Brown, Inman sworn in as NTSB members

Five people posing in boardroom

WASHINGTON — Alvin Brown and J. Todd Inman have joined the National Transportation Safety Board, filling two vacancies and restoring the board to its full five members. Both members were sworn in on Monday. Brown’s term runs through 2026 and Inman’s concludes in 2027. Brown, mayor of Jacksonville, Fla., from 2021 to 2015, was previously […]

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Schulte named president of Anacostia’s Northern Lines Railway

Man in dark sweater, white shirt, and tie

CHICAGO — Quentin Schulte has been named president of Northern Lines Railway, Anacostia Rail Holdings has announced. Schulte has previously been the general manager of the 25-mile railroad that operates BNSF Railway trackage in the St. Cloud, Minn., area, handling more than 10,000 carloads annually. He joined the short line after 15 years with BNSF […]

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Norfolk Southern releases preliminary financial results, announces settlement of East Palestine class action lawsuit

black locomotives on track

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern, which remains under pressure from an activist investor, today took the unusual step of releasing preliminary first quarter financial results, which included a $600 million proposed settlement of a class action lawsuit related to the East Palestine, Ohio, hazardous materials wreck. Including the impact of the settlement, the railroad’s operating income […]

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Colorado rail regulation bill advances

Orange locomotive and coal train

DENVER — Colorado legislation limiting train lengths and requiring wayside detectors, among other provisions, has passed the state’s House of Representatives and been introduced in the Senate. HB24-1030 is sponsored in the House by state Rep. Javier Mabrey (D-Denver) and in the Senate by Sens. Lisa Cutter (D-Lakewood) and Tony Exum (D-Colorado Springs.). As passed […]

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An automotive palace: The Menards Vehicle Showroom

tall structure with lights and vehicles

Nobody can say the Menards doesn’t push the envelope in their line of O gauge structures. From power plants, to hotels, and office buildings, the company doesn’t just take an old design and slap new signage on the exterior. The Vehicle Showroom (275-9281) counts as a spectacular design and and an innovative way to construct […]

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SEPTA opens new Drexel Station at 30th Street

View of station through glass with bright lighing and informational banners

PHILADELPHIA — Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and other officials on Monday marked the opening of the rebuilt and renamed Drexel Station at 30th Street, the transit up for transit and bus lines adjacent to the station served by Amtrak and SEPTA Regional Rail. The new station name reflects a $3.1 million endowment from Drexel University, […]

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News Photos: Eclipse in Illinois

Train works in muted sunlight during eclipse

DECATUR, Ill. — Decatur was not within the narrow 13-state path of totality for the solar eclipse today (April 8, 2024) but — as shown above, in an image taken just before totality — the community did not miss by much, experiencing a 97.6% partial eclipse. The effect of the eclipse is visible as a […]

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News & Products for the week of April 8th 2024

A series of 5 model cabooses in various paint schemes

News & Products for the week of April 8th 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 April 8th […]

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5 ways to engage kids with toy trains

two children watching toy train layout

I’ve had a lifelong fascination with trains, stemming from my father’s near 40-year career on the Santa Fe (and later BNSF) railroad. Some of my fondest childhood memories included trips to the train depot in Fort Madison, Iowa where I would see freight trains come and go. When I was 8 years old, I’ll never […]

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