Remembering Clinchfield Railroad locomotives

A train sitting on the tracks

Classic Trains editors are celebrating the heritage, history, and lore of famed (and infamous) railroads. In March 2020, we celebrate the Clinchfield Railroad. Please enjoy a collection of locomotive images located in the David P. Morgan Library archives at Kalmbach Media that include the Clinchfield’s iconic locomotives and classic scenic photos. You might also enjoy […]

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HO scale Virginia & Truckee RR

HOscaleVirginiaTruckee

Name: Virginia & Truckee RR Layout owner: Donn Tolley Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 21′-7″ x 21′-10″ Prototype: Virginia & Truckee RR Locale: northwestern Nevada Era: 1888 Style: walk-in Mainline run: 1541⁄2 feet Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: no. 3 stub-ended Maximum grade: 2 percent (V&T), 6 percent (Lake Tahoe RR) Benchwork: L-girder Height: 42″ to […]

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Modeling the East Broad Top

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East Broad Top Railroad combine No. 18 has long fascinated the author. The opportunity to walk through the still existing, circa 1876 railroad car prompted him to build this 1:20.3-scale model of the car. Kevin Strong EBT combine No. 18 waits in the Rockhill Furnace yards for its next trip south to the mines at […]

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Ice harvesting at Crystal Lake Ill on the Chicago North Western

The Cold hard tracks Crystal Lake was once used for harvesting ice. Blocks of ice were cut from the lake in winter, then stored in warehouses along the shore. The ice was shipped in refrigerator cars to Chicago via the “Ice Track,” a 2-mile branch that ran from the C&NW main line through the west […]

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HO scale Stockton & Copperopolis

HOscaleStocktonCopperopolis

  The layout at a glance Name: Stockton & Copperopolis RR Layout designer: Don Ball Scale: HO (1:87) Size: 37′-0″ x 40′-3″ Prototype: Stockton & Copperopolis RR Locale: California Era: 1895 Style: linear walkaround Mainline run: 240 feet Branchline run: 100 feet Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 2 percent Train length: […]

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A model railroad that turns the clock back to 1895

MRR012720Stockton01

Why would anyone model the Stockton & Copperopolis, an obscure short line with a name that sounds made up? Or model this little-known prototype in the 1890s? Most importantly, would it be practical to build it as a large, prototypically faithful model railroad capable of realistic operation and equip it with authentic locomotives and rolling […]

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