Peter's Model Railroading | My Library | Magazine Categories
M.O.W. Equipment Articles

A Converted Track Cleaner

The author builds a super-structure (a B&O U-2 Unloader) on top of a Centerline Products track cleaner, so that it can remain on the layout without being so obvious.

A Modernized Russell Steel Snowplow

As of the publication of this magazine issue, Conrail still used this plow in upper New York state. The Russell company made two models, one for single track cleaning, and one for multi-track cleaning. The accompanying prototype photos (including many close-up details) and the HO-scale drawings are for the multi-track snowplow.

A Simple M.O.W. Boxcar

The author converted a LaBelle Woodworking Pacific Coast Ry. boxcar kit into a D&RG m.o.w. car. Includes a model photo and a scale drawing.

A Tale of Two Rail & Tie Cars

This installment of the article describes how the author scratchbuilt the a steam/transition-era rail and tie car. These cars were used to haul ties and rail to the track laying work site. Includes a drawing of the various parts and a parts list.

A Work Train that Actually Works

The author describes what makes a work train, how to convert an MTH operable dump car to DCC, and upgrading them to "scale" appearances. Includes many photos.

American Flyer's Industrial Brownhoist Crane

Prototype and model information about the A.C. Gilbert crane, #644 and #944.

An Auxiliary Water and Coal Car for OX

To complete his M.O.W. train, the author built a coal and water car from a brass tender. The article covers modifying the car, installing couplers, adding a realistic pile of coal (with debris), and finally painting, applying decals, and weathering the model.

B&O Iron Scale Test Car

The author describes the purpose behind this car, and then shows how he modeled it. Includes prototype photo and a scaled drawing, and several construction photos.

Ballast Hopper Car

The author describes how he took an S-Helper Service 2-bay hopper and converted it to a ballast car, much like what the prototype did. Includes model photo.

Big Tools for Big Jobs

Large lifting and wrecking cranes are needed to deal with problems on the railroad, and with railroad construction. This article describes the various hooks used. Includes one prototype photo.

Bring Out the Wrecking Crane!

The author describes how Dave Smith took a Lionel O-27 crane to build this car.

Build A Standard-Gauge Auxiliary Water/Crane-Tender Car Part 1

A pure scratchbuilding article, this installment starts with the construction of a flat car base. A details parts list is included, as well as scaled drawings and construction diagrams.

Build A Standard-Gauge Auxiliary Water/Crane-Tender Car Part 2

This last installment covers the construction of the superstructure, and the painting and applying of decals.

Building a Lorain Model 27 Tracked Shovel

The author describes how he converted an International Models TT-scale Bucyrus Erie shovel into an S-scale model. Includes photos of the completed model.

Building a Pennsylvania Railroad Tower Car

The author provides the history of the PRR's Doodlebug converted to a M.O.W. work car for repairing overhead electrical wires. He then continues with the story about how he wanted to scratchbuild the model, and the concludes with the actual construction process. Includes prototype and model photos, as well as a scaled drawing.

Building the Leadville Designs MOW Bunk Car #4965

The author shares photos and his construction process of this kit, which is slightly different from the kit's instructions. Includes several construction photos containing helpful methods.

Class GS Work Equipment

A brief article about the GS gondola as work equipment.

CNR Section Car

Scale drawings and prototype photo accompany this short article about this Model-T-like car and a flat car.

Constructing a PRR Tower Car

The author covers the purpose of this car, and then describes how he built the model using a PRR FM flat car, just like the prototype.

Converting an Old S Gauge 2-bay Hopper into an Ice Breaker Car

The author describes how he added a structure to an American Flyer hopper car to model this car. Construction photos are included.

Denver & Rio Grande Western Spreader OU

The author built models of all four versions of the D&RGW spreader OU.

Elk Creek Lumber and Mining Ditcher

Inspired by the ditchers from the DRG&W, the author scratchbuilt one in Sn2. He covers from where he got the various parts and what he had to build from scratch. Includes many construction photos.

Get the Big Hook!

Both prototype and model photos of large cranes used to deal with wrecks on the railroad. More photos are shown on page 39 of the online PDF edition.

How I built a M-of-W Tie and Rail Car

This article briefly describes the author's construction of the freelanced car. Includes one model photo.

How I Used an Overland Brass Model to Make an M-O-W Car

The author used two A.C. Gilber flat cars to build a single car that made it look heavy-duty enough to carry the maintenance-of-way car. Includes final model photos.

Kit Bashing The Rio Grande Model's WSLCO Flat Car Kit

The author builds two models from the kits, one a heavy-equipment-carrying car and a sand-and-gravel car. Includes completed-model photos.

Kitbashed Wheel and Hoist Car

Using an outside-braced wood boxcar, the author created this unique M.O.W. car with detailed hoist. Includes photos of the finished model.

Kitbashing a Shortline Sand Car

The author followed the prototype and created a model of a the tank of a tank car welded to a flat car, as was done by the McCloud River Railroad.

Low Cost Dead Rail Speeder

The author took a Maisto R/C 1:64 Hummer model and converted it to run on standard-gauge track.

Make a DCC Wrecking Crane

The author describes how he converted a Lionel wrecking crane from 3-rail TMCC system to 2-rail DCC.

Making an S Scale MOW Crane

The author takes a Lionel American Flyer Maintenance-of-way crane and kit-bashes it into a very nice model.

Menominee Street Car Co Giant Snowplow

A new snowplow used to be a big event in a small town.

Modeling a Pair of DL&W Snowplows

The author built one single-track snowplow using the existing Walthers kit, and one double-track snowplow using a brass Overland Models kit. Many construction photos as well as some prototype photos are included.

MTH PRR Work Equipment

This article covers the PRR's Jordan spreader and Russell Single-Track snow plows. Includes model and prototype photos.

MW X23 Moved to Martinsburg Roundhouse

On May 2016, PRR X23 boxcar #499327, was moved to and into the ex-B&O Martinsburg, W.Va. roundhouse. Includes drawings, and historical and modernday photos of the car.

Narrow Gauge Snowplow

The author kitbashed a snowplow from a Northeastern kit.

Narrow Gauge Track Cleaner

The author took an N-scale Life-Like GP18 diesel frame work and build a HOn3 self-propelled track cleaner. Detailed discussion and photographs describe how the wheels were adjusted to gauge, how the trucks were modified, and how the cleaner was installed. Finally, the car body was made to look like a doodlebug.

Narrow-gauge Rotary

Rotary plow model on the author's Pelican Bay Railway & Navigation Company layout. The model was made from an Athearn rotary blade and a Roundhouse side-door caboose body.

New York Central's Diesel Fueling Car

The author describes how he built this rather unusual car.

Norfolk & Western Rwy. Derrick

Half-S-scale drawing and a photo of the derrick.

O Scale Ohio DE 400 Crane

The author builds a crane, but the article is really about what it takes to work with brass, and he uses no lathe or mill.

O-M Rio Grande's Rotary Plow Part 1

Prototype photos of this machine are included in the article. Many close-up detail photos. Full-scale On3 fold-out drawing of all side (including top and bottom) are in the article.

O-M Rio Grande's Rotary Plow Part 2

The Denver & Rio Grande rotary plow, O-M, is basically a boxcar with a locomotive stuffed inside. This last installment covers the tender and auxiliary water car. The article contains prototype photos, scale drawings, weathering drawings, and close-up detail photos of the prototype.

Russell Snow Plow

The author started with an Ambroid snowplow kit to built his 1919 Great Northern version.

Scale Scene

The author describes how he scratchbuilt a scale test car, citing references he used (and even though a brass model was available).

Scale Test Car: A Unique S Model

Some model, and lots of prototype information and photos of this SouthWind Models brass car.

Scale Test Cars

A collection of prototype photos of scale-testing cars.

Scratchbuilding a Milwaukee Road Snowplow

MILW X900109 is shown in this article using prototype photos and modeled in O-scale. Includes many scaled drawings.

Scratchbuilding a Niagara, St. Catharines & Toronto Line Car

Completely built out of styrene, this car features an adjustable platform used for working on overhead catenary. Includes prototype photos, scale drawings, and model construction detail photos.

Scratchbuilding a Wedge Snowplow

The author describes how he built a MOW gondola car from scratch, which also includes a track cleaner. Includes many construction diagrams and a couple of photos, as well as a parts list.

Snow Fighting Equipment on the Union Pacific

After covering the history of snow-fighting equipment on the UP, the author describes the various models he has on his layout. Includes several model photos.

Southern Railway Camp Cars ca. 1918

Plans/drawings of the commissary car, kitchen car, kitchen-and-dining car, dining car, foreman's car, foreman-and-force bunk car, laborers' bunk car, and the shop-and-tool car.

Speeder Setouts

How to accurately model a speeder set-out track and surrounding scenery.

Stiff Leg Crane

The author describes how he built such a crane using an A.F. flat car. Includes photo and diagrams.

The 'S'traight & Narrow

This column covers how to model a rotary snowplow in Sn3. Includes several model photos.

The 'S'traight & Narrow

This time the author covers what is available in two-foot narrow-gauge in S.

The Modern Image

Heavy-lifting cranes, and how to find models of them on eBay.

Tips for Scratchbuilding a Scale Test Car in S

A brief article about the prototype test cars and how to build one in S.

Walthers Trainline Track Cleaning Car Upgrade

The author replaced the body of the car to better represent the UP he models.

Work Equipment Class GR, GRa, and FGRa

Prototype photos of these cars as work equipment.