News & Products for the week of March 17th 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 March 17th, […]
HOUSTON — County Line Rail, which acquires and develops rail yards and terminals in the Gulf Coast region, has purchased the Sabine River & Northern, a 40-mile short line in the southeastern corner of Texas. The railroad dates to 1966. It connects three Class I railroads — BNSF, CPKC, and Union Pacific. It operates a […]
SAN JOSE — The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority has asked California Gov. Gavin Newsom to intervene in the strike that enters its second week today (March 17, 2025). In a letter released on Saturday, March 15, the VTA has asked Newsom to appoint a Board of Investigation, which, under a section of the state […]
CHICAGO — Miles of downed trees and power lines through rural Missouri and Arkansas over the weekend resulted in half-day delays or truncations for two Texas Eagles. Meanwhile, a Los Angeles-bound Southwest Chief sat for 8 hours in New Mexico when a wind-driven brush fire blocked the right-of-way. Texas Eagle challenges A Washington Post storm […]
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Legislation calling for increased frequencies and reduced travel times for Amtrak Cascades service has passed the Washington state House of Representatives and moved to the Senate. House Bill 1857 passed by a 68-29 vote last Wednesday, March 12, beating a deadline for bills to advance out of their house of origin by […]
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — Bridge replacements or repairs for a proposed commuter rail service in Santa Cruz County could cost almost $1 billion, a consulting firm has determined. The news site Lookout Santa Cruz reports staff from the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission and engineering firm HDR Inc. told a meeting this week that […]
OTTAWA, Ontario — Chrystia Freeland — who had been a candidate to become prime minister — is Canada’s new minister of transport. Freeland is part of the 24-member cabinet of new Prime Minister Mark Carney sworn in today (March 14, 2025). Anita Anand, who had been transport minister, is now minister of innovation, science, and […]
STOCKTON, Calif. — The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating an injury accident that occurred earlier this week at the Port of Stockton, the agency said today (March 14, 2025). The accident occurred on Tuesday, March 11, during a re-railing operation, the board said on social media. KOVR-TV reports the NTSB declined to provide information […]
Work is well underway on the HO scale (1:87.1) Milwaukee, Racine & Troy East Troy Industrial Park, our latest project layout and the first model railroad to be constructed at the new Firecrown Media offices in suburban Milwaukee, Wis. We recently received a sample of the Walthers Cornerstone transload facility pavement kit (item No. 933-4186), […]
WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board’s Office of Environmental Analysis today issued a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Green Eagle Railroad’s proposed construction and operation of a 1.3-mile rail line and border crossing in Eagle Pass, Texas. The draft reviews two potential routes for the line, which was proposed in December 2023, as well as […]
WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board will take a closer look at Norfolk Southern’s proposal to officially control Virginia terminal railroad Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line. CSX had asked the board to review competition issues involving NS and NPBL. CSX and NS have been locked in a legal dispute over the NPBL for six years. […]
BOSTON — No injuries were reported after a minor collision between two Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Green Line trolleys on Wednesday evening, WCVB-TV reports. MBTA CEO Phillip Eng told reporters during a Thursday media event that one of the trains rolled about 3 feet into the other train, and the two trains coupled. “Technically, it […]
