Model Railroad Trains

Another prototype for the ExactRail model.
©2012 Ryan C Kunkle, licensed to About.com, Inc.

Having just reviewed the ExactRail HO scale model of these cars earlier this week, I thought it would be appropriate to show one of the prototypes - albeit in a scheme ExactRail hasn't quite done - at least not yet.

Here we see one of the Chessie Berwick 7327s restenciled for CSXT. The door has also been replaced. The lack of a Clejan door opener may mean this is a former B&O car, or the device may simply have been removed. The car is seen here on home rails at Fairhope, Pennsylvania in 2010.

You could wait to see if ExactRail does a patch car like this, or go ahead and make one yourself!

Although the track may be 50 years old, the look is all new.
©2012 Ryan C Kunkle, licensed to About.com, Inc.

For decades, track was just a necessity for running trains. No matter how detailed the models, the track remained sort of an afterthought. This is especially true with the classic O Gauge trains of the 1930s to the 1980s. Since then, new track systems have introduced more realistic rails, ties and even simulated ballast roadbed.

The older style track is still made, and many prefer to maintain that toy-train look. If you want to strike a middle ground, there are some easy steps you can take to make the older track blend in to a realistic scene. Learn the simple steps to make the most of your "hi-rail" railroad.

These large cars are as imposing as models as prototypes.
©2012 Ryan C Kunkle, licensed to About.com, Inc.

ExactRail's latest HO model - and the first available only from them direct - is the Berwick 7327 boxcar. These cars were built in the late 1970s for several railroads, and many remain in service today. Generally used to haul auto parts, they can also be found hauling other large but relatively light loads like appliances and furniture.

The latest models continue the tradition of quality we've come to expect from the company. For those who model the auto industry or the railroads that serve it, these cars will be a welcome addition to your roster. Read more in my full review.

©2012 Ryan C Kunkle, licensed to About.com, Inc.

While the exterior of a locomotive normally gets all the attention, no matter how the locomotive is painted or streamlined on the outside, the true power lies within.

This fun photograph was made at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania during a recent night-photo session. With the help of Brian Alesin on the lighting and the doors, we created an interesting "double exposure" effect. Moving fast enough to not be seen on the camera, the side doors on the Museum's GP30 diesel were opened and closed during the single 30 second exposure. The result is an interesting "X-Ray" of the anatomy of these locomotives that were always appreciated more for their external features.

HPJX 950404 Cresson, PA 1-20-2012
©2012 Ryan C Kunkle, licensed to About.com, Inc.

Like its Trailer Train flatcars and Railbox boxcars, Trailer Train (now TTX) began operating a fleet of gondolas under the Railgon name in the 1980s. The black and yellow gondolas were once a fixture all across North America.

Through the 1990s, most of the cars were sold to other railroads and companies. Some were repainted, most were simply given a quick patch like the one seen here. New reporting marks and a new "9" to renumber the car around existing cars were all it took for this one. Many of these cars still have a few years of life left in them, but it won't be long before they disappear for good.

The Lehigh Valley had 100 of these cars built by the Pennsy.
©2012 Ryan C Kunkle, licensed to About.com, Inc.

The Pennsylvania Railroad's X-58 boxcar could be seen everywhere from the late 1960s through the 1990s. Found on the PRR, Lehigh Valley, Penn Central, Conrail and now Norfolk Southern and CSX, some of these classic 50' cars are still roaming the rails. Others have been converted into work cars. Surprisingly, a ready-to-run version of this classic has never been produced in any scale - until now.

Eastern Seaboard Models (ESM) has produced a very fine model of this distinctive car in N scale. The first run includes PRR and Lehigh Valley schemes. Future runs will include other roads and many of the variations made to the cars in later years. With see-through roofwalks and crisp paint and lettering, these cars stand out. Having not worked much with N scale in a few years, I was very pleasantly surprised by the quality of detail. Take a closer look for yourself.

The 100 B39-8E locomotive of the LMX leasing fleet were externally identical to the B40-8.
©2012 Ryan C Kunkle, licensed to About.com, Inc.

The Dash 8 40 series locomotives introduced in 1987 get a lot of credit as the first true Third Generation diesels. Leading up to those successes for General Electric were several other "Dash 8s." These locomotives served as test beds for the new technologies.

Immediately preceding the Dash 8 40s were Dash 8 39-B and Dash 8 39-BE (for enhanced) locomotives. These four axle units resembled the later locomotives but generated "only" 3,900 horsepower. Most model manufacturers have used the same model tooling to reproduce both these and the Dash 8 40-B.

A unique and well-done model like this will stand out in any consist.
©2012 Ryan C Kunkle, licensed to About.com, Inc.

If you're looking for a distinctive and unique freight car to add to your HO roster, you can't go wrong with this new offering from Spring Mills Depot. Only 75 of these boxcars were built for the B&O and the fleet remains in service today for CSX.

These cars were specifically adapted to haul rolls of canstock - thin steel or aluminum used in the making of cans. Large doors were offset to one end of the car. At the far end, a fiberglass panel was installed in the roof to let in light.

Over time, the cars received several modifications - and Spring Mill Depot has modeled all of them appropriately. These are the company's first models, and they are off to a very good start! Take a look at the cars in closer detail - don't wait, they won't last long!

Whether you are building a model or restoring a full size locomotive, one of the most agonizing decisions is getting the paint color. Some colors seem to be easier to match than others, but they all can vary based on age, weathering and even the light of day.

Green or black? Thanks to seeing this locomotive in a new light, it's now easy to tell.
©2012 Ryan C Kunkle, licensed to About.com, Inc.

One of the most disputed and debated colors in railroad history has to be the Pennsylvania Railroad's "Brunswick Green" or Dark Green Locomotive Enamel. This deep green paint was applied to steam, diesel and electric locomotives alike. Most people confuse the color for black. The running guess is that to make the true color, the PRR dropped about a quart of dark green paint into a 55 gallon drum of black.

Models have come in many variations of this green. And some have simply come painted in a glossy black - which honestly looked a lot better under most layout lighting conditions than the lighter shades of green. Even the prototypes could after all be misleading.

A case in point - this GP-9 diesel at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. The locomotive has been housed in the museum for years. Although it was and is painted Brunswick Green (restored in the Juniata Shops themselves), even in the well-lit museum, their was no visible difference between the green carbody and the black trucks and fuel tank.

Over this past year however, the Museum has installed all new skylights along with new geothermal climate control. The result - natural sunlight now beams directly into this part of the hall. Add in a good bath and a coat of wax, and their is no denying the true color of this locomotive - hidden in plain sight for all these years.

Seeing the true colors on these locmotives certainly made me re-evaluate my opinions on the colors of the models I've seen. Of course pictures and computer monitors can distort things too, so the best way to judge is to go and see it for yourself!

Happy Train Day!  I hope however you're spending it, you get to enjoy a day of trains, family, friends and fun. Feel free to share your stories with us here, or on our .