Auto-rack revolution

Automobiles being loaded on tri-level freight cars

By the early 1960s, railroads began reclaiming auto traffic from highway trucks with long two- and three-level auto racks on flatcars. Here, new Thunderbirds and other Fords are loaded aboard a Western Pacific tri-level car built by ACF. American Car & Foundry […]

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Digest: Savannah port sees first traffic at new container terminal

Logo of Georgia Ports Authority

Savannah port sees first traffic at new container terminal; rail capacity project advances The Port of Savannah, Ga., has welcomed the first container ship to call on its Ocean Terminal, partially converted from roll-on/roll-off cargo to handle container traffic. The Savannah Morning News reports the conversion adds 210,000 twenty-foot-equaivalent units, or TEUs — the standard […]

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Digest: Union ratifies new contracts with VIA

VIA Rail Canada logo

Union ratifies new agreements with VIA Rail Canada Unifor, the union representing more than 1,600 VIA Rail Canada employees, has ratified tentative agreements with the passenger carrier reached in January. The two-year agreements include a 2% wage increase, benefit improvements, and a review of several work rules. “We are delighted by the ratification of the […]

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Model railroad locomotive, freight car, structure, decal, and roadbed announcements for March 18, 2021

Burlington Northern locomotive

Product news Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. Here are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of March 18, 2021. HO scale locomotives General Electric U30C diesel locomotive. Chessie […]

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News & Products for the week of March 18, 2021

Three bay hopper

O gauge freight cars 70-ton three-bay hopper. New paint schemes. Seaboard Coast Line (black and white); Baltimore & Ohio (Chesapeake & Ohio patchout); Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (black, white, and red); Cambria & Indiana (black and white); Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac (black and white); and Southern Ry. (brown and white). Two road numbers per scheme; […]

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Casey at the throttle

Engineer and fireman on steam locomotive

In the only known photo of legendary engineer John Luther “Casey” Jones at the throttle of a locomotive, Jones and fireman J. W. McKinnie are ready to take Illinois Central 2-8-0 638 out for a break-in run after a shopping at Water Valley in summer 1898. Less than two years later, Jones perished in a […]

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Digest: Maryland county to take over Western Maryland Scenic track work

Steam train

Allegany County, Md., to take over track repairs needed by Western Maryland Scenic Allegany County, Md., is taking over track maintenance of the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad from the heritage line, the Cumberland Times-News reports. The move comes after the Federal Railroad Administration in February ordered the replacement of 50,000 ties before the railroad — […]

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