Conway Scenic Railroad founder Smith dies

Three men in front of locomotive

TILTON, N.H. — Dwight A. Smith, founder of the Conway Scenic Railroad, has died at age 100. Smith, a U.S. Navy veteran who served in World War II, had been living at the New Hampshire Veterans Home in Tilton since 2020. The Conway Scenic said in a statement that it “mourns the passing of its […]

Read More…

August 2025

The August 2025 cover of Model Railroader

Also in this issue: ON TRAINS.COM, pg. 6 The latest features on our website FROM THE EDITOR, pg. 8 What’s the right size layout for you? NEWS AND REVIEWS, pg. 10 Hobby industry news RAILWAY POST OFFICE, pg. 16 Letters from our readers ASK MR, pg. 18 Burlington Northern renumbering STEP BY STEP, pg. 22 […]

Read More…

Trains Magazine launches TrainsPRO website (updated)

Locomotives lead freight train under golden sky from setting sun

Trains Magazine, the world’s leading publication on railroading and trains, has launched TrainsPRO as a new website under the Trains.com family of brands.  TrainsPRO features articles on railroad industry news and analysis, covering areas such as freight rail, passenger rail, mechanical, maintenance of way and regulatory updates. These coverage areas are nothing new for Trains […]

Read More…

Chicago Union Station 100th Anniversary Celebration

On July 22, 2025, Chicago Union Station in Downtown, Chicago, Ill., hosted a centennial celebration of the site’s official dedication in 1925. As referenced in the companion Trains.com article, notable city, regional, state, and federal officials staged near the Great Hall to recognize the station’s quintessential role, longevity, and impactful renovations aimed to keep it […]

Read More…

Steam titan Ross Rowland dies at 85

Man in suit and hat with steam locomotive in background

SACKETS HARBOR N.Y. — As he approached his final days in recent weeks, Ross E. Rowland could look back secure in the knowledge that U.S. steam — indeed even the entire rail preservation scene— owes him a substantial debt. From his Golden Spike exhibition train of 1969 to the American Freedom Train of 1975-76 to […]

Read More…

Spots remain on Trains/Special Interest Tours UK event

Senior Editor David Lassen is now scheduled to serve as the Trains Magazine host on the Trains/Special Interest Tours “UK Celebration Steam Bicentennial Tour,” a 10-day, nine-night event set for Sept. 23-Oct. 2, 2025. Space remains available for the tour, which begins in London and ends in Manchester. It includes private-car excursions on the Ffestiniog […]

Read More…

July 2025

The July 2025 cover of Model Railroader

Also in this issue: ON TRAINS.COM, pg. 6 The latest features on our website FROM THE EDITOR, pg. 8 You could be the author we’re looking for! NEWS AND REVIEWS, pg. 10 Hobby industry news ASK MR, pg. 19 Any ideas for building a workbench? STEP BY STEP, pg. 23 A flag for the Kingfield […]

Read More…

Raymond Burton, former TTX CEO, dies at 86

Man smoking pipe in outdoor setting

CHICAGO — Former TTX president and CEO Raymond C. Burton Jr. has died, the company has announced. Burton, 89, died June 19 in New York City. He was the company’s president and CEO from 1982 until his retirement in 2000, and is credited with modernizing the company, helping strengthen its financial condition and meet growing […]

Read More…

New York rail museum closed by flooding

Mudslide along railroad tracks

RUSH, N.Y. — The Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum will be closed until Aug. 2 as a result of significant flood damage suffered on June 18, the museum has announced. Storms brought more than 7 inches of rain in a three-hour period, causing widespread damage throughout New York’s Monroe County. Museum damage included significant […]

Read More…

First ENS Sign Awareness Day set for June 24

Graphic illustration for ENS Sign Awareness Day

WASHINGTON — The U.S. rail industry is supporting Emergency Notification System Sign Awareness Day on June 24, seeking to raise public awareness of the blue signs at railroad grade crossings on who to contact in an emergency. “The sign may be small, but its impact is enormous,” Rachel Maleh, executive director of Operation Lifesaver Inc., […]

Read More…

Spring 2025

The Spring 2025 cover of Classic Toy Trains magazine

Also in this issue: EDITOR’S DESK, pg. 4 YOUR LETTERS, pg. 6 YOUR PHOTOS, pg. 8 NEWS & REVIEWS, pg. 12 Firecrown buys EnterTRAINment Junction, MTH WTIU, Menards Grandma’s House, and more COLLECTIBLE CLASSICS, pg. 52 American Flyer’s No. 807 Boxcar QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS, pg. 58 Crossing gates don’t work, K-Line steamer stalls, and more […]

Read More…