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Trains Articles

8 Pike-size Passenger Trains

This article covers prototype trains that were not too long, and can be modeled with available HO and N-scale equipment. It covers the Denver & Rio Grande Western trains 1 and 2, Louisville & Nashville trains 1 and 4, Soo Lines trains 62 and 63, Milwaukee Road trains 117 and 118, Chesapeake & Ohio Pere Marquette trains 11 and 15, Baltimore & Ohio trains 251 and 252, Union Pacific trains 115 and 116, and Chicago Great Western trains 24-25 and 12-23.

Circus Trains

Modeling a circus train in N-scale. Includes prototype information, model photos, and a drawing of an elephant car.

Coal Train Power

Modeling modern Canadian Pacific coal trains.

Detail a Classic Passenger Train El Captain

This article describes how to build the famous El Captain train in N-scale. There are many detail, close-up photos of the changes made to the cars and locomotives, including diaphragms, fiber-optic lenses, and battery installation.

How To Build a Freight Train

Rules on assembling and running freight trains, including prototype and modeling rules for operations.

How to Model a Passenger Train Part I

In this first part of the three-part series the author will cover determining a prototype's consist of a passenger train, which includes doing research and then comparing what is available in the modeling world.

Illinois Central Green Diamond

The Green Diamond was a lightweight articulated train that ran from May 1936 to 1947 between Chicago and St. Louis. Includes prototype photos and scale diagrams of the locomotive and cars.

John Finnin's American Freedom Train

Modeling the train as it was in between 1976 and 1978, the author's train has been on a small tour of its own. This article describes the history of the prototype train, as well as the model train, which is now in its second incarnation.

Modeling Amtrak in the West: An F40PH and Superliner Train

Using the shell of a Life-Like F40PH, the chassis by Proto Power West, and the cars by Con-Cor, this modern train can be modeled in HO. Includes prototype, model, and construction photos.

Pike-size Steam Passenger Trains

This article describes five prototype trains and how they can be modeled in HO. It covers the Baltimore & Ohio Ambassador (1953), the Louisville & Nashville Lebanon Branch local (1947), the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines Ocean City shuttle (1954), the Southern Pacific Shasta (1949), and the Texas & Pacific Southerner (1947).

Puget Sound Tie Replacement Train

Creating a collection of cars needed for tie replacement, including a GHQ Backhoe.

Riding the "Cookie Box" Extra

The story and model are based on the adventures of two railfans to the RGS in 1950.

The Interstate Express

Prototype photos (old and relatively new) of this train.

The Swiss-Italian Rail Connection

Info and photos of a vacation.