New model trains for the week of March 21, 2019

InterMountain Railway Co. HO scale Trinity Aluminator coal gondola

HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division F59PHI diesel locomotive. Amtrak (“Stay off the tracks. I pack a punch.” slogan [one road number], “Stay off! Stay Away! Stay Alive!” slogan [one number], blue-and-silver scheme, and Cascades scheme), Metra (Cascades patchout in one number and blue-and-silver patchout), Metropolitan Transport Agency (Montreal), Utah Front Runner, and fantasy paint schemes […]

Read More…

Amtrak inspector general: company has trouble identifying employee drug, alcohol issues NEWSWIRE

Amtrak2

WASHINGTON — Amtrak has difficulty in identifying and addressing issues of drug and alcohol use among its employees, “a longstanding challenge for the company,” Amtrak’s Office of Inspector General says in a new report. The report issued Wednesday summarizes the following issues with the company’s program for employees in “safety-sensitive positions:” — Testing requirements were […]

Read More…

Coal train derails, burns in southern Minnesota NEWSWIRE

UPlogo

MANKATO, Minn. – Emergency crews are responding to a derailed Union Pacific coal train and subsequent fire in Ottawa, about 18 miles north of Mankato along the Minnesota River in southern Minnesota. The line, connecting the Twin Cities with Sioux City, Iowa, was previously part of the Chicago & North Western system. The derailment, which […]

Read More…

Locomotive horns blow for Boardman funeral NEWSWIRE

ROME, N.Y. – Locomotive horns blew at 11:01 a.m. on Friday in Rome and across the Amtrak network to honor former President and CEO Joe Boardman who died March 7 following complications of a stroke. A moment of silence was held at 11 a.m., followed by the sounding of a former F40PH locomotive horn mounted […]

Read More…

UP updates customers on Midwest weather woes NEWSWIRE

img_up_weather_031419_mr

OMAHA, Neb. – Union Pacific has issued the following customer service advisory following a week of extreme weather in the Midwest. The troubles essentially close the railroad’s main line between Boone, Iowa, and Gibbon, Neb., a source close to the railroad tells Trains News Wire. Announcement Number: CN2019-13 Categories: General Announcements Posted Date: March 14, […]

Read More…

MTH RailKing Big Boy 4-8-8-4

BigBoy_1

A Big Boy for small layouts Several models of the Union Pacific Big Boy have been produced for the O gauge model railroaders, including a selective-compressed model from MTH Electric Trains RailKing line. MTH recently announced a new production run of O gauge Big Boys in its RailKing Imperial line. The model will be available […]

Read More…