IN REAL RAILROADING, the wheel arrangement that probably came closest to perfection, in terms of either freight or high-speed passenger service, was the 4-8-4 Northern. Indeed, Alco built the first 4-8-4 in 1927, and by the end of the steam era, 36 railroads operated 1,126 of these machines. A surprisingly high number of Northerns – […]
TO ACCURATELY DESCRIBE the steam-era classic 4-6-6-4 Challenger, you’d have to use words right out of a luxury car ad: powerful, fast, sleek, and big. Conceived as a fast companion to the Union Pacific’s mighty 4-8-8-4 Big Boy, the Challenger was a heavy-hauling speed demon. Its success can be measured in numbers: 252 were built […]
Bachmann HO 4-4-0 Steam fans now have a superdetailed American-type to add to their HO scale rosters. Bachmann’s Spectrum modernized 4-4-0 American comes equipped with a factory-installed dual-mode Digital Command Control (DCC) decoder, so the model is ready to run on DC or DCC layouts. American Standard. By the latter half of the 1800s, locomotives […]
Jeff Young Full-size steam locomotives have been in existence for over 200 years, and live-steam models for nearly that long. On that basis, it might be easy to conclude that the hobby of small-scale live steam is one that would not see a lot of new technology. To the contrary, there have been a number […]
We reviewed the Athearn N scale Challenger in the June 2007 issue of Model Railroader. Watch a video clip of this 4-6-6-4 steam locomotive in action. If you would like to view the video and are a Model Railroader subscriber, please log in below. […]
We reviewed the Athearn N scale Challenger in the June 2007 issue of Model Railroader. Watch a video clip of this 4-6-6-4 steam locomotive in action. If you would like to view the video and are a Model Railroader subscriber, please log in below. […]
In our Summer issue, R. R. “Dick” Wallin recalls several cab rides on Illinois Central steam engines. See clips of Wallin’s 8mm color movies from those rides. […]
Alan Siegwarth SUNOL, Calif. – The Golden Gate Railroad Museum has announced that its Southern Pacific 4-6-2 No. 2472 has been successfully steam-tested as mandated by federal regulations under the 1,472-day inspection rules. Locomotive reassembly is continuing, and the group expects the locomotive to be complete in the near future. The Golden Gate Railroad Museum […]
In our Summer issue, R. R. “Dick” Wallin recalls several cab rides on Illinois Central steam engines. See clips of Wallin’s 8mm color movies from those rides. […]
Kevin Strong 1:20.3 scale, gauge 1, three-truck ShayAccucraft Trains33268 Central Ave.Union City CA 94587Price $3,800Web site: www.accucraft.com All-metal model of a 60 ton, class-C Shay built by Lima Locomotive Works; electrically powered via 24V motor; directional lighting; minimum radius, 4′; working cab windows; working couplers; prototypically accurate lettering and number. Dimensions: Length, 28.5″; width: 5.5″; […]
Dave Goodson 1:20.3 scale, gauge 1, three-truck ShayBachmann Industries, Inc.1400 E. Erie AvenuePhiladelphia PA 19124Price: $1,000Web site: www.bachmanntrains.com Plastic-and-metal model of a 55 ton, three-truck Shay; tested locomotive (#82498) is painted, unlettered; wiring and parts diagram; DVD showing locomotives in use and lubrication procedures; new warranty statement; engineer and fireman; optional smoke stacks and fuel […]
Walthers HO USRA 2-10-2 This massive HO USRA 2-10-2 is a big brute of a steam locomotive, designed for mainline freight ser-vice. Part of Walthers’ Proto 2000 Heritage Collection, it offers classic good looks and a powerful new mechanism capable of hauling prototype-length trains. Though it can negotiate curves as sharp as 18″ radius, the […]
