Alaska Railroad agrees to deal for new cruise ship port

Illustration of cruise ship dock with train on adjacent track

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Alaska Railroad has approved purchase of a new $137 million cruise ship port in Seward, to be built by a local developer and funded through a combination of loans and bonds. The facility could be completed in time for the 2026 cruise season. The Anchorage Daily News reports the railroad’s board […]

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Five memorable Amtrak locomotives

Red-and-black diesel locomotive with Amtrak Floridian passenger train at station

The current era of transition for Amtrak’s roster harkens back to motive power that shaped the passenger rail carrier — for better or for worse. Excluding EMD F40PHs, as they’re in a league of their own, here are five memorable Amtrak locomotives.   SDP40F     Initially rolled out in 1973, the SDP40Fs became the […]

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Beginner’s guide to airbrushing

Photo of man painting HO scale diesel locomotive in spray booth.

In my 20-plus years with Model Railroader magazine, I’ve written several how-to articles on airbrushing. Some have focused on using the tool to re-create models you can’t find on the shelf, such as “How to paint multi-color locomotives” in the September 2013 issue. Others, including “How to weather coal hoppers” in December 2012, have demonstrated […]

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Why do railroads use catenary?

Orange, black, and white model electric locomotive running under catenary.

When you think about electrified rail lines today, the first thing that probably comes to mind is Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor. But in the first half of the 1900s, before the start of the diesel era, railroads used electrified lines to move freight and passengers. Examples in the east included the New York, New Haven & […]

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Genesee Valley Transportation sells two Alcos to heritage railway

Black and yellow locomotive switching at business

BATAVIA, N.Y. — Genesee Valley Transportation has sold two Alco RS3 locomotives to heritage railway Saratoga Corinth & Hudson, the two operations announced today (Aug. 2). Locomotives No. 4103 and 4118, which wore the same numbers with the Delaware & Hudson, were purchased from the Octoraro Railroad and rebuilt at Genesee Valley’s South Scranton Shop. […]

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