New Tracks Modeling announces scholarship winners

new tracks modeling logo

New Tracks Modeling has announced three scholarship winners of their New Track Modeling Mentoring Scholarship for 2024. Ethan Prasad Bernstein, who just completed his junior year and is pursuing a bachelor of science degree in engineering from Johns Hopkins University. Ethan is the recipient of the scholarship sponsored by the Pacific Coast Region of the […]

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Indiana Rail Road names Gioe as CEO

Man in light blue coat and tie

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Rail Road has named Joseph Gioe as its new president and CEO, replacing Dewayne Swindall, who left the company in May after three years. Gioe will begin the new position on Aug. 12. Gioe most recently was vice president of transportation at Norfolk Southern. Prior to joining NS in 2022, he […]

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Five mind-blowing facts — Velocipedes

Five mind-blowing facts — Velocipedes. Railroad survey crew with a velocipede

Mention the word velocipede to a few folks. I bet the reaction is: “A veloci–what?” Talk to a few of your fellow train enthusiasts and they will most likely think you are describing some kind of railroad handcart. An argument could be made that they are correct. That, however, leaves out most of the interesting […]

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CSX reports flat earnings amid freight doldrums

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX reported second-quarter financial results that were flat compared to a year ago as gains in intermodal and merchandise volume were not enough to offset declines in domestic coal shipments. “Overall this was a good quarter that was right in line with our expectations,” CEO Joe Hinrichs told investors and analysts on […]

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News & Products for the week of August 5th 2024

A red and white model locomotive

News & Products for the week of August 5th 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 August 5th […]

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CN, CPKC to resume negotiations with Teamsters Canada

Grain train led by red locomotive

GATINEAU, Quebec — With the threat of a national strike looming, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific Kansas City, and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference will resume negotiations on Wednesday, Aug. 8, with the assistance of federal mediators, Labor Minister Steven MacKinnon said today. MacKinnon and Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez today met with CN, CPKC, and Teamsters […]

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Norfolk Southern, CSX monitor east’s first tropical storm (updated)

Radar image of large storm over Florida

LAKE CITY, Fla. — Eastern railroads have marked the beginning of another hurricane season, as Hurricane Debby hit the made landfall between Tallahassee and Jacksonville, Fla., today (Monday, Aug. 5) and subsequently was downgraded to a strong tropical storm. The storm brought 70-mph winds and heavy rains across Pinsley Railroad Corp.’s Florida Gulf & Atlantic […]

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New Tracks Modeling announces line of models

new tracks modeling logo

New Tracks Modeling and O Scale Resource magazine have announced an O scale animated series of models, produced by CatzPaw Innovations LLC and Brennan’s Model Railroading. Preorders for the first model will be taken at the March 2025 O Scale Meet in Chicago, Ill. David Schultz is the chairman of the Modelers Advisory Committee for […]

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Porter upgrades using computerized and old-school techniques

model steam locomotive

Early model railroaders used wood, wire, and paper to create rolling stock. Today’s scratchbuilders can choose from myriad detail parts and use sophisticated laser cutters and 3-D printers. Sometimes it’s fun to explore old-school materials and techniques. To make this little G scale tender, I used a hybrid approach — mixing the old and the […]

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MTH RailKing USRA 0-6-0

model steam locomotive on layout

As a collector of scale models, I typically focus on Lionel Legacy or MTH/Atlas Premier models. However, the MTH RailKing line also provides a great deal of scale (and non-scale) models at a lower price point.  Announced in June of 2023 with six “livery configurations,” the USRA 0-6-0 arrived in July of 2024, a few […]

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Union Pacific coal train derails in Iowa

Union Pacific logo without slogan. UP Bailey Yard explosion appear to be accidental.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa — Thirty-eight cars of a Union Pacific coal train derailed about 2 miles east of Marshalltown on Sunday evening, Aug. 4, KCCI-TV reports. The derailment occurred about 5:30 p.m. No injuries were reported. Marshalltown is about 148 miles west of Clinton, Iowa, on UP’s Clinton Subdivision. It is about 70 miles west of […]

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