News & Products for the week of November 18th 2024

A black and green model locomotive

News & Products for the week of November 18th 2024   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 November 18th […]

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Registration opens for MARS Winter Meeting

Woman standing in front of projector screen

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — Registration is now open for the 2025 Winter Meeting of the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers, which is scheduled to include BNSF Railway CEO Katie Farmer and Surface Transportation Board Chairman Robert E. Primus as featured speakers. The event moves this year from its longtime home in Lombard, Ill., to a new […]

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Build a small portable module

small layout module on tabletop

Perhaps you don’t have the space to build a layout but still want to build “something.” Maybe your layout is already built but you’re looking to renovate a scene or section. Or there might be a show coming up and you want to highlight a scene or show off an animated feature. The solution to […]

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Traveling for the holidays on Amtrak trains

crowds in station

Amtrak trains during the holidays in 2024 are facing ridership demand comparable or even greater than 2019 before COVID-19’s dip in 2020. While autos jam highways where public transportation options are scarce, and airlines add flights to accommodate longer trips, Amtrak in the past also rose to the occasion by offering extra trains and expanded […]

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Travel with Trains: New England Fall Colors by Rail

A maroon railroad diesel crosses a short timber trestle

The Trains New England Fall Colors by Rail tour checks a lot of boxes. Memorable train rides, great food and lodging, colorful fall foliage, and time to explore picturesque towns. What’s it like to visit New England with Trains Magazine? Follow along with this day-by-day journal from Editor Carl Swanson. Friday, Oct. 4th, 2024 Volunteering […]

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Conciliation officers assigned for CN negotiations with electricians

Logo of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Canada

MONTREAL — Canada’s labor minister, Steven MacKinnon, has appointed three conciliation officers to assist in negotiations between Canadian National and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, CN said on Friday. The IBEW, which represents about CN 750 signal and communication workers across Canada, filed a notice of dispute on Oct. 29, indicating that the union […]

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Model a “burning” building

model of burning house with rising smoke

Model a “burning” building: I loved the idea of having a “burning” building on a large scale layout. Here was a feature that would be active and easy to set up. Plenty of 1:24 scale fire fighting equipment is readily available and reasonably priced. I bought Pola kit No. 33101 a number of years ago […]

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General Electric’s U23B: Where are they now?

Two yellow locomotives leading freight train

General Electric’s U23B General Electric broke into the domestic road-switcher locomotive market over six decades ago with its U25B model in 1961. The U-series line would continue to evolve and grow, laying the foundation for the company’s ascent to becoming the No. 1 locomotive builder in North America in later decades. The U23B was essentially […]

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