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With nearly 200 years of history from which to seek inspiration, it can be challenging to know where to start when modeling historic railroads. While many model railroaders love modeling a specific era, going even further and modeling a particular railroad is also hugely popular. This is driven by two things: model railroaders with …
Continue reading “Modeling After History: Guide To Building Your Model Railway Based On History”
We celebrate workers of all descriptions and all occupations that drive the engine of commerce on our Great Nation. That spirit is exemplified by the American railroad worker. This weekend we cast the spotlight on those men and women that are responsible for the operation and management of our great railway network of today. That …
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Articulated locomotives, popularly known as Mallets, have captivated model railroaders and railroad enthusiasts for nearly 100 years with good reason. The sight and sounds of those monsters of the railroads left an indelible image in the minds of many that is kept alive with current steam restoration projects like Union Pacific “Big Boy” and the …
Steam locomotives had a great thrust for water. In the early days of the railroading when schedules were more casual and division points were smaller, frequent stops for water posed no great problem. But when speed became paramount and runs became longer, frequent stops for water became problematic, especially when intense competition existed between two …
No railroad is more closely associated with the Golden State than the Southern Pacific. That dynamic association was founded in 1865 when the Southern Pacific was formed as a land holding company. That early broad focus gave SP a natural advantage to maximize diversification years later. In 1885 they acquired the Central Pacific Railroad and …
Continue reading “The Golden Empire of the Southern Pacific”
Travel has long been associated with the summer months. In the age before air-conditioning, individuals of all ages and all walks of life went to great lengths to cool off. Whether it was for one day, a weekend or an extended vacation, people took to the rails to find relief from the brutal heat of …
The name Union Pacific has dominated railroad transportation since its founding on July 1, 1862 and with good reason. The original Union Pacific Rail Road was incorporated on July 1, 1862, under an act of Congress entitled Pacific Railroad Act of 1862. The act was approved by President Abraham Lincoln, and it provided for the construction of …
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Most of us think nothing of going to the grocery store and selecting choice meats, lush vegetables, and fresh fruits whenever we want irrespective of supply limitations or the short duration of specific growing seasons. Advances in refrigeration make that possible and the railroads jump-started that process prior to the American Civil War. The first …
Continue reading “Cool It! – The Heritage of Refrigerator Cars “
Just like prototype railroads, model railroading has a rich and colorful past that has manifested in the depth and quality of products that are available to us today. One place to fully appreciate the fullest dimension of that journey is the National Toy Train Museum at Strasburg, PA. If you have not already done so …
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Speed, despite the varying differences that defines, the word is used constantly in our culture. We are bombarded with the word to the point we subconsciously believe anything less is substandard or totally inferior. But the ability to move faster took root well before 1900 on the rails. During the Early Years of railroading (1827-1860) …