New York MTA sues as federal government moves to end Manhattan congestion tolling (updated)

Woman at podium surrounded by several men

NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has quickly filed a lawsuit today in an effort to block federal government revocation of its permission for Manhattan’s congestion tolling program. The move, announced by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, makes good on a campaign promise of President Donald Trump, who last year said he would end congestion […]

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Rail executives say impacts and timing of tariff rollout are highly uncertain

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Class I railroad chief executives told an investor conference today that their crystal ball is as cloudy as anyone’s regarding the potential impact of the tariffs that President Donald Trump has threatened to impose on Mexico and Canada. The 25% tariffs initially were due to begin this month, but Trump subsequently […]

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VIA corridor cancellation list grows

VIA corridor assenger train with heritage HEP cars

MONTREAL — VIA Rail Canada has now canceled 19 trains today (Feb. 19, 2025) in its Windsor-Quebec City corridor, and continues to cite a Tuesday CN derailment near Montreal as contributing to ongoing delays. Much of the corridor area is still digging out from storms that brought almost 30 inches of snow in a four-day […]

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Start-up Lunatrain plans private night trains in East, Midwest

Illustration of sleeping car accomodation

PHILADELPHIA — A new company has announced plans to develop a private sleeper-train service connecting major destinations, and says it aims to have a demonstration unit in the second half of 2026. Lunatrain, which describes itself as “a private, early-stage company,” says it will develop a network of express, non-stop night trains in the Midwest […]

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Canadian government announces plans for high speed rail (updated)

Silver and red high speed train

MONTREAL — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced plans to build a high speed rail line linking Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City, calling it “the largest infrastructure project in Canadian history.” The 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) system, to be known as Alto, will have a top speed of 300 kilometers per hour (186 mph), with intermediate […]

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Amtrak cancels trains in Northeast and Virginia, again scrubs Empire Builder (updated)

Passenger train in area with small amount of snow on the ground

CHICAGO — Add westbound Empire Builder for today (Feb. 19, 2025) to Amtrak’s cancellation list, making for a fifth straight day that the Chicago-Seattle/Portland train will have been cancelled in both directions. The company has also canceled several Northeast Corridor trains today and tomorrow (Feb. 20), as well as Wolverine and Hiawatha trains in the […]

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How to install adjustable glides on benchwork legs

Glide installed

When building a model railroad, one feature you should consider is adjustable levelers at the foot of your benchwork’s legs. As the name suggests, these help level your layout when it’s standing on an uneven floor. Here’s how to install adjustable glides on benchwork legs. There are a couple of purchasing options for levelers. One […]

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Vicksburg, Mich., station added to National Register of Historic Places

Train station with caboose next to tracks

VICKSBURG, Mich. — Vicksburg’s Union Depot, a brick and stone structure dating to 1904 and built to serve predecessors to the Pennsylvania and Grand Trunk railroads, is among 11 state locations added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2024, according to the Michigan Economic Development Corp. The station in Kalamazoo County, which last […]

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4 x 8-foot layout upgrades

Color rendering of HO scale track plan.

Q: I have two oval tracks, one inside the other, on a piece of 4 x 8 plywood. Just running a train around each track is boring. My funds are very limited. Do you have any suggestions as to how to make this more fun? — Elaine King A: Since space is at a premium […]

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Broadway Limited HO scale EMD GP30

Screen capture from video with red and gray HO scale diesel locomotive and title bar.

Welcome to our latest product review video. The Broadway Limited HO scale EMD GP30 is back in a colorful assortment of new paint schemes. Join Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he shares a brief history of the Electro-Motive Division road switcher and Burlington Northern No. 2250; points out the various plastic, formed wire, […]

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Broadway Limited HO scale EMD GP30

Screen capture from video with red and gray HO scale diesel locomotive and title bar.

Welcome to our latest product review video. The Broadway Limited HO scale EMD GP30 is back in a colorful assortment of new paint schemes. Join Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he shares a brief history of the Electro-Motive Division road switcher and Burlington Northern No. 2250; points out the various plastic, formed wire, […]

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Mike Eagleson was all about steam

Steam steam locomotives with passenger train on curve

The trend toward professional archival preservation of the work of major railroad photographers continues, lately with the news that the huge collection of negatives, slides, and films of the late Mike Eagleson has gone to the Industrial Archives & Library based in Bethlehem, Pa. This is a big “get” for the IAL, buttressing its mission […]

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