The story of Squaw Valley

F7A 4219 and F3A 6709 bracket three B units on an Asheville-bound Southern Railway freight along the French Broad River in April 1966.

Downhill skiing buffs immediately think of the winter vacation destination (and site of the 1960 winter Olympics) in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains when “Squaw Valley” is mentioned. More than 50 years ago, the name Squaw Valley came to the mountains of Western North Carolina under entirely different circumstances. To set the stage, I was a […]

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In Memoriam: Neil Besougloff, 1959 – 2020

Neil Besougloff working on tracks

Neil Besougloff, editor of Model Railroader from June 2007 to June 2017, passed away on July 26 from complications related to COVID-19. He was 61 years old. Neil was born in Toms River, N.J., and graduated from Toms River High School South. After earning an associate degree from Ocean County College in Toms River, he […]

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New model trains for the week of July 30, 2020

Ten train cars

HO scale locomotives Alco RS-11 diesel locomotive. Burlington Northern (Cascade Green and Northern Pacific patchout); Central Vermont (green with “wet noodle” herald); Delaware & Hudson (gray, yellow, and blue “lightning stripe” scheme); Duluth, Winnipeg & Pacific (as-delivered green-and-gold scheme); Maine Central (Pine Green); Portland Terminal (Pine Green, conditional release); New York Central (black); Nickel Plate […]

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Remembering Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo locomotives

Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo NW2 diesel locomotive

  Classic Trains editors are celebrating the heritage, history, and lore of famed (and infamous) railroads. In July 2020, we celebrate the Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo. Please enjoy a collection of locomotive images located in the David P. Morgan Library archives at Kalmbach Media that include the TH&B’s iconic locomotives and classic scenic photos. […]

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Mike Schwab’s Sn3 scale D&RGW background images

Mike Schwab's Sn3 scale D&RGW background images

Denver & Rio Grande Western class K-27 2-8-2 Mikado no. 463 starts down the High Line with a string of boxcars in tow on Mike Schwab’s Sn3 scale D&RGW layout. Mike’s trackside photo is also September’s featured computer desktop wallpaper. Click on the links below to download the image sized appropriately for your computer screen. […]

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New model trains for the week of July 23, 2020

Electric locomotive on tracks

See the latest model railroad products from Atlas, Broadway Limited Imports, Kalmbach Hobby Store, and more! HO scale locomotives Siemens ACS-64 electric locomotive. Amtrak (“Reliability, Efficiency, Mobility and Travelmark schemes) and Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. One road number per scheme. Dual-mode TCS WOWSound electric locomotive sound package; fully remappable light functions, including blinking ditch lights, […]

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Garden Railways Product Review LGB Construction Site Starter Set

Man bent over and assembling large-scale circle of track encircling track box on a faded wooden deck. White-letter text overlays the scene.

Check out this Märklin/LGB large scale Construction Site Starter Set demo, as presented by Editor Hal Miller (and his dog Finn). Of course, you can read a complete review of the model in the Fall 2020 issue of Garden Railways magazine! […]

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PIKO America powered re-railer

PIKO America powered re-railer

Open the box and you might be tempted to dismiss the contents as two sections of thin (⅛”) plastic, each measuring 16″ long. Closer inspection reveals the top side of one section includes two 12″ metal plates (slot-and-tab installation) extending two-thirds its length. Probe a bit further to find an end cap, Phillips-head screw, and […]

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