STB environmental office clears path for Saluda Grade abandonment

Map of rail line in North and South Carolina

WASHINGTON — Norfolk Southern’s proposed abandonment of the Saluda Grade in North and South Carolina will not need to undergo an environmental impact statement process, the Surface Transportation Board’s Office of Environmental Assessment has determined in a decision released today (Monday, Nov. 25). The railroad filed for abandonment of 31.3 miles of the long-dormant route […]

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Unifor members authorize strike against Canadian National

Logo of Canadian union Unifor

MONTREAL — Members of Canadian labor union Unifor have voted to authorize a strike against Canadian National Railway if a new contract agreement is not reached by Jan. 1, 2025. Unifor said in a press release that members of the two groups representing CN workers — Council 4000 and Local 100 — had voted 97% […]

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News & Products for the week of November 25th 2024

News & Products for the week of November 25th 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 November 25th […]

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Enjoy Trainfest 2024 Highlights with Trains.com

Trainfest 2024  occurred November 23-24, 2024, at the Baird Center in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Over the two-day event, thousands of train enthusiasts made their way into the sold out exhibit spaces to enjoy visiting model manufacturers, hobby product/material vendors, model train retailers, operating layouts, and so much more! Watch this compilation video to catch a […]

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Inside Trainfest 2024

Ho scale steam locomotive at a station

America’s largest operating model railroad show returned to Milwaukee over the weekend. After a 2023 hiatus, Trainfest 2024 was held Nov. 23-24 at the Baird Center, located in the downtown area. The center itself was recently renovated and featured 300,000-contiguous sq. ft. of exhibit space, with highlights from the show that included the following: Dozens […]

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Max, notable railroad dog, dies at 9

dog with rainbow in the background

Well known from social media posts reflecting eight years of travels with owner Alan David, “raildog” Max passed away Nov. 19, 2024 during a visit to former Trains Editor Jim Wrinn’s home to see Cate Wrinn. Max began showing signs of trouble while in Fort Worth, Texas, shortly after celebrating his 9th birthday on November […]

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Christmas in a rail yard: 24th Mechanized Infantry Division

armored vehicles along train track

24th Mechanized Infantry Division The first sergeant’s voice boomed out over the formation: “I’m looking for eight volunteers. I need eight men who are looking for an adventure to volunteer for a special assignment. Don’t everybody step forward at once.” Not surprisingly, no one was inclined to volunteer until they knew more about what they […]

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If railroads can’t grow, they’ll be forced to merge or shrink, consultant says

Orange locomotive and coal train

NEW YORK — If current Class I railroad volume growth efforts don’t bear fruit, railroads will either have to turn to transcontinental mergers or try to shrink themselves to prosperity. That’s the conclusion Oliver Wyman consultant Adriene Bailey has reached after examining trends of declining traffic and anemic revenue growth as railroads continue to lose […]

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Rail bargaining group announces its fourth tentative national agreement

National Railway Labor Conference logo

ARLINGTON, Va. — The bargaining organization for U.S. Class I railroads has announced a fourth tentative national labor agreement, this time with the National Conference of Firemen & Oilers. The National Carriers Conference Committee announced the deal today (Monday, Nov. 25). It joins earlier deals with the Transportation Communications Union, Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, and […]

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In memoriam: David Shaw

Classic Toy Trains magazine logo

David Shaw, the friendly and knowledgeable man behind the counter and in the management chair of The Train Station in Mountain Lakes, N.J., died in August of 2024 at the age of 61. As owner and president of the business since 1986, he had overseen every aspect of its operation, notably sales and repair. But […]

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