Combining Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern into the first transcontinental railroad in the U.S. would create a 52,215-mile colossus that could offer seamless service from coast to coast, bypassing longtime interchange choke points in Chicago and at gateways along the Mississippi River. The two railroads confirmed today that they are in advanced merger discussions. The […]
I found this manuscript from the late John Grams in our manuscript files. There was no date on the envelope but it’s likely from the early 1990s. The article discusses 12 Lionel products that, while great inventions, were fraught with problems or didn’t work exactly as advertised. He included the following disclaimer: “Lionel trains were […]
PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland’s TriMet has become the latest U.S. transit agency to announce plans for significant service cuts to address a funding shortfall, announcing plans to reduce frequency on some bus lines this November in the first phase of a process that would eventually include an 18% reduction in MAX light rail service. The […]
When railfans travel, they dream of finding a hotel that overlooks the tracks. Ken Kirkwood found such a place in El Roble, Calif., and took this interesting photo of a passing mixed train (freight and passenger) from his hotel room window. Ken, of Yucaipa, Calif., photographed the scene on his freelanced HO scale Ma & […]
In 2020, I purchased Lionel’s No. 2028310 Milk Car With Platform. Unfortunately, I was never happy with this car’s operation. It kept shorting circuiting on my layout, especially when going through switches. I sent it to several repair centers, but the problem was never found. After running the car at a low speed around the […]
OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific reported record second quarter financial results this morning as surging coal volumes led the railroad’s traffic gains. “We are delivering on our strategy and our results demonstrate our commitment to leading the industry as we set new standards for safety, service, and operational excellence,” CEO Jim Vena told investors and […]
Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern confirmed this morning that they are engaged in advanced merger discussions that would create the first U.S. transcontinental railroad. “There can be no assurances as to whether an agreement for a transaction will be reached or as to the terms of any such transaction,” the railroads said. UP and NS […]
Kato N Siemens ALC-42 Charger Scale: N (1:160) Price: Direct-current models, $150; with pre-installed Digital Command Control motor decoder, $250; with pre-installed DCC and sound decoder, $350 Era: 2021 to present Manufacturer: Kato USA Inc., 100 Remington Rd., Schaumburg, IL 60173; 847-781-9500; katousa.com Kato N Siemens ALC-42 Charger features: All-wheel electrical pickup Blackened wheels Body-mounted […]
WASHINGTON — U.S. weekly rail traffic remains up after a brief dip in June, according to the latest statistics from the Association of American Railroads. For the week ending July 19, rail traffic totaled 506,882 carloads and intermodal units, up 5.6% compared with the same week a year ago. It is the third straight week […]
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX may not be out shopping for a merger partner, but the railroad will consider proposals that would raise shareholder value, improve service, and lead to profitable growth. “We know there’s been a lot of rumor and speculation about consolidation in the railroad industry in recent weeks,” CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs said […]
OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific has announced a pair of new domestic intermodal lanes, with new service linking the Pacific Northwest with Chicago as well as between Memphis and Dallas. On Saturday, UP will launch daily service from Tacoma, Wash., to its Global 4 terminal in Joliet, Ill., outside Chicago. “This service will be complementary […]
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX’s second-quarter profits slumped as unfavorable changes in traffic mix drove a revenue decline and costs rose amid congestion and detours related to a pair of main line outages. But executives said they were encouraged by the pace of the railroad’s operational recovery during the quarter, which produced improvements in on-time performance. […]
