Pennsylvania Railroad E8 5767 and a sister bring a westbound train to a halt at Canton, Ohio, in September 1952. Some of PRR’s E8s, like these, were delivered in PRR’s traditional dark green locomotive color with gold pinstripes; others came in Tuscan red, which the road adopted for passenger diesels in 1952. John B. Corns […]
SILVIS, Ill. —Chicago commuter railroad Metra is donating one of the two remaining historic F40C commuter locomotives to Railroading Heritage of Midwest America. Built in 1974, Metra No. 611 spent its entire service life hauling commuter trains on Milwaukee Road lines west and northwest of Chicago Union Station. It is currently in transit from Chicago […]
An Electro-Motive Division SD7 is one of the latest additions to the ScaleTrains Rivet Counter line. The HO scale model, based on a prototype from the early 1950s, features injection-molded plastic and die-cast metal construction; factory-applied, prototype-specific details; and metal semi-scale Type E couplers painted a rusty color. Prototype history Electro-Motive Division produced the SD7 […]
Model Railroader magazine Senior Editor Cody Grivno reviews the Atlas N scale (1:160) Electro-Motive Division (EMD) GP38-2 Phase II diesel locomotive. You’ll learn about the prototype history, including details on the sample Rock Island no. 4310, part of a series delivered in 1976. Cody highlights key features such as factory-applied snowplows, body-mounted knuckle couplers, and […]
Two biplanes trailing smoke accent a 1939 publicity photo of Florida East Coast’s Jacksonville–Miami Henry M. Flagler, named for the road’s founder. E3 No. 1001, emblazoned with the train’s name, was FEC’s first diesel. FEC photo […]
There are few diesel locomotives in model railroading that provoke nostalgia like an F3. That being said, I’d argue the Train Master might be a close second. Originally offered by Lionel in 1954 as the No. 2321, this massive six-axle road switcher provided hobbyists with a diverse use on nearly any layout. This model was […]
Join David Popp and Cody Grivno as they add final scenic touches to the HO scale (1:87) East Troy Industrial Park! Watch the Central Ink plant come to life with realistic ground foam and weathered details. Plus, learn a clever trick for ballasting a double-track bridge using wax paper to protect your finished river. From […]
The John H. Emery Rail Heritage Trust has announced its restoration grants for 2026, awarding 20 projects a total of $250,000. The recipients were selected from 32 applicants seeking a total of almost $900,000. The grants were created by John Emery, a longtime Chicago resident and rail enthusiast who rode trains worldwide. His goal was […]
For many years Hobbyshop Window was a popular department in the pages of Model Railroader magazine. We’re excited to bring it back as a frequent feature on Trains.com. Here’s a recap of some of the items that arrived at our offices for the week ending March 13th 2026. Keep up to date on the latest […]
An Electro-Motive Division GP38-2 has been added to the Master Line from Atlas Model Railroad Co. The N scale model, based on a Phase II prototype, uses former Walthers (and before that Life-Like) tooling that Atlas acquired back in 2018. Prototype history Electro-Motive Division produced the GP38-2 from January 1972 until July 1986. More than […]
New York Central 4003 and a sister E7A wear the road’s short-lived black road-diesel livery as they stand at La Salle Street Station, Chicago, ready to depart with the 20th Century Limited, August 1946. John E. Wenzel photo […]
The “Galloping Goose” railbuses were built by the Rio Grande Southern in the 1930s as a cheaper way to haul mail, passengers, and lighter freight. They used automobile or truck engines with freight containers, and ran on narrow-gauge track. The Goose was not only less expensive to operate but also much lighter, so less wear […]
