GIANT OF THE WEST: With Union Pacific busy restoring the actual 4-8-8-4 “Big Boy” no. 4014 for a return to excursion service, the time is right for MTH to offer its RailKing Imperial line O gauge model of the gigantic articulated steam engine. The no. 30-1779-1 features Proto-Sound 3.0 sound and control, two motors, four […]
Amtrak’s westbound California Zephyr passes the Highlands Metra station in Hinsdale, Ill., on July 7, 2018. Amtrak’s operating loss decreased in fiscal 2018. TRAINS: David Lassen WASHINGTON — Amtrak CEO Richard Anderson said his company posted “the best performance in Amtrak history” after the passenger railroad announced an operating loss of $168 million in fiscal […]
Kentucky Steam support cars arrived at their new home earlier this week. Kentucky Steam: Drayton Blackgrove RAVENNA, Ky. — Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp.’s support cars are home in Ravenna, Ky., at the organization’s 40 acres site that includes a former CSX car repair shop, which will eventually be used to store historic railroad equipment, including […]
An over-sized load trailer and a Canadian Pacific locomotive after they collided in Indiana on Wednesday. Indiana State Police news release BUTLER, Ind. — Indiana law enforcement agencies are investigating how an oversized semi load being escorted by Indiana State Police was struck by a northbound freight train at a grade crossing in Butler this […]
Joe Dailey DURANGO, Colo. – Former Southern Pacific narrow gauge 4-6-0 No. 18 steamed up for the first time in Durango on Thursday. It is on loan to the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad for crew training on oil-burning locomotives. The locomotive, from the Carson & Colorado Railway in Independence, Calif., was trucked to Colorado […]
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Amtrak will close its Southern California reservation call center, eliminating 550 jobs, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reported. The closure was announced in a Wednesday email to employees. Operations will end on Jan. 18, with sale of the building to follow. The message to employees said operations would be consolidated with those at Amtrak’s […]
Dozens of volunteers congregate at a grocery store in Kingsport, Tenn., to package food, candy, and treats for children along the Santa Train route. Chris Anderson CSX Santa Train schedule CSX Transportation via Facebook A box filled with wrapped Moon Pies ready for packing into smaller bags for children. Chris Anderson KINGSPORT, Tenn. — By […]
MINNEAPOLIS – The Federal Transit Administration has approved plans for the Twin Cities Metropolitan Council to begin construction on the Southwest Light Rail project, which would be the third light rail line to serve the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. On Wednesday FTA granted the Council what is known as a Letter of No Prejudice, a critical […]
Amtrak’s ACS-64 Cities Sprinter has been rushing passengers up and down the Northeast Corridor for nearly five years, including a stretch not far from the Bachmann Industries headquarters in Philadelphia. Now you can add it to your layout with Bachmann’s latest sound-equipped HO scale release. The prototype. The Amtrak Cities Sprinter (ACS) 6,400kW (the -64 […]
MRC Synchro Sound2 To get truly big sound out of your Digital Command Control-equipped locomotive, you need a big speaker. Unfortunately, that’s just not possible in smaller scales. Model Rectifier Corp. has addressed this problem with the Synchro Sound2, a standalone speaker equipped with a DCC sound decoder. The Synchro Sound2 is meant to be […]
Menards HO Wally’s Service Station Price: $59.99 Manufacturer Menards 5106 Menard Dr. Eau Claire, WI 54703 www.menards.com/trains Era: 1955 to 1960s (as decorated) Comments: Menards has added Wally’s Service Station to its rapidly growing line of HO scale structures. The factory-assembled model features more than 20 light-emitting diodes (LEDs); a weathered base; and an assortment […]
Atlas Master Line HO scale Pullman 10-1-1 sleeper Price: $64.95 (undecorated, $54.95) Manufacturer Atlas Model RR Co. 378 Florence Ave. Hillside, NJ 07205 www.atlasrr.com Era: 1930 to 1950s Road names: Pullman; Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Chicago & North Western; Norfolk & Western; Northern Pacific; Pennsylvania RR; Southern Pacific; and Union Pacific. Also available undecorated. Comments: […]
