“F” stands for Front

A close-up image of the side of a yellow and black disel switch engine, showing the letter F stenciled on the frame

If you look closely at a diesel locomotive, you’ll see the letter “F” stenciled near the stairs. As obvious as it seems, the “F” stands for Front, and it’s required under the Railroad Locomotive Safety Standards section of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Title 49 CFR Part 229.11 reads, “The letter “F” shall be […]

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Atlas N scale GE B23-7

Title screen of product review video with N scale diesel locomotive on model railroad.

The Atlas N scale GE B23-7 is back in new paint schemes and road numbers. Join Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he shares a brief history of the four-axle road unit and Conrail 1948; highlights the molded and factory-applied parts on the locomotive; and demonstrates the sound and light effects on the B23-7, […]

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Atlas N scale GE B23-7

Title screen of product review video with N scale diesel locomotive on model railroad.

The Atlas N scale GE B23-7 is back in new paint schemes and road numbers. Join Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he shares a brief history of the four-axle road unit and Conrail 1948; highlights the molded and factory-applied parts on the locomotive; and demonstrates the sound and light effects on the B23-7, […]

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InterMountain HO Trinity 5161 covered hopper

Color photo of HO scale covered hopper painted light gray on white background.

The Trinity 5,161-cubic-foot capacity three-bay covered hopper is a new addition to the InterMountain Railway Co. product range. The HO scale model has an injection-molded plastic body, InterMountain metal wheelsets, and body-mounted Kadee couplers. Prototype history Since making its debut in 1995, the Trinity 5161 has become one of the most common three-bay covered hoppers […]

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MBTA introduces new mobile app for riders

Screenshot of transit app in Apple Store

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has released a new mobile app, MBTA Go, to provide real-time information on all fixed-route train and bus services and improve communications with riders, the agency announced. The initial release is only available for Apple iPhones; release of a version for Android devices is anticipated in February 2025. […]

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In Memoriam: John Tews

Color photo of man in yellow hat and shirt.

Longtime Trainfest executive director John Tews passed away on Oct. 10, 2024. He was 81 years old. John, a resident of Milwaukee suburb Sussex, Wis., since the mid-1960s, was a project manager for Wisconsin Electric for 35 years, retiring in 2006. His HO scale Timber River Ry. was featured in the January 1985, November 1992, […]

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Built by Others: Dustin Whitten’s Norfolk & Western South Branch

A model railroad layout with lush green sceneery and an industrial line in the center of the image running from top left to bottom right

Built by Others is an article series showcasing layouts constructed by modelers using plans and projects from the pages of Model Railroader and its associated products. The Virginian project layout first appeared in the pages of Model Railroader in January of 2012. Dustin Whitten’s Norfolk & Western South Branch layout took inspiration from this project […]

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Rail labor seeks regulations to protect workers from technological advancements

A train passes through a tall, gray, open-ended shed

WASHINGTON — The Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO, the umbrella group that includes all railroad labor unions, today urged Congress and federal regulators to protect workers whose jobs are affected by the rollout of automated and autonomous railroad technology. In a broadside against technological advances — including automated track and train inspection systems, automated […]

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