MBTA’s North Station bridge project advances with labor agreement

Raised draw brdige

The current North Station Draw One Bridge. MBTA[/caption BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s project to replace a bridge at North Station took another step forward on Thursday, March 5, with the signing of a Project Labor Agreement to support construction of the Draw One Bridge replacement. The bridge, which handles more than 1,000 […]

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Hobbyshop Window for March 6th 2026

Color photo showing B end of HO scale two-bay covered hopper with exterior posts painted brown with black and white graphics on white background.

For many years Hobbyshop Window was a popular department in the pages of Model Railroader magazine. We’re excited to bring it back as a frequent feature on Trains.com. Here’s a recap of some of the items that arrived at our offices for the week ending March 6th 2026. Keep up to date on the latest […]

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Amtrak pilot program aids passengers with disabilities

Counter at station next to sign labeled "Red Cap Assistance" with a QR code

CHICAGO — Amtrak has taken a significant step to address the boarding experience for passengers with disabilities. To better aid the increasing number of passengers requesting assistance at stations, Brian Dassell, the company’s senior director of customer service, tells Trains, “We created a process for customers to put their name on a virtual list to […]

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Walt Hiteshew’s O gauge layout

The track plan for Walt Hiteshew's O gauge layout

Walt Hiteshew’s O gauge layout Dimensions: 8½ x 17½ feet Track: Menards (diameters range from 31 to 42 inches) Switches: Marx Motive power: American Flyer, Hafner, Henry Katz, Hoge, Lionel, Marx Rolling stock: American Flyer, Hafner, Henry Katz, Hoge, Lionel, Marx Controls: Lionel, Marx transformers Accessories: Lionel, MarxStructures: Byron Molds, Chein, Hafner, Hornby, Kibri, Marx, […]

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Clem Krzeczkowski’s O gauge layout

The track plan for Clem Krzeczkowski's O gauge layout

Clem Krzeczkowski’s O gauge layout Dimensions: 22 x 36 feet Track: GarGraves flextrack (diameters range from 96 to 122 inches) Switches: Ross Custom Switches with Caboose Industries and Tortoise machines Motive power: Lionel, MTH Rolling stock: Atlas, Golden Gate Depot, K-Line, Lionel, MTH, Weaver Controls: Lionel No. 85226 180-watt PowerHouse “brick” (4) with MTH Digital […]

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The Northwestern Pacific Tiburon Yard in HO scale

A track plan for the Northwestern Pacific Tiburon Yard layout

Facts and features Name: Northwestern Pacific RR Tiburon Rail Yard Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 13′-0″ x 26′-6″ Prototype: Northwestern Pacific RR Locale: Tiburon, Calif. Era: October 1909 Style: island Mainline run: none Minimum radius: none Minimum turnout: No. 8 Maximum grade: none Benchwork: 1 x 6 and 1 x 8 wood joists on steel angle […]

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Amtrak to begin accepting grant applications as part of Baltimore tunnel project

Map showing route of the current B&P Tunnel and the planned route of the Frederick Douglass Tunnel which will replace it.

BALTIMORE — Amtrak will begin accepting applications for community grants related to its Frederick Douglass Tunnel project in Baltimore on March 23. The Community Investment Program is part of a $50 million Amtrak investment that will concide with the major infrastructure project. It will be open to nonprofit organizations and government entities within a quarter-mile […]

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Amtrak, Virginia add bus service to offset impacts of Long Bridge project

Logos of the Virginia Rail Passenger Authority and Amtrak

RICHMOND, Va. — Amtrak and the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority will launch new express bus service between Richmond and Washington, D.C., this Saturday, March 7, as part of ongoing efforts to address service changes because of the ongoing Long Bridge project. The Amtrak Connection service to and from Richmond will accommodate morning travel north to […]

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Supreme Court rules NJ Transit is subject to out-of-state lawsuits

NJ Transit logo

WASHINGTON — NJ Transit will face lawsuits from out-of-state courts after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the transit agency is not entitled to “sovereign immunity,” the principle that one state cannot be sued in another state’s court. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, in the decision for a unanimous court, wrote that “sovereign immunity is personal […]

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Matson, BNSF announce measures to fight container theft

HONOLULU — Ocean shipping firm Matson, BNSF Railway, and heavy-duty lock maker War-Lok will partner to enhance security for intermodal shippers, an effort set to begin in the second quarter of 2026. The program will provide two new layers of security at no cost to customers, Matson said in an annoucement this week. The first […]

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Rapido Trains HO Greenbrier coil gondola review

Color photo showing modern coil car with hood placed next to car on white background. The model is painted blue with yellow and white graphics and dark gray bunk liners.

Looking to add a model of one of the newest freight cars on the rails to your HO layout? Then you’ll want to check out the Greenbrier 5-trough transverse coil gondola from Rapido Trains. The model, based on a prototype introduced in 2021, features plastic and die-cast metal construction, 36″ metal wheelsets, and metal semi-scale […]

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Norfolk Southern extends Georgia Tech sustainability tech partnership

Norfolk Southern logo

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern will continue backing sustainability-focused technology startups through an expanded partnership with Georgia Tech Advanced Technology Development Center, committing $250,000 annually for the next two years to support the center’s Sustainability Tech program. The investment extends a collaboration launched in 2023 that created a sustainability-focused program within the Georgia Tech incubator. Since […]

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