railroad holding company incorporated in Virginia. The company’s corporate headquarters are in Jacksonville, Florida. CSX Transportation Incorporated (CSXT), […]

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Norfolk Southern Corporation profile

A black and white painted Norfolk Southern locomotive leads a train along NS tracks through a slightly foggy winter afternoon.

A Norfolk Southern train storms eastward through Otis, Indiana. Trains staff Read more Norfolk Southern articles on Trains‘ website. Norfolk Southern summary Norfolk Southern Corporation is a railroad holding company incorporated in Virginia. The company’s corporate headquarters are in Norfolk, Virginia. Operations headquarters are located in Atlanta, Georgia. Norfolk Southern Railway Company (NS), a large […]

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Canadian National Railway profile

A southbound Canadian National container train passes through Sussex, Wis., in 2015. TRAINS: Brian Schmidt Read more Canadian National articles on Trains’ website. Canadian National summary Canadian National Railway Company (CN) is a Montreal, Quebec-based railroad operating over approximately 20,000 route miles connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and the Gulf of Mexico throughout Canada […]

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Canadian Pacific Railway profile

A Canadian Pacific heritage locomotive appears in Iowa in 2019. Steve Smedley Read more Canadian Pacific articles on Trains’ website. Canadian Pacific summary Canadian Pacific Railway Limited is a railroad holding company based in Calgary, Alberta. Its subsidiary Canadian Pacific Railway Company (CP) extends over about 12,700 route miles from British Columbia to New Brunswick, […]

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