Famous Engines
Historical Events
Train Movie Trivia
Model Railroading
Across the Pond
100
This locomotive has appeared in over 200 movies and TV shows, including Back to the Future 3
Sierra Railway #3
100
A major milestone of American history that took place at Promontory Summit, Utah in 1869
The Golden Spike ceremony, a.k.a. the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad
100
This real locomotive was the inspiration and design basis for the Polar Express
Pere Marquette #1225
100
This popular and inexpensive G scale Ten-Wheeler was many people's introduction to garden railroading.
Bachmann Big Hauler
100
This streamlined locomotive holds the official speed record for steam-powered vehicles.
Mallard
200
This Confederate locomotive was famously hijacked by Union soldiers during the Civil War
The General
200
This heroic Illinois Central engineer died in a train wreck in 1900 and was immortalized in song
Casey Jones
200
This Western film featured so many trains that Paramount Pictures had to get a railroad operating license
Union Pacific (1939)
200
O scale narrow gauge trains that run on HO gauge track, usually representing 2-foot or 3-foot gauge.
On30 scale
200
This class of steam locomotives was the basis for the design of Thomas the Tank Engine.
LB&SCR Billington E2
300
This streamlined steam locomotive was nicknamed "The Big Engine" and may have reached 150 MPH
Pennsylvania S1
300
Runaway incident involving a CSX freight train, which later inspired the movie "Unstoppable"
The Crazy Eights (a.k.a. CSX #8888) incident
300
Set in Colorado, this film starred several narrow-gauge steam locomotives painted bright yellow
Denver & Rio Grande (1952)
300
In the 1950s, this was the second most popular brand of electric toy trains, Lionel being the first
American Flyer
300
This locomotive was almost scrapped, but went on to star in the Harry Potter film series
GWR #5972 Olton Hall
400
An 1863 Ten-Wheeler that was the basis for the locomotive in the game Red Dead Redemption 2
B&O #147 "Thatcher Perkins"
400
This 1896 train wreck was staged as a publicity stunt, resulting in at least 2 deaths and many injuries
The Crash at Crush
400
A 1950 musical comedy starring Ann Baxter, Dan Dailey, and Rio Grande Southern #20.
A Ticket to Tomahawk
400
This track configuration requires special wiring to avoid a short circuit when using 2-rail track
Reverse loop
400
This class of diesel locomotives are known for their unusual triangular opposed-piston engine design
British Railways Class 55 "Deltic"
500
This experimental locomotive promised better speed and efficiency, but was actually an investment scam
The Holman Horror
500
In 1953, this Pennsylvania Railroad passenger train crashed into Washington Union Station
The Federal Express
500
California Western #45 was restored in the early 1980s for two brief appearances in this movie
Racing with the Moon (1984)
500
This type of motor was used in older O gauge models, enabling them to run on AC or DC power
Universal motor
500
These unusual coaches made push-pull operations possible with steam locomotives as early as 1904
GWR Autocoach
