T1 No. 5550 cylinders nearing completion

Unfinished T1 steam locomotive cylinder temporarily mounted to engine frame.

Pennsylvania Railroad No. 5550 continues to move toward reality. The T1 Trust reports that cylinder fabrication is now nearly 66% complete. Overall, the new locomotive is about 53% done. Two prototypes of the 4-4-4-4 duplex design were built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1947. The Pennsy liked what they saw and between 1945 and […]

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News & Products for the week of October 27th 2025

A red, white and blue model caboose painted in an American bicentennial scheme

News & Products for the week of October 27th 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 27th, […]

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TRAC Intermodal to provide domestic chassis for Florida East Coast Railway

Red-and-yellow locomotives with fuel tender cross street

PRINCETON, N.J. — TRAC Intermodal has reached an agreement with Florida East Coast Railway that allows TRAC Intermodal to stage 53-foot domestic chassis directly at the Sunshine State railway’s terminals. This partnership will support FEC-controlled business and introduces a standardized domestic chassis fleet. The companies said, in an announcement on Monday, that their collaboration reflects […]

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Sunset Models Amtrak NextGen Acela

The logo for Third & Townsend Models

The Sunset Models Amtrak NextGen Acela (Acela II) was announced at the York Train Fair, hosted by the Eastern Division of the Train Collectors Association in late October. The O scale train, based on prototypes that operate in the Northeast Corridor, will be offered in two- and three-rail versions. The Acela II will be available […]

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NS and UP launch interline intermodal service in Louisville, Ky.

Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific have launched their new domestic interline intermodal service linking Louisville, Ky., with UP terminals via interchange at Kansas City, Kan. GE Appliances is among the anchor customers on the service, which first rolled on Oct. 20, NS said today. The railroads announced the joint service on Sept. 15, roughly six […]

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Menards Pennsylvania RR Flatcars w/Pennzoil Tractor & Trailer

two model flatcars with loads

In the early 1800s, flatcars were among the first railcars developed, used to transport oversized or heavy loads. Over time, variations of the flatcar have emerged (depressed-center and center-beam cars, for example), but the humble flatcar is still commonly used today. Menards has released a two-pack of flatcars, one carrying a 1:48 scale 1954 GMC […]

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Make a glowing Atomic Energy Commission ore car

glowing model ore car in low light

Recently, CTT received a box of rolling stock review samples from Ready Made Toys (RMT). Though, there was something about the ore car that caught my attention. The color of the simulated ore reminded me of the glow-in-the-dark acrylic paint you can purchase in craft stores. Wouldn’t it be neat to have a string of […]

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Join the 2026 Trains tour of the Southwest

Silver and yellow locomotives at the front of a passenger train

2026 Southwestern Rail Adventure Embark on a fully private car journey through the majestic landscapes of the American Southwest, where red rock canyons and desert vistas come alive under endless blue skies. Discover iconic national parks, ancient pueblos, and vibrant local culture as you travel in comfort and style. Experience the spirit of the Southwest […]

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