Fastest hogger on the slim-gauge

DRGW485engr

A predecessor of this Rio Grande engineer made a daring Chama–Durango run in 1923. A. C. Kalmbach My grandfather, Marvin Rhodes, lived for almost a century, and he spent more than half of his long life working out of Durango, Colo., on the narrow-gauge lines of the Denver & Rio Grande Western. He hired out […]

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PDF: Build a 1:20.3-scale railbus

Build a 1:20.3-scale railbus

Download the PDF of this project here. Note: This PDF is formatted to print on your home printer. Most pieces are formatted to fit on a 8.5″ x 11″ piece of paper. For larger parts of the plan, you will see “break lines.” Line up the break lines to create the larger piece. Also, despite […]

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MR Insider Exclusive: Tony Koester’s Nickel Plate layout update

A scene on Tony Koester's HO scale Nickel Plate Railroad

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page World-renowned MR columnist Tony Koester stops by to discuss progress on his HO scale Nickel Plate layout with MRVP Producer David Popp. Tony shares some new photos and insights related to scenes on the layout — all in this exclusive MRVP video you’ll […]

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Small town railroading in the early 1950s

Smalltownrailroadingintheearly1950s

For many years small towns were a major source of traffic for railroads all across the country. Long before anyone ever heard of freeways, the railroads moved all sorts of carload and less-than-carload lot (LCL) freight that kept the local businesses and nearby agricultural economy going. A local station agent-operator was the railroad’s representative who […]

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Add wear and tear to a steel gondola freight car models

Addwearandteartoasteelgondola

A few dents and weathering add “years” of hauling rough, heavy loads to the pair of gondolas on the right. Compare Tony’s well-worn older cars with his fresh, new car at left. It’s relatively easy to simulate normal wear and tear on a plastic model of a steel gondola. I begin by clamping a medium-wattage […]

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Tracklaying tricks with curved turnouts

Tracklayingtrickswithcurvedturnouts

Three Peco curved turnouts (left) helped senior editor Jim Hediger fit this reverse loop staging yard on his HO scale Ohio Southern. The switch machines are top mounted for clearance underneath and easier maintenance. The smooth-flowing lines of a gently curved switch lead produce some of the most realistic looking trackwork we’re likely to find […]

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Big Boy Chase PHOTOS, Day 2 through California’s Mojave Desert

The union pacific train passing by

On Tuesday, April 29, Trains’ live streaming video crew of Brian Schmidt and Drew Halverson chased Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 through the depths of California’s Mojave Desert. Along the way, they got great shots of the 4-8-8-4 locomotive — what is quickly becoming the most famous steam locomotive restoration project in the world. […]

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A Day on Chicago’s Roosevelt Road: Friday, July 24, 1964, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Classic Trains logo

Stations (east to west) and Carriers at Roosevelt Road: Central: IC, NYC, Soo Dearborn: ATSF, C&EI, C&WI, EL, GTW, Monon, Wabash La Salle Street: NYC, NKP, RI (all NYC trains before 3:30 to or from La Salle Street) Grand Central: B&O, C&O Union: CB&Q, GM&O, PRR Train (Number/Name if known), Engines, Cars, Schedule (all times […]

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Midwest passenger train consists, July 23-25, 1964

Classic Trains logo

Trains ridden: C&O-B&O Night Special, Detroit–Toledo–Lima, July 23-24 (C&O No. 21, Detroit Fort Street–Plymouth; C&O No. 48, Plymouth–Toledo; B&O No. 57, Toledo–Lima): B&O 1457/1409 (E9A/E6A), 12 cars* (B&O unless noted): REX 6398 express, REX 7082 express, C&O 396 baggage, 662 baggage, 230 baggage, 47 RPO, 3547 coach, 3572 coach, B&O Pullman sleeper Cascade Drive (MP Eagle […]

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Build Warwick Railroad station in 1:29 scale

Build Warwick Railroad station in 1:29 scale

Download the PDF of this project here. This PDF is formatted to print on your home printer. Most pieces are formatted to fit on a 8.5″ x 11″ piece of paper. For larger parts of the plan, you will see “break lines.” Line up the break lines to create the larger piece. PLEASE NOTE: This […]

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