Lubricating modern O scale steam locomotives

O scale steam locomotive with foam cradle, screwdriver, and lubricators

“Less is more,” as the saying goes from the article How to lubricate your O and S gauge trains. The same applies to lubricating modern O scale steam locomotives, big and small. Though much like their real-life counterparts, there will be a few more components to attend to in contrast to lubricating diesels and rolling […]

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Santa Fe No. 2926 makes first visit in 2024 to Albuquerque’s Rail Yards

Steam locomotive at night

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The long-awaited Albuquerque convention by the Santa Fe Railway Historical & Modeling Society, previously postponed due to COVID-19, called for a visit to the downtown’s Rail Yards as part of the annual gathering. Adding on to the itinerary was the June 26-27 appearance of steam locomotive No. 2926, making its first mainline […]

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Sioux City museum announces joint effort to return Great Northern 4-6-2 to operation

Steam locomotive with green boiler jacket on turntable

SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Already facing one major project — recovery from major flood damage — the Sioux City Railroad Museum announced Wednesday that it would take on another: restoring one of the museum’s steam locomotives to operating condition. The museum, its parent Siouxland Historical Railroad Association, and the American Heartland Railroad Society are beginning […]

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Olympia & Sand Creek, Sidetrack Ep. 6 | Harnesses and reins

In this concluding video of the Olympia & Sand Creek Sidetrack Series, host David Popp finalizes the assembly of the horses, mules, and wagons. Follow along as he shares techniques for hitching the ponies to the carts, before he gets back to working on the On30 model railroad! Be sure to explore the entire Olympia […]

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Durango & Silverton again up and running to Silverton

A Durango & Silverton train in Silverton, Colo., in October 2018.


DURANGO, Colo. — The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad has made quick work of its latest slide disruption. The heritage railroad said on its Facebook page that it has resumed service to Silverton today (Wednesday, July 3) after Tuesday trains to Silverton were halted by a Monday night slide at milepost 486.0, near Needleton. […]

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Cardinal River Models’ Super Power startup

Closeup of parts from a 3D model of steam locomotive.

In May 2024, an up-and-coming model railroad company took the stage with Super Power in its arsenal. Cardinal River Models LLC of West Virginia announced plans to manufacture a museum-tier model of the Nickel Plate Road Class S-2 2-8-4 Berkshire-type steam locomotive in HO. Although Nickel Plate Berkshires are nothing new to the market, owner […]

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Preservation news from Appalachia: 0-4-0 finds new home, GP9 gets B&O-inspired paint upgrade

Steam locomotive being lifted by crane

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — An H.K. Porter 0-4-0T will be restored for operation at the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. in Ravenna, Ky., after being on display for many years at the Kenova Historical Museum Commission in Kenova, W.Va. And in Virginia, the Shenandoah Valley Railroad has just finished repainting an EMD GP9 into a Baltimore & […]

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