http://modeltrains.about.com/ Get the latest headlines from the About.com http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hh http://www.about.com/ 118 20 en-us 2013-05-09T22:34:17Z Thu, 09 May 2013 22:34:17 +0000 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 http://modeltrains.about.com/b/2013/05/16/athearn-genesis-gp9-reviewed.htm <p>All of the Geeps covered in last week's profiles have been reproduced many times over. You'd think there was no more room for more models of these classic engines - but you'd be wrong. Athearn has stepped up the bar and produced the finest versions of the GP7 and GP9 ever. While railfans griped that these new diesels "all looked alike" - especially compared to the steam locomotives they replaced - there were variations from railroad to railroad.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://modeltrains.about.com/b/2013/05/16/athearn-genesis-gp9-reviewed.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://modeltrains.about.com/b/2013/05/16/athearn-genesis-gp9-reviewed.htm Thu, 16 May 2013 23:15:28 +0000 2013-05-16T23:15:28Z http://modeltrains.about.com/b/2013/05/09/geep-week-the-gp30.htm <p>Let's wrap up our week of early GM "Geeps" with one that was the most stylish if not the most successful.</p> [caption id="" align="alignright" width="600" caption="EMD&#39;s GP30 was stylish and unique. ...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://modeltrains.about.com/b/2013/05/09/geep-week-the-gp30.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://modeltrains.about.com/b/2013/05/09/geep-week-the-gp30.htm Thu, 09 May 2013 22:34:17 +0000 2013-05-09T22:34:17Z http://modeltrains.about.com/b/2013/05/08/geep-week-the-gp20.htm <p>Despite the successes of EMD's first Geeps, by the middle of the 1950s, the company again found itself slipping behind as the competition raced to build larger, more powerful locomotives. EMD's answer to those designs in a four-axle locomotive was the GP20. This was the first Geep with a turbocharged engine, producing 2000 horsepower.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://modeltrains.about.com/b/2013/05/08/geep-week-the-gp20.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://modeltrains.about.com/b/2013/05/08/geep-week-the-gp20.htm Wed, 08 May 2013 22:08:11 +0000 2013-05-08T22:08:11Z http://modeltrains.about.com/b/2013/05/07/the-gp9-the-diesel-that-ended-steam.htm <p>The GP7 proved that EMD would finally be a contender in the road-switcher market. The popular locomotive found homes on railroads large and small all across North America.</p> <div style="width: 170px; float: right; font-size: 0.8em; margin: 5px 0 5px 5px; text-align: center;"><img style="width: 170px; height: 120px; border: none;" src="http://0.tqn.com/d/modeltrains/1/G/k/I/-/-/greenGP9.jpg" alt="GP9" /><br /> Externally, the GP9 was nearly identical to the GP7 - and its effect on railroading was equally as impressive.<br /> &#169;2013 Ryan C Kunkle, licensed to About.com, Inc.</div>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://modeltrains.about.com/b/2013/05/07/the-gp9-the-diesel-that-ended-steam.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://modeltrains.about.com/b/2013/05/07/the-gp9-the-diesel-that-ended-steam.htm Tue, 07 May 2013 23:31:47 +0000 2013-05-07T23:31:47Z http://modeltrains.about.com/b/2013/05/06/geep-week-the-gp7.htm <p>Although the term "Geep" can be applied to any of EMD's four axle General Purpose (GP) locomotives, traditionally it is reserved for the earliest models. This week we'll highlight some of those landmark locomotives, starting with the first Geep, the GP7.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://modeltrains.about.com/b/2013/05/06/geep-week-the-gp7.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://modeltrains.about.com/b/2013/05/06/geep-week-the-gp7.htm Mon, 06 May 2013 21:46:42 +0000 2013-05-06T21:46:42Z http://modeltrains.about.com/b/2013/04/29/dcc-manufacturers-index.htm <p>Looking to get started in DCC? Need a specific decoder? Just looking for some more enhancements for your existing system? This new index of <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://modeltrains.about.com/od/DCC/a/Dcc-Manufacturers-Index.htm">DCC manufacturers</a> should help you in your search.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://modeltrains.about.com/b/2013/04/29/dcc-manufacturers-index.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://modeltrains.about.com/b/2013/04/29/dcc-manufacturers-index.htm Mon, 29 Apr 2013 08:54:47 +0000 2013-04-29T08:54:47Z http://modeltrains.about.com/b/2013/04/26/freight-car-friday-rttx-250751.htm <p>Today marks the 59th Anniversary of the introduction of a new flatcar by Pullman Standard. The car was specifically designed for hauling truck trailers and the company called the service "piggyback."</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://modeltrains.about.com/b/2013/04/26/freight-car-friday-rttx-250751.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://modeltrains.about.com/b/2013/04/26/freight-car-friday-rttx-250751.htm Fri, 26 Apr 2013 08:39:09 +0000 2013-04-26T08:39:09Z http://modeltrains.about.com/b/2013/04/23/centerline-products-amazing-track-cleaners.htm <p>Over the years, there have been many commercial products out there that claim to take the work out of cleaning track. Like many of those miracle cleaning products you find in 30-minute commercials at 3:00 AM, most fall short of their advertised performance.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://modeltrains.about.com/b/2013/04/23/centerline-products-amazing-track-cleaners.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://modeltrains.about.com/b/2013/04/23/centerline-products-amazing-track-cleaners.htm Tue, 23 Apr 2013 20:20:48 +0000 2013-04-23T20:20:48Z http://modeltrains.about.com/b/2013/04/19/freight-car-friday-hpjx-32019.htm <p>Last week's freight car was a brand new Norfolk Southern coal gondola. Seen on that same day just a few yards away was this earlier example of the same technology.</p> <div style="width: 170px; float: right; font-size: 0.8em; margin: 5px 0 5px 5px; text-align: center;"><img style="width: 170px; height: 120px; border: none;" src="http://0.tqn.com/d/modeltrains/1/0/e/N/-/-/HPJX32019.jpg" alt="HPJX 32019" /><br /> HPJX 32019 is a long way from the coal fields of Wyoming.<br /> &#169;2013 Ryan C Kunkle, licensed to About.com, Inc.</div>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://modeltrains.about.com/b/2013/04/19/freight-car-friday-hpjx-32019.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://modeltrains.about.com/b/2013/04/19/freight-car-friday-hpjx-32019.htm Fri, 19 Apr 2013 08:35:38 +0000 2013-04-19T08:35:38Z http://modeltrains.about.com/b/2013/04/18/emds-40-series.htm <p>If you're looking for a locomotive for your layout set in the 1960s to the modern era, you can't go wrong with an EMD with "40" in its name.</p> <div style="width: 170px; float: right; font-size: 0.8em; margin: 5px 0 5px 5px; text-align: center;"><img style="width: 170px; height: 120px; border: none;" src="http://0.tqn.com/d/modeltrains/1/0/U/K/-/-/SD40.jpg" alt="SD40" /><br /> From the SD40 to the F40PH, there was a 40 for every task.<br /> &#169;2013 Ryan C Kunkle, licensed to About.com, Inc.</div>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://modeltrains.about.com/b/2013/04/18/emds-40-series.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://modeltrains.about.com/b/2013/04/18/emds-40-series.htm Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:04:00 +0000 2013-04-18T09:04:00Z