Athearn HO wood-chip hopper

Color photo showing B end of HO scale wood-chip hopper painted mineral red with white and black graphics on white background

Athearn HO three-bay offset-side hopper Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Single car, $39.99; four-pack, $139.99 Era: 1950s+ to 1970s+ (varies based on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Athearn HO wood-chip hopper features: Body-mounted McHenry plastic scale couplers Injection-molded plastic body Machined metal wheelsets with RP-25 contours Minimum radius, […]

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News & Products for the week of October 13th 2025

A set of various model passenger cars in colorful paint schemes

News & Products for the week of October 13th 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 October 13th, […]

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Bachmann HO Trinity 5161 covered hopper

Color photo showing B end of HO scale three-bay covered hopper painted Mineral Red with white, black, and yellow graphics

Bachmann HO Trinity 5161 covered hopper Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $59 Manufacturer: Bachmann Industries Inc., 1400 E. Erie Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19124; 215-533-1600; shop.bachmanntrains.com Bachmann HO Trinity 5161 covered hopper features: Based on phase 2 prototype with 10 body panels and 17 running board supports Blackened machined metal wheelsets Body-mounted plastic E-Z Mate Mark II […]

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Chicago’s Metra rolls out homemade café car

Interior of bilevel commuter car with upper-level seats removed and tables added for cafe service

CHICAGO — From the outside, stainless steel gallery car No. 6103 looks just like any other Nippon Sharyo multi-level coach. But it will soon take turns roaming Metra’s BNSF, Milwaukee District, and Union Pacific routes though mid-November, offering snacks and beverages. The upstairs seating and dual walkways have been removed on one half of the […]

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Aerospace executive Sion named as new Alstom CEO

New Alstom CEO Martin Sion

SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, France — Martin Sion will become Alstom’s new CEO, effective April 1, 2026, the company’s board of directors announced on Wednesday (Oct. 8, 2025). Sion will succeed Henri Poupart-Lafarge, CEO of the multinational rail rolling stock and equipment firm since February 2016. Poupart-Lafarge announced in May that he would not seek a further term […]

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News photos: Amtrak cleans up in Chicago

Passenger cars entering small building

CHICAGO — Amtrak’s Chicago train wash is now active, as evidenced by the cars and locomotive of the company’s New York-Chicago Cardinal, seen here backing into the facility after its run on Monday, Oct. 6. The Cardinal emerged sparkling from its 2-mph splash, though a departing Metra train prevented photos of the result. The trainset […]

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Rapido HO Canadian National Hawker Siddeley van

Color photo of HO scale caboose painted red and black with white graphics on white background.

Rapido HO Canadian National Hawker Siddeley van Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $129.95 Manufacturer: Rapido Trains, 382 High St, Buffalo, NY 14204; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Rapido HO Canadian National Hawker Siddeley van features: Clear window glazing Detailed, multi-color interior Detailed underbody with separate air and brake piping End details, including air hoses and uncoupling levers Factory-installed and […]

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SEPTA service sees disruptions as Silverliner inspections begin

Meet of electric multiple-unit commuter trains

PHILADELPHIA — Passengers on Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority passengers on Regional Rail service are experiencing more crowded trains, as well as some delays and cancellations, as SEPTA begins federally mandated inspections to address concerns over fire risks with its Silverliner IV electric multiple unit passenger equipment. As of Monday, Sept. 6, all Regional Rail trains […]

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News & Products for the week of October 6th 2025

A model diesel electric locomotive

News & Products for the week of October 6th 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 October 6th, […]

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Athearn HO three-bay offset-side hopper

Color photo showing B end of HO scale three-bay offset-side hopper painted red with white graphics on white background

Athearn HO Athearn HO three-bay offset-side hopper Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Single car, $37.99; four-pack, $139.99 Era: 1950s+ Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Athearn HO three-bay offset-side hopper features: Body-mounted McHenry scale plastic couplers with factory-installed trip pin Factory-applied wire grab irons, stirrup steps, end braces, and brake platform […]

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Amtrak uses make-up equipment to avoid cancelling Empire Builder

Passenger train with two locomotives passing under signal bridge with Chicago skyline in background

CHICAGO — In a change from recent operations, Amtrak was able to put together a makeup trainset to prevent cancellation of the westbound Empire Builder that departed Chicago on Wednesday, Oct. 1. Significant long-distance train delays have often resulted in cascading cancellations for lack of equipment since Amtrak lost nearly complete Superliner sets to devastating […]

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News photo: Metroliners live on

Cab car with blue and red front passing Amtrak "Windsor Locks station sign

Amtrak push-pull cab control coach No. 9646, in fresh “Phase VII” paint, stops at Windsor Lock, Conn., leading Springfield, Mass.-New Haven train No. 465 on September 28, 2025. Built as Pennsylvania Railroad Metroliner coach No. 813 in 1967, and converted to its current unpowered cab control car configuration during the 1980s, No. 9646 is among […]

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