MISSOULA, Mont. — Tom Walsh, who has been with Montana Rail Link since the railroad’s inception, has announced his retirement as the company’s president. Stacy Posey will become the new Montana Rail Link president, effective Jan. 1, 2019, the company announced Monday. Walsh has been with MRL for 31 years. “My time at Montana Rail […]
Section: News & Reviews
Athearn N scale class Z-8 Challenger 4-6-6-4
Athearn N scale class Z-8 Challenger 4-6-6-4 Even in N scale the class Z-8 4-6-6-4 is an imposing steam locomotive. Like the Athearn Genesis HO Z-8 that I reviewed in the August 2017 Model Railroader, the accurately detailed N scale model is available with a factory installed SoundTraxx Tsunami dual-mode decoder. The model delivered smooth […]
WalthersProto HO scale Jordan Spreader
WalthersProto HO scale Jordan Spreader Walthers has added a Jordan Spreader to its HO scale Proto series. But this isn’t an assembled version of the kit from the 1990s. No, this is a newly tooled model that has several features not found on the kit, including positionable wings and slopers, wire grab irons, and railroad-specific […]
Atlas HO scale GP39-2 with ESU LokSound
Atlas Trainman HO scale GP39-2 with ESU LokSound New road names and factory-installed sound highlight the latest version of the Atlas Trainman Electro-Motive Division (EMD) GP39-2. We first reviewed a direct-current (DC) version of the GP39-2 in the January 2010 issue. This latest release has a dual-mode ESU LokSound Select decoder that provides realistic sound […]
Quick Look: Athearn Ready-To-Roll 40-foot boxcar
Athearn Ready-To-Roll 40-foot boxcar Price: $27.98 Manufacturer Athearn 1600 Forbes Way, Suite 120 Long Beach, CA 90810 www.athearn.com Era: 1970-1980, as decorated Road names: Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Chicago & Illinois Midland; Chicago & North Western; Delaware, Lackawanna & Western; Elgin, Joliet & Eastern; Maine Central; Monon; Reading Co.; Southern Pacific; St. Louis Southwestern (Cotton […]
Quick Look: Bachmann N scale tight-bottom ore gondola
Bachmann N scale tight-bottom ore gondola Price: $33 Manufacturer Bachmann Industries 1400 E. Erie Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19124 www.bachmanntrains.com Era: 1960s to 1990s Road names: Union Pacific; Pennsylvania (black or Tuscan Red) Canadian Pacific; Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range; Norfolk & Western Comments: An ore car that’s been offered in HO scale for decades is […]
Analysis: No end in sight for Amtrak delays
The often-delayed Capitol Limited passes through Goshen, Ind., on Norfolk Southern on July 14, 2017. Bob Johnston CHICAGO — Host railroads and Amtrak have settled into an uncomfortable détente during the last year instead of making serious efforts to develop accurate, a Trains News Wire analysis reveals. “Amtrak slammed by delays,” on page 24 of […]
British group aims to build third steam locomotive NEWSWIRE
A British group has formed a subsidiary to build a new version of the V4 steam locomotive. One of the original V4s is shown here. A1 Steam Locomotive Trust DARLINGTON, England — The Brits are at it again. The British group behind the Tornado — the first main line steam locomotive built in the United […]
CSX reopens hump at yard in Nashville NEWSWIRE
Nashville’s Radnor Yard. CSX Transportation JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – CSX Transportation has resumed hump operations at Radnor Yard in Nashville, Tenn., which was among the eight classification yards converted to flat-switching facilities last year under then-CEO E. Hunter Harrison. Radnor’s layout ultimately proved cumbersome for flat switching. So in June the railroad began work on retarders and […]
Ohio tourist railroad restores Chesapeake & Ohio GP7 NEWSWIRE
C&O EMD GP7 No. 5704 and its new as-delivered cosmetic restoration on the Lebanon Mason & Monroe Railroad in Lebanon, Ohio. Lebanon Mason & Monroe Railroad LEBANON, Ohio – A Chesapeake & Ohio EMD GP7 has been restored to its as-delivered blue-and-gold paint scheme. C&O GP7 No. 5704 is the latest restoration project to ply […]
UP to add to refrigerator car fleet NEWSWIRE
A Union Pacific Cold Connect produce train passes through Lombard, Ill. UP is adding to its refrigerator-car fleet. TRAINS: David Lassen SUN VALLEY, Idaho — Union Pacific will acquire 1,000 new refrigerator cars with the possibility of expanding the order to 1,600, a UP official told a recent shippers’ conference. The Produce News reports that […]
CSX expects PTC to pave way for 1-person crews; autonomous operations NEWSWIRE
BOSTON — CSX Transportation will eventually seek to operate trains with one-person crews on lines under the protection of positive train control, Chief Financial Officer Frank Lonegro told an investor conference this week. When PTC is fully operational by the end of 2020, CSX will have invested $2.4 billion in the federally mandated safety system. […]
