I notice the Acela set is back!  Of course, the original set only came with three cars--and the new one does, too.

By any chance will extra cars be available to fill out the train length to what it should be?

Title says all--an 1890 Porter 0-4-0 visiting the Ardenwood Historic Farm's Railfair 2016, in Fremont, California. A 3ft gauge railroad was laid here in the 1980s and is now operated by the 'Society for the Preservation of Carter Railroad Resources'

https://www.flickr.com/photos/crowquine/sets/72157672316529122

Union Freight Railroad of Boston had several of these. . .looks like Bachmann's three-truck Climax would be a good starting point.

http://www.precisionlocomotivecastings.com/graphics/Climax_1646.jpg

http://gearedsteam.com/climax/images/union_freight_rr_8.jpg

Where they ran:

https://sites.google.com/site/newenglandshortlines/home/page-1/page-2/page-3

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Freight_Railroad  (includes roster)

You'll eventually be able to do more than model a C&O 2-6-6-2; in the future it looks like you'll be able to ride behind one.

http://www.movingfullsteamahead.com/news/view/restore_and_operate_c_o_1309_2_6_6_2

This particular locomotive has been posted in the HO page in a series of discussions on 19th century equipment, but the photo that lead to that posting is just too good not to have it here, too. 

http://www.shorpy.com/node/14355?size=_original#caption

According to one fellow on RyPN (where I first saw this), Chicago & North Western No. 605 looks to be a locomotive from the 1880s, and would be almost 20 years old at the time of this photo in 1899.  Despite its age, it's in beautiful condition, although there are some inelegant details in the form of extra plumbing added over time.

http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=34337

This Milwaukee 4-4-0 also turned up in the discussion; note that it's a later locomotive (though still from the 19th century), it is also considerably larger:

http://orion.math.iastate.edu/jdhsmith/term/slusomhaF8.jpg

Now, who wants to have some fun modifying Bachmann's UP 119 to resemble that C&NW loco? 

For real fun, who wants to do it with the N-scale version?

Another "new" 4-4-0 that's coming on line this year is actually a Baldwin from 1897, originally built for the Detroit & Lima Northern.  She's been going through a very extensive overhaul, and will be running at the Henry Ford Museum on the demonstration railroad there.

http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=34483

Detroit & Lima Northern No. 7 in action!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGQoevN_7hc

I'm normally a fan of big, superpower locomotives, but there's no denying the grace that is so inherent in the classic 4-4-0. . .

Many if not most industrial locomotives were not shipped on their own wheels, or "in tow," but on flatcars.  This applied not only to locomotives that were other than standard gauge, but to standard gauge units due to suspensions, motors, gearing, or all of the above not being capable of handling main line speeds, even for freight trains.

Anyway, here's a photo of what happens to be a narrow-gauge 45-ton Whitcomb (in many ways similar to the GE model offered by Bachmann), which may give you ideas for a project or two of your own, for anything from the 44-tonner up to the 70-tonner, and, I would guess, for the shipment of industrial tank locomotives as well.

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/168885_317872974967628_1253624432_n.jpg

Note not only the blocking, but the coverings over bell and headlight for protection during shipment.

Have fun.

She's been under construction for at least a year, and now she's been delivered--York No. 17, a replica of a Northern Central Railway (Pennsylvania Railroad predecessor) for service on a tourist road on part of the route Abraham Lincoln rode on his way to Gettysburg:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=437009&nseq=43

The replica is based on what was apparently a very similar locomotive delivered to the Union Pacific.  As that engine is one of the 4-4-0s Bachmann offers in HO and N scales, maybe this is something to add for those who like 19th century railroading.

Other photos:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=172064222958231&set=o.254509512566&type=1&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=172064612958192&set=o.254509512566&type=1&theater

https://www.facebook.com/steamintohistory

Enjoy!

From Trainorders via Railway Preservation News:

http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=35025

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?2,3076295

Reference to PRR GG-1 4876 is to that unit being the one that ran away and crashed into Washington Union Station just before the inauguration of Dwight Eisenhower in early 1953.  The unit survives, and some have suggested it be restored and displayed at Union Station, but some others think that such a reminder of an embarrassing wreck isn't advised. . .

Wouldn't need much--just different paint, maybe tender trucks (could the logging flat trucks be usable with low wheels?), different pilot (?), possibly different stack on the UP 119/CP 60 "Jupiter" models:

http://www.leviathan63.com/projectYork.html

http://images.wikia.com/scratchpad/images/6/6a/Kloke_Locomotive_Works_-_York_No._17.png

http://www.steamintohistory.com/

Loading, unloading, and steam test runs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OqfjV8u63U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SF2-zwXzII

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4CpVfr-DYE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCiOXKQ8_2I

Have fun.

Make sure your speakers are turned on. . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdWl4ur6hMM

Merry Christmas!

One of the things that often shows up on Railway Preservation News are links to various on line sources of old photos.  Below are some that may be of interest here:

The first one that's handy is Castle Graphics, which has an interesting collection of images:

http://transport.castlegraphics.com/index.php?cat=3

How often do you find images like this from the Illinois Central:

http://transport.castlegraphics.com/thu ... p?album=34

And how about power from the Kansas City Southern?

http://transport.castlegraphics.com/thu ... p?album=35

That's just a sample to look at.

Another jewel, in this case for traction fans, is the Metro Transportation Library and Archive of the transit system in Los Angeles:

Flickr photo link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/metrolibraryarchive/

Some samples:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/metrolibra ... 7708572712

http://www.flickr.com/photos/metrolibra ... 7708572712

http://www.flickr.com/photos/metrolibra ... 7531268917

http://www.flickr.com/photos/metrolibra ... 7150170718

http://www.flickr.com/photos/metrolibra ... 7136781505

http://www.flickr.com/photos/metrolibra ... 7136781505

http://www.flickr.com/photos/metrolibra ... 7136781505

Among the more intriguing images are these for a proposed subway system in LA. Check out the late 50's styling (actually, 1962), and what appears to be a premonition of the broad gauge equipment of BART:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/metrolibra ... 6722882335

http://www.flickr.com/photos/metrolibra ... 6722882335

http://www.flickr.com/photos/metrolibra ... 6722882335

http://www.flickr.com/photos/metrolibra ... 6722882335

All I've done is look at a few images; it looks like there is a huge amount of material available:

General link:

http://www.metro.net/about/library/

http://metroprimaryresources.info/

I first ran into this thing on a West Coast high speed rail site, which occasionally has jokes about steam (in good humor, of course), and there was a bit about a steam-powered bus.  Looking at the Flickr account, I commented that despite an "official" sounding name, it looked like an enthusiast site; it had too much fun stuff to be run by a stuffy government agency. I received from the site's librarian what I consider a nice, pleasant correction, if for no other reason than it revealed so much other material.

"Our online Flickr photo collection is not some transit fan site – we are the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Library & Archive.

"Our archive of nearly 8,000 images in our vast holdings come from the collections of the predecessor agencies for Los Angeles County MTA dating back to the 1880s. The collection is so popular that it has been accessed online more than 1.8 million times in 3 1/2 years.

"We have a 50,000 volume collection (40% of which is found nowhere else in the world), our own YouTube channel, a vast collection of full-text digital documents, and much more.

"Please refer to our website (http://www.metro.net/library) and our Primary Resources Blog (http://metroprimaryresources.info) for more information.

"We also aggregate daily transportation news, much of which concerns California High-Speed Rail, at: http://losangelestransportation.blogspot.com — you may also subscribe to a daily email digest or RSS feed. Finally, you may keep up with transportation leaders' Twitter feeds related to transit and transportation on our Paper.li daily tweet digest at: http://paper.li/metrolibrary/paperli"--Metro Digital Resources Librarian

Again, have fun with your own explorations.

Finally, there is this one, which I stumbled onto while looking for material for 0-10-0 steamers in the HO thread.  If you love Southern region roads, you'll like this place:

http://www.msrailroads.com/

Some sample pages:

http://www.msrailroads.com/IC.htm

http://www.msrailroads.com/Y&MV.htm

http://www.msrailroads.com/B&HS.htm

http://www.msrailroads.com/FC&G.htm

http://www.msrailroads.com/EG&Co.htm

Have fun as you explore, and hopefully, there will be more!

Just a couple of videos from YouTube that I think are pretty good, and hope you think so as well:

First up, "White Pass Railroad," by Del McCoury, featuring some amazing old footage of the White Pass & Yukon of Alaska:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajgGo7u9CQk

The second is "Steam Train Blues," by Chris Rea; both the footage and, even more interesting, the performer, are British.  I guess the blues are international now!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41ZAv7aUUp4

Just a couple of videos from YouTube that I think are pretty good, and hope you think so as well:

First up, "White Pass Railroad," by Del McCoury, featuring some amazing old footage of the White Pass & Yukon of Alaska:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajgGo7u9CQk

The second is "Steam Train Blues," by Chris Rea; both the footage and, even more interesting, the performer, are British.  I guess the blues are international now!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41ZAv7aUUp4

While looking up photos of the Union Station in Toledo, Ohio (a relatively modern station, opened about 1950, and still in use), I came across these pix from the late steam era, featuring the B&O:

http://alt.binaries.pictures.rail.usenetbinaries.com/mediaserver/groups/alt.binaries.pictures.rail/2011/12/23/h2/B%26O5243atButlerPA9-14-52GELloydScanColl.jpg.html

http://alt.binaries.pictures.rail.usenetbinaries.com/mediaserver/groups/alt.binaries.pictures.rail/2011/12/23/h2/B%26O5260atEastSalamancaNY9-11-49RobertCollinsScanColl.jpg.html

http://alt.binaries.pictures.rail.usenetbinaries.com/mediaserver/groups/alt.binaries.pictures.rail/2011/12/23/h2/B%26O5301atUnionStationToledoOH5-27-55HWPetersonScanColl.jpg.html

http://alt.binaries.pictures.rail.usenetbinaries.com/mediaserver/groups/alt.binaries.pictures.rail/2011/12/23/h2/B%26O5302atUnionStationToledoOH6-27-54SAGoodrickScanColl.jpg.html

http://alt.binaries.pictures.rail.usenetbinaries.com/mediaserver/groups/alt.binaries.pictures.rail/2011/12/23/h2/B%26O5303atBoundBrookNJ1-46HLeggetWmShoemaker%26ScanColl.jpg.html

Have fun, B&O and steam fans!

Over the years, models of trains have been used in movies, very often (and understandably) for wreck sequences.  Sometimes the effects are spectacular, other times, the effect is a bit less so.

A classic sequence, even if it is a disaster of a rear-ender, with a number of technical errors (such as having a second section in the same block, even if it is apparently an unsignalled railroad), from "Greatest Show on Earth," 1952; models are live-steamers, one-inch to the foot scale:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUtf_RE6r5Q

A short segment starting at 5:26 in this opening clip from the horror spoof, "Transylvania 6-5000;" ugh, I thought 1970s hairstyles and clothes were awful even then!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vABa1kaWkUw

For the really, really low, low-budget movie people, there were, believe it or not, Lionel trains; from "The Giant Gila Monster," 1959, between 49:00 and 51:00:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0Bcw35NWBI

Then there was "The Black Scorpion," from 1957, with what I am guessing are HO models, utilizing what I think is an American Flyer 4-6-2 mated to a tender lettered "Lionel Lines!" And the tender is, in best toy train tradition, coupled backwards, too! Running from 0:58 to 1:14:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfKakOgshxw

Don't think you could quite get away with this today. . .and can anyone who is better versed in old toy trains than I am confirm or correct my guesses as to what was used in these low-budget flicks?

Originally linked from the Steam Central site

www.steamcentral.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pFocxpM524

I hope to see this, if this trailer is any indication.

We have such amazing cinematic possibilities; it is crazy, at least to me, that Hollywood fails to take advantage of both the stories and the images period railroading can offer.

This bridge was built in the 1890s by the street railway company of Wheeling, W.Va.; it spanned the "back channel" between Wheeling Island and the town of Bridgeport, Oh. It has been out of service for many years (its replacement was caused partially by inadequate maintenance--note that it had a Bailey temporary truss inside the bridge itself), but I would have had hopes that its ornate design would have made it a candidate for preservation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DC99GJ4SrQ

I guess it was too much to hope for.

The late W. J. B. Gwynn, a noted railroad and trolley photographer and historian in the Wheeling area, was a motorman on the street railway that ran across this bridge; he would have crossed it countless times as a motorman back in the day.

Was looking for something else, and came across a photo of No. 35 (0-6-6-0 with tender booster) from John Allen's Gorre & Daphetid--and it was a most curious photo, showing blistered paint, warped parts, and other damage--

Turns out some of John Allen's locomotives were salvaged after the fire in his house--and were stored in a satchel or bag for the last 40 years!  Links to the site that documents this, and the photos of the contents, below:

http://www.gdlines.com/index.html

http://www.gdlines.com/The_Satchel.html

http://www.gdlines.com/Satchel/album/index.html

For those too young to remember, this was a famous model railroad from the late 1940s to the early 1970s, built by a fellow whom many, if not most, would consider an artist.  John Allen had both the talent and a bit of money to build a fascinating model railroad that looked spectacular and also featured realistic operations.  It may have had what would now be called "fantasy" elements, but it all still looked good and featured many things such as special lighting effects that are now commercially available, but which required engineering and scratchbuilding in Allen's time.

Sadly, this model railroad was destroyed in a house fire shortly after Allen's death--but these models were salvaged out of the house, and have been hidden away until now.  It's a bittersweet thing for us old-timers to see--and yet, even in the death of the G&D, we have pretty amazing "weathering" patterns on these models, actually looking quite realistic at representing locomotives that have been in a roundhouse fire, as was the case for Reading 2101 in the late 1970s!   

Thought this might be of interest:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/01/emboardwalk-empireem-brin_n_945691.html