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Railroads Articles

"Cruzing" with Character

Photos and description of the Union Pacific's Santa Cruz division.

50th Annual Meeting Report

A report, with photos, of the 50th Annual Meeting of the PRRT&HS, May 9-12, 2018 in Altoona, PA. Includes many photos of the model contests.

A Bad Day for Berwind

An accident at a hump yard destroyed a number of hopper cars.

A Broad Gauge Tail on a Narrow Gauge Dog Part 2 of 4

The article continues with history covering 1900 through 1916.

A Broad Gauge Tail on a Narrow Gauge Dog Part 4 of 4

Miscellaneous notes and photos.

A Broad-gauge Tail on a Narrow-gauge Dog Part 1

This is the first of a four-part series of an article about the Farmington Branch of the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad, originally written by the author in 1955 and reproduced in this magazine.

A Mule-drawn Tram in Yucatan The "Cenote Railway"

Thousands of miles of narrow gauge track was once built in Yucatan to support the production of henequen (fiber used for making rope). Nowadays it is used by the people to transport themselves between towns, still using mules pulling flatcars.

A Ride to the Train on the Grand Canyon Railway

Describes the history and current operations of the railroad. Includes several prototype track plans, and several photos. A hypothetical N-scale layout modeling this railroad is described, including a possible trackplan.

A Rural Wood Chip Plant

Prototype photos, suggested track plan.

A Wild Night Run

An incident of railroading on the Pennsylvania's Main Line in the 1880s.

Almost Heaven! Cass, West Virginia

A visit to the Cass Scenic Railroad. Several prototype photos.

Along the Narrow Gauge

Photos of the Empire City Railway.

Amtrack No. 1

When Amtrak took over passenger car service, several railroads had trains "No.1", making it confusing for the passengers.

Amtrak ACS-64 Sprinter Clearance Test Run

Amtrak ACS-64 (Amtrak Cities Sprinter) #603, an electric locomotive from Siemens Mobility, has begun testing on the Philadelphia-Harrisburg Keystone Corridor in preparation for revenue-service fleet deployment of 70 units. Includes several photos.

Amtrak Fall Leaf Excursions over the Port Road

A report about Amtrak's Autumn Express round-trip excursions. Includes many photos, a schedule, and details about the consist.

Amtrak's Red, White, and Blue

The new paint scheme appeared on new and old locomotives alike. Prototype photos of Amtrak equipment includes the TurboTrain and a GG-1.

Amtrak's Veteran Diesel on the Keystone Corridor

In July 2013, Amtrak specially painted P42 #42 at Beech Grove in honor of America's veterans. Includes many photo and a consist report.

B&O Headquarters

The history of the B&O headquarters building (the first one burned down). Includes many historical and modernday photos. Today, the building is used for other purposes.

BC Rail from North Vancouver to Squamish

Prototype photos.

Chicago, 1963

The author describes railroading in the city.

Claremont Concord Railroad Part III

The last installment covers the decline of the railroad. It includes what can still be seen of the railroad (in 1994, that is), track plans of the Claremont Jct in 1993 and of Claremont, N.H. in 1993, and several prototype photos of preserved equipment used in excursion trains. A brief note about how to model this railroad in HO is described along with a suggested, L-shaped trackplan.

CMSL 2018 Santa Express

A description of the Cape May Seashore Lines traditional Santa Express trains operating full trips between Richland and Tuckahoe, NJ.

CNJ to the Rescue of PRR's GG1 Wreck in 1967

A GG1 was wrecked in Edison, N.J. at 3:27am on Sunday, July 9, 1967. Includes photos and the story of the aftermath.

CP Rail's Kimberley Subdivision and Its Narrow Gauge Connection

Recently abandoned line and its modeling possibilities

Cumbres Contemporary

Several photos of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad with equipment lettered for the Denver & Rio Grande Western for the movie "Showdown" with Dean Martin and Rock Hudson.

Different Time Different Look

The author takes a look at what turn-of-the-century modeling might involve (1900, that is).

Durango Roundhouse Update

This article covers how the Durango Roundhouse is recovering from its fire in February 1989. Includes a couple of photos.

East Broad Top Idyll

Photos and some history on the EBT.

Electro-Motive's Models

EMD created various-sized models to communicate within the company and with the general public how the full-sized models operated and were constructed. The also had their own HO-scale layout to help employees train.

From Out of the Past: The Isle Royale Copper Company Railroad

This railroad served the copper mining industry on the Michigan Upper Peninsula. Old prototype photos, track plan, and locomotive roster are included. A sidebar describes how a layout can be designed to model this railroad.

Getting Started in Prototype Research

Learn more about the railroad your are modeling, using such sources as magazines, NMRA Library, books, video tapes, railroad paper, historical societies, and online research.

Green Mountain's North Walpole Yard

The author describes this Green Mountain RR's former branchline, which now serves as the railroad's operating headquarters. All the track is described, and includes a turntable, roundhouse, storage yard, etc. The article has a full track plan, prototype photos, and two model track plans for compressed applications.

Grip Teller Visits Horseshoe Curve

In the spring of 1934 PRR was planning its wall calendar for coming year, with Horseshoe Curve the setting. Osborne Company's Grif Teller was again to be the artist. Not being familiar with the site, Grif asked to see Horseshoe Curve firsthand and absorb its ambiance.

Hampton, NJ: The CNJ's Dual Gauge Railroad Junction

This article covers the history, the Lackawanna, the coal traffic of the junction. Many period photograph are included.

Harvesting Salt by Rail

Salt harvesting in the San Francisco Bay area involves a unique and movable track system to go where the product is. The complete operation is described, with many photos of the equipment used. Scale drawings of the Leslie Salt wood dump car and Clayton model CD7-25 diesel locomotive are also included.

Horseshoe Curve

A full description of the famous curve near Altoona, Pennsylvania. The article covers the history of the area, shows a number of modern-day photos, and covers the Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona itself.

Keokuk Junction Ry

The 38-mile-long Keokuk Junction Ry. is a short line connecting Keokuk, Iowa, with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe at La Harpe, Illinois. The author describes the history of the line and where it stands at the time of this article. Included are lots of prototype photos and an equipment roster.

Lines of the JM&I Railroad in Southern Indiana

This is the history of the Jeffersonville, Madison & Indianapolis Railroad, which eventually became part of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Includes photos, a map of the track owned by the railroad, and a roster of its equipment in 1855.

Lite and Narrow

This article covers the Birmingham Southern, which is now named the Birmingham Terminal Railroad. The article includes the railroad's history, its motive power, and the industries it serves. Includes lots of prototype photos, as well as photos of Craig Gardner's layout who models that railroad.

Lite and Narrow

The history of the Twin Mountain and Potomac, a narrow-gauge railroad in Eastern West Virginia. Includes historical photos found about the railroad. Suggestions for how to model this railroad are also included.

Lite and Narrow

Describes the history of the Twin Seam Mining Company, based in Alabama, which was a Shay-operated coal railroad. A bridge collapsed on its last day of operations. Lots of prototype photos accompany this article. The author provides tips and ideas on how to model this railroad.

Long Pull of Power

A hill-climbing challenge between steam locomotives and diesels, to see which could pull a passenger train up the 5.9% inclines of the famous Madison Hill. Includes several photos.

Modeling the Monson

Prototype description of the 2-foot Maine gauge line. Includes diagram for possible track design. Sidebar on the slate industry on the Monson.

Modeling the State Belt R.R.

Modesto & Empire Traction Pt. 1

This article covers the history of this railroad which can be found in Modesto, California (85 miles east of San Francisco). Many prototype photos accompany the text which also covers the GE 70-ton engines used by the railroad. The M&ET's route map is included as well as diagrams for a potential scale model of this railroad.

Monsoon Today

What is still visible of a railroad that was torn up in 1943? Includes photos of a furniture factory that was a mill.

Monte Heppe

The author describes visiting the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District in Sioux City, Iowa, and several other places on a recent vacation.

New Haven Memories

The author's memories of the New Haven Railroad's Valley Branch. Includes prototype photos of NYNH&H locomotives.

Norfolk Southern's Interstate Railroad

This article covers the entire railroad, its history, and where it stands today. It includes current-day prototype photos, a map of the railroad, a map of the coal loaders on the railroad, and two track plan designs for how to build a model of this railroad.

Over "The Old Mormon Trail"

This article described the Emigration Canyon Railroad, originally built to quarry rock near Salt Lake City.

Pipeline On Rails

The article describes the railroads' role in the oil industry during the 1940s. Includes prototype photo of the Mid-Continental Petroleum Co. refinery in Tulsa, OK, a refinery in Louisiana during WWII, and fencing around refineries. Sidebars on tank car classification, typical daily refinery output, refining in 1940, and storage tank sizes and capabilities are also included. There is also a 3-D graphic of a potential model.

Prototype Info

TTX's new twin-28 articulated spine cars. NYC and PRR reporting marks can still be seen on some equipment that is still in the process of being divided up. What are cab signals?

Prototype Info

What do diesel names and classifications, such as SD60 and U30B, mean? For what were doghouses on top of tenders used? (contains photo of PRR 2-10-0)

Rail Service Available

Suburban industrial parks

Railfanning in the 1950s

A collection of slides taken by the author as a railfan. These cover many areas and many different locomotives.

Railgon

In 1980 Railgon was added to the Trailer Train Company to provide shippers with a fleet of free-running gondola cars. Article includes prototype photos, scale drawings, and historical information about the company, including roster.

Reading and Blue Mountain Northern Railroad

A functional railroad serving nine counties in eastern Pennsylvania, which runs on track once owned by the PRR. Article includes many photos of the area.

Short Dreams

Consider modeling a shortline, if you are short on model railroading resources (time, money, space, etc.).

Southern's Green and Gold

Describes the paint scheme used on engines, bringing back the railroad's heritage. Includes prototype photos.

The 'S'traight & Narrow

The history of the Rio Grande Southern, and ideas on how to model it in S-scale. Includes several prototype photos, and a bibliography of published materials on the RGS.

The 'S'traight & Narrow

Narrow-gauge railroads in Ohio.

The 'S'traight & Narrow

How to model the EBT in S-scale. After a brief introduction, the column covers motive power, freight cars, passenger cars, cabooses, standard-gauge cars, and structures. Includes several prototype photos, a map, and an example timetable.

The Beaufort & Morehead "Route of the Jets"

This railroad measures 3.5 miles and runs between Beaufort and Morehead City, N.C. The railroad serves aviation fuel terminal on Radio Island, and switches the tank cars into the Norfolk Southern trains. Includes lots of photos and a detailed map. A trackplan to model this layout in HO-scale in a 10 x 12 foot room is also included.

The Central Vermont of the 1950's

Prototype photos of locomotives, track, structures, maps, steam servicing facility, and rolling stock.

The Eagle River & Northern Ry.

This article describes the logging railroad in British Columbia. Logging operations is fully covered, with many prototype photos. There are two possible trackplans for modeling this railroad.

The End of Long Island Rail Road Mail Service in 1965

When the author learned that the LIRR was about to terminate its mail by rail service, he spent the last four days taking many photographs in June 1965. Photos show hanging the mail bag, catching the mail bag, and interior and exterior shots of LIRR RPO cars. There is also a track-side view of the LIRR RPO depot in Richmond Hill, N.Y.

The End of the Line for Baycoast Railroad

Describes which railroads are taking over this 67-mile line, and includes photos of their equipment.

The Grainbelt

This article describes a short line serving Oklahoma's agricultural southwest. It has many prototype photos (mostly B&W, but some color), and a track diagram of Snyder and Manitou, OK, as well as Frederick, OK. The article concludes with a 14' by 18' HO-scale layout that could be used as a reference for how to model the prototype.

The Green Bay & Western 1

This article describes the 256-mile railroad, including its equipment.

The Green Mountain RR

This shortline handles both freight and tourism. The author works for the railroad. The railroad runs in southern Vermont on old Rutland Ry track. Several trackplans are included of areas of interest, as well as a trackplan for modeling the whole railroad in a 12' x 12' N-scale layout. Includes prototype photos of equipment

The Iowa Terminal

This railroad ran between Mason City and Clear Lake. Includes many prototype photos, track maps, 1968 equipment roster, and a track plan for modeling this railroad.

The Lachawaxen & Stourbridge

A modern shortline in north-eastern Pennsylvania run by the Delaware Otsego System. The article is accompanied by area maps, many prototype photos, historical information, tables listing the industries served, train listings, and a proposed HO-scale track plan for building this railroad.

The Last Steam Shortline

The Edgmoor & Manetta shortline in South Carolina is the last operating steam railroad in the 1970s. The author stumbled across the railroad and describes a full days work of the single-engine railroad that serves a mill in Lando, S.C.

The Leighton Buzzard Light Railway

The author tells the history of this United Kingdom railroad. Includes prototype photos and scale drawings of the equipment used by the railroad.

The Little Train That Could

History and information about the Chicago, South Shore and South Bend Railroad. Includes many prototype photos, and the Cummins Siding track plan (and car movement diagrams).

The Ma & Pa: An Inspirational Prototype for Modelers

A bit of history on the railroad, and scaled drawings of the Maryland & Pennsylvania 2-8-0 #26.

The Mississippi River & Bonne Terre

This railroad was created in 1888 by the St. Joseph Lead Co. to transport lead from the world's greatest lead mine. Includes historical photos, area map, and a proposed design to model this railroad in HO in a 15 by 24 foot space.

The Pennsy in the Drink

This article covers the mysterious derailment of train 316 near Baden, PA, on March 16th, 1941. Includes many photos, and the PRR newspaper announcement for the capture of the criminals.

The Reading Railroad's Little Red Caboose

The author briefly describes the history of the Reading Railroad. He then continues with the history of the all-steel cabooses built by the Reading Shops to allow steam engines to push the train behind those cabooses, rather than to first have to remove the wooden cabooses. The rest of the article is about how A.C. Gilbert produced a model of that caboose, and also the Reading bay window caboose. The article includes a scaled drawing.

The Sanborn Maps

The Sanborn Insurance maps are an excellent source when researching the railroads past. The Sanborn maps were started by D.A. Sanborn, a civil engineer, when asked to conduct a survey for the Aetna Insurance Company. Mr. Sanborn was so impressed that, in 1876, he founded the Sanborn Map and Publishing Co., LTD. In 1902, it was incorporated into its present form, the Sanborn Map Co., Inc. The article includes a key for the maps.

The Shrinking Dinky

A proposal to move the Princeton, NJ station.

The Spokane International RR

This article describes the railroad that ran between Spokane, WA, through Idaho, up to the Canadian border. Trackplan for several towns are drawn, and many prototype photos are included. The article also includes photos of several of the industries along the line, freight cars, bridges, as well as their steam engine roster. In 1949 they added eleven Alco RS-1s. The U.P. eventually bought the line. Finally, a possible HO two-level trackplan to model the line is also included.

The Western Maryland Railway in S-scale

Information about how to model this railroad in S-scale, covering available engines, and freight and passenger cars. Includes several prototype photos.

The Western Pacific

Numerous prototype photos accompany this article about the Western Pacific, focusing on the Feather River Canyon Route. Has a sidebar on the equipment on the railroad, and its subsidiaries, the Sacramento Northern and Tidewater Southern.

The Wisconsin & Calumet

A regional railroad that operated passenger, piggyback, and varied freight service. Include many prototype photos, railroad maps, and suggested track plans.

Thief River Falls & Minnetonka RR

A description of this railroad, and an example track plan to fit an S-scale layout in a spare room.

Thirty-inch Gauge Railroads

This final installment of this series covers the Hemlock Central Railroad and the Fort Wilderness Railroad. The article includes a scale drawing of the FWRR engine #1 and a listing of the railroads covered in this twenty-on-article series.

Thirty-inch Gauge Railroads Hawaiian Plantation Lines Part 4

This article tells about how Robert A. Day bought the equipment of the 30-inch gauge Hawaiian line and brought it to California to build his own backyard railroad that preserved the original prototype.

Toledo's Central Union Terminal

Aerial photo of terminal in 1950. Has a layout diagram for suggested HO representation of the terminal.

Union Pacific A Nostalgic Look

Covers the history of the UP. Includes historic maps, posters, brochures, passenger travel photos, and postcards of trains, structures, and stations.

Vermont's Bristol Railroad

A thorough story about this 6-mile shortline that lasted from 1902 to 1930 connecting the small town of Bristol to the Rutland mainline. Includes period prototype photos, trackplans for the junction and the end-of-the-line in Bristol. All four sides and a floor plan are included of the Bristol passenger station. Also there is a track plan design for an HO-scale layout fitting in a 10' by 10' room.

What's a Missabe Fan To Do?

A bit of history behind the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range railroad, and what an S-scale modeler can do to effectively model this railroad.

Where Were You... When PRR Brought the "Fab Four" to their first U.S. Concert?

The Beatles flew into New York when arrived in the U.S. for the first time, but due to blizzard conditions, they arranged for three sleeper cars on a PRR train to take them to their first concert in Washington, D.C.