WASHINGTON — The Southeastern Pennyslvania Transportation Authority faces a series of deadlines to address issues regarding its “deteriorating safety record” after the Federal Transit Administration on Monday released its report on a six-month safety assessment of SEPTA practices, and issued a series of directives to both SEPTA and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. The assessment […]
WASHINGTON — Thirty-year-high mortgage rates and a double-digit decrease in U.S. housing starts from a year ago has only curbed Class I railroads’ lumber business by about 3,300 carloads, down just 1%, compared to July 2023. Now proposed Federal interest rate cuts could rejuvenate residential housing starts and give railroads’ lumber business a jolt. U.S. […]
The Maya Train project is averaging about 1,200 passengers per day since the first segment opened in December, the operation’s general director, Óscar David Lozano, said during the Monday press conference of Mexican President Andrés Manual López Obrador. In 205 days as of July 11, the train has carried 246,926 passengers. Lozano compared this to […]
Q: What are the bars on top of Pennsylvania RR diesel locomotives for? Are they for radio? — Damien Bouchey A: Those aren’t for radio, though they served the same function — communication. Those are Pennsylvania RR Trainphone antennas. In the mid-1930s, the Pennsy was looking for a more efficient way for dispatchers and towermen […]
Fake steam gauges I’ve made my own fake gauges before I thought of this. I found some pictures of gauges by doing an Internet image search. I then sized them to fit my old kitbashed Pacific’s backhead, which I plan to use in a Challenger. I put shiny, clear tape over them to give the […]
News & Products for the week of July 15th 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 July 15th […]
NEW YORK — Amtrak has awarded a construction contract for major rehabilitation of the East River Tunnel, the connection between Manhattan and Queens that sustained major damage from floodwaters during 2012’s Hurricane Sandy. The East River Tunnel Rehabilitation Project will demolish all existing tunnel system down to the liner before completely restoring the two tubes […]
The MTH Premier EMD SD35 was announced in September of 2022. Previously run in 2020, these models again feature ProtoSound 3.0 technology and the great detailing we’ve come to expect from MTH. The prototype was produced by General Motors’ Electro-Motive Division from mid-1964 through 1966. More than 350 of the 2,500 hp locomotives were built, […]
Should it stay or should it go? Model Railroader magazine editors Eric White and Bryson Sleppy talk about the reasons to keep or discard rare, unique, special, irreplaceable model railroad “treasures”. From rolling stock to tools to modeling supplies, if you question whether or not you should keep something in your collection, they have answers! […]
CHICAGO — The first of 17 Venture coach-café cars built by Siemens for Midwest States has finally debuted on one daily Chicago-St. Louis Lincoln Service round-trip. Trains News Wire sampled the new entry out of Chicago to Bloomington-Normal, Ill., last week on train No. 305, a 5:20 p.m. departure. The trainset returns the next morning […]
WILMINGTON, Calif. — Pacific Harbor Line and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineer and Trainmen, Division 214, have ratified a three-year extension to their current labor agreement, extending that contract through Sept. 20, 2027. The extension covers 145 of PHL’s 180 employees. It was ratified July 12 by a record number of eligible BLET members, with […]
WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration on Friday announced the availability of more than $153 million in grant funding to initiate, restore, or improve intercity passenger service. The funds under the FRA’s Restoration and Enhancement Grant program are to assist with operating costs on projects that establish new routes, restore service on routes that previously […]
