Intermountain interloper

A black and white phot of three men walking past a locomotive

Two of Rio Grande’s Krauss-Maffei diesel-hydraulics spent almost three weeks testing on the New York Central in early 1963. Here crews on New York Central Advance BF-3 change at Bellefontaine, Ohio, on February 24, 1963. Photo by Si Herring […]

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WalthersProto HO scale test car

Color photo of HO scale test car painted green and yellow on white background

WalthersProto HO scale test car Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $49.98 Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com WalthersProto HO scale test car features: 33” metal wheels Covered or exposed wheel bearings Die-cast metal body Factory-installed wire grab irons Multiple photo-etched brass placards as appropriate Road-name-specific reporting marks, stencils, […]

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Hoseshoe helper

Hoseshoe helper

Conrail 6070, a former Erie Lackawanna SD45, assists a westbound freight up Pennsylvania’s Horseshoe Curve on July 25, 1981, just a few months after removal of one of the Curve’s four tracks. Photo by Robert S. McGonigal […]

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Intermodal leads weekly U.S. rail traffic decline

WASHINGTON — U.S. weekly rail traffic declined 2.2% in the week ending Sept. 20 compared with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads reported today. Total carloads were down 1.8% compared with the same week in 2024, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was down 2.5% compared to 2024. Two of the 10 […]

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Lac-Megantic, Quebec, bypass inches forward with regulatory filing

Map of Lac-Megantic Bypass

OTTAWA — Transport Canada and Canadian Pacific Kansas City have submitted their final application to the Canadian Transportation Agency related to construction of a proposed bypass around Lac-Megantic, Quebec, the site of a 2013 Montreal, Maine & Atlantic oil train runaway and derailment that killed 47 people. The application includes technical documents, reports, and monitoring […]

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Rapido N Santa Fe mechanical refrigerator cars

Color photo showing B end of N scale mechanical refrigerator car painted orange and black on white background.

Rapido N Santa Fe mechanical refrigerator cars Scale: N (1:160) Price: Single car, $41.95; four-pack, $167.80 Manufacturer: Rapido Trains, 382 High St., Buffalo, NY 14204; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Features on Rapido N Santa Fe mechanical refrigerator cars: Detailed cushion draft gear Detailed underframe including piping and equipment Etched-metal running boards See-through side grills Separate, factory-applied door […]

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Great grains

A man hangs off the side of a grain hopper as it advances through an industrial yard in a black and white photo

Jumbo 100-ton covered hoppers revolutionized rail handling of grain in the 1960s. The Great Northern staged this publicity photo near terminal elevators in Minneapolis after receiving a new order of cars in 1967. Photo by Great Northern […]

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News & Products for the week of September 22nd 2025

A black model steam locomotive with a black tender with and orange and red stripe on the side of the tender

News & Products for the week of September 22nd 2025   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. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of September 22nd, […]

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STB provides update on pending resolution of 8 proceedings

WASHINGTON — Surface Transportation Board Chairman Patrick Fuchs provided an update today on recent actions to facilitate and expedite the resolution of several outstanding board proceedings. They include: Lake Providence Port Commission—Feeder Line Application—Line of Delta Southern Railroad Located in East Carroll & Madison Parishes, La. (FD 36447). This longstanding proceeding involves efforts by LPPC, […]

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CMA CGM to acquire Freightliner UK Intermodal Logistics

Freight train with electric locomotives

BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom — The CMA CGM Group, a global player in sea, land, air, and logistics solutions, today announced the acquisition of Freightliner UK Intermodal Logistics. The transaction encompasses rail and road operations, inland terminals, as well as the Freightliner brand. CMA CGM said the acquisition underscores its ambition to build a sustainable and […]

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Wabtec lands record locomotive and service order from Kazakhstan

PITTSBURGH — Wabtec today announced its largest-ever locomotive agreement, a $4.2 billion deal to deliver Evolution Series locomotives and provide long-term service support to the national railway of Kazakhstan. The new locomotives, part of National Company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy’s (KTZ) expansion and fleet renewal, are designed to operate in the demanding weather conditions and mountainous […]

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