News & Products for the week of July 28th 2025

A white red and black model streetcar

News & Products for the week of July 28th 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 July 28th, […]

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Shipper groups oppose more railroad mergers

WASHINGTON — Groups representing rail shippers say they would be opposed to the creation of a transcontinental railroad in the U.S., arguing that further consolidation in the industry would reduce their competitive options, lead to higher rates, and worsen service. Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern said last week that they are engaged in advanced negotiations […]

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FRA begins push to streamline regulations

Logo for Federal Railroad Administration

WASHINGTON— The Federal Railroad Administration this month issued its largest ever simultaneous push to update or slash regulations that it views as overly burdensome. On July 1, the FRA published a list of 57 deregulatory actions in the Federal Register. Twenty-one are Notices of Proposed Rulemaking, while the remaining three dozen are final rules. Many […]

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East Troy Industrial Park, Ep. 16 | Painting Track

Watch as Cody Grivno, Model Railroader Senior Editor, sets out to paint the rails on the HO scale (1:87.1) East Troy Industrial Park project layout. Learn how to prepare the layout, clean the tracks, and apply paint for a realistic, rusty appearance. Be sure to keep up with the construction progress by linking into the Trains.com […]

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F units into Alexandria

F units into Alexandria

A three-unit set of dark blue-and-gray Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac F7s brings a northbound freight train into Alexandria, Va., in December 1949. The train is bound for RF&P’s big Potomac Yard, about a mile ahead. Photo by Charles Wales […]

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Rapido HO Procor tank car

Color photo of HO scale tank car painted black with yellow, blue, red, and white graphics on white background

Rapido HO Procor tank car Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Single car, $59.95; three-pack, $179.95; and six-pack, $359.95 Manufacturer: Rapido Trains, 382 High St, Buffalo, NY 14204; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Rapido Trains HO Procor tank car features: Detailed vent stacks, loading hatches, air tanks, and brake equipment Early style features 70-ton trucks, 33” wheels, and exposed drain […]

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CN derailment disrupts VIA corridor service west of Toronto

Canadian National logo

PARIS, Ontario — A Canadian National Railway derailment on Friday morning (July 25, 2025) led to disruption of VIA Rail Canada corridor service to and from Windsor, Ont., the CBC reports. Five trains between Toronto and Windsor were rerouted via CN’s Guelph Subdivision, while three others were cancelled entirely. VIA service has been restored today, […]

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STB creates merger resources pages on its website

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has launched merger resources pages on its website just a day after Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern confirmed that they are engaged in advanced talks over a combination that would create the first U.S. transcontinental railroad. UP and NS said their talks may not result in a deal. The […]

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BNSF asks to delay vote on Arizona logistics project

WITTMANN, Ariz. — BNSF Railway has asked Maricopa County officials to delay a vote until November a vote on its proposed $3.2 million logistics and intermodal hub near Phoenix. The Arizona Republic reports a letter requesting the delay from a planned zoning vote scheduled for Aug. 20 did not offer a specific reason, but says […]

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