History according to Hediger 4

Exterior of brick building

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In this episode, Senior Editor Jim Hediger recalls more of his early days at Model Railroader magazine. Jim describes “Lurch” the infamous elevator at the old Kalmbach building in downtown Milwaukee. See vintage photos of the Model Railroader offices and staff. […]

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Video: History according to Hediger

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Model Railroader Senior Editor Jim Hediger has had a long and impressive career at the magazine. In this video interview Jim shares his experiences about first coming to work for Model Railroader, including meeting the magazine’s then-Editor Linn Westcott. Subscribe today and watch […]

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History According to Hediger: Anchors not aweigh!

Large boat on water

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In this encore appearance, Model Railroader magazine’s retired senior editor Jim Hediger pops back into the MRVP studio to re-tell a story about Ann Arbor Railroad’s Viking car ferry concluding one particular trip across Lake Michigan. Related Topics: railfan […]

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History According to Hediger: Interlocking insights

Man with model interlocking machine

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Model Railroader magazine’s senior editor Jim Hediger returns to the MRVP studio! In this episode, he first explains how a real plant works, before describing how former MR editors Paul Larson and Gordon Odegard engineered a model for use on an HO scale […]

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History According to Hediger: Model Railroader’s 40th anniversary boxcars

Red model boxcars

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In 2014, Model Railroader magazine celebrates 80 years in publication. Coincidentally, 40 years ago MR Senior Editor Jim Hediger was just getting started as a staff editor when he was charged with shepherding the production of a custom-run boxcar to commemorate MR’s 40th […]

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History According to Hediger: Visiting Union Pacific’s Los Angeles subdivision

Yellow diesel switcher in yard

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In co-operation with the railroad, MR’s Senior Editor Jim Hediger once took a trip to research Union Pacific’s Los Angeles subdivision. Upon Jim’s arrival in California, his host made a rather embarrassing discovery about the railroad operations for the day. Hear how Jim […]

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History According to Hediger: Al Kalmbach’s Gulch Route Passenger Cars

Man with railroad car models

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In this episode, MR Senior Editor Jim Hediger shares insights related to two custom-built O scale passenger cars owned by Model Railroader magazine founder Al Kalmbach in the early days of the hobby. In the course of examining the amazing craftsmanship, Jim also […]

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History According to Hediger: An engine ride on the Cannonball

View from front of train at opposing train

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page When Jim Hediger was a youngster, he wrote the president of the Wabash RR to see if he could ride in the cab of the locomotive on a trip to St. Louis. Much to everyone’s surprise, Jim got a letter and an invitation […]

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History According to Hediger: Modeling the Auto-Train in HO scale

Diesel locomotives with auto carriers

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In the 1970s, then editor Linn Westcott asked young associate editor Jim Hediger to build an HO model of the Auto-Train for the cover of the December 1974 issue of MR – all 38 cars of it! Jim shares the models he built […]

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History According to Hediger: Riding the Auto-Train

Passenger train models

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Planes, trains, automobiles, and even a tornado, this episode has it all! Jim recounts his trip to Florida in the 1970s on the then-new Auto-Train, but half the adventure proved to be just getting to the station! Related Topics: history according to hediger […]

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History According to Hediger: Fantrip on the Wabash

Men standing on observation car platform

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page It’s into the Way-Back Machine for this episode of History According to Hediger. In 1959 Jim was part of a fantrip on the Wabash RR, put on by the Michigan Railroad Club, and he shares many great pictures from the event in this […]

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