Paragraph in Presidential Emergency Board report stokes controversy

Men holding picket signs

WASHINGTON – Rank-and-file members of rail labor are critical of a paragraph in the Presidential Emergency Board report that says railroads believe their workers have not contributed in any way to the industry’s record profits. The Presidential Emergency Board, whose duty was to help settle the contract impasse between unionized workers and the U.S. railroads, […]

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Trainfest ‘resurrection’ in progress

HO-scale model of a logging locomotive hauling a train in a prairie scene.

If Dave Swanson has his way, Trainfest attendees this year will feel right at home. “We’re trying to bring Trainfest to its past glory,” says Swanson, lead organizer of Trainfest to be held near Milwaukee Nov. 12 and 13. “The word I’m fond of using is, ‘resurrection.’ ” Swanson is founder of the Great American […]

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Bowser Alco RS3 “Hammerhead” diesel locomotive

Tuscan red diesel locomotive

Alco RS3 “Hammerhead” diesel locomotive Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current, $249.95; with sound decoder, $349.95 Era: 1953 to 1979 Manufacturer: Bowser Manufacturing Co. Inc., 1302 Jordan Ave., Montoursville, PA 17754; 570-368-2379; bowser-trains.com Features: Can motor Light-emitting diode lighting Blackened, nickel-plated wheels Separate, factory-applied detail parts Release date: Fall 2023 Paint schemes: Pennsylvania RR (as-delivered with […]

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Pennsylvania RR class K4 4-6-2 from Bachmann

Screen capture from HO scale 4-6-2 video

Pennsylvania RR class K4 4-6-2 from Bachmann Senior Editor Cody Grivno hosts this Product Review video featuring the Pennsylvania RR (PRR) class K4 Pacific steam locomotive from Bachmann Trains. The 4-6-2 paid a visit to our Milwaukee, Racine & Troy staff layout, where it led a short train of heavyweight passenger cars. Details on the […]

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Bachmann Siemens ACS-64

Side view of gray electric locomotive

Siemens ACS-64 Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $459 Era: 2020s+ Manufacturer: Bachmann Trains, 1400 E. Erie Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19124; 215-533-1600; bachmanntrains.com Features: Dual-mode TCS WOWSound decoder Keep-Alive capacitor Light-emitting diode lighting, including flashing ditch lights and directional marker lights and headlights Voice-guided Audio Assist Die-cast metal frame Mappable light functions Selector switch for choice between […]

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Amtrak Acela II train set and separate-sale passenger cars

Model Railroader placeholder image

Amtrak Acela II Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Train set, $799; separate-sale cars, $139 Era: 2020s+ Manufacturer: Bachmann Trains, 1400 E. Erie Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19124; 215-533-1600; bachmanntrains.com Set features Powered (analog control with speaker) and non-powered (functioning lights) locomotives Additional locomotive features include die-cast metal chassis; working, directional light-emitting-diode (LED) headlights and marker lights; and […]

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SMART-TD president questions whether emergency board’s recommendations are enough to retain, attract rail workers

Mean standing near railroad tracks as train approaches

Presidential Emergency Board recommendations for a new rail labor contract are a “vast improvement” over offers from the railroads, the president of a major rail union says, but “do not go far enough” in addressing quality-of-life issues. Jeremy R. Ferguson, president of the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation-Transportation Division, said in a statement Thursday […]

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Federal grants to fund 11 passenger infrastructure projects in eight states

Steel bridge across river under gray skies

WASHINGTON — A series of Northeast Corridor efforts to replace century-old infrastructure highlights 11 passenger-rail projects receiving more than $233 million in Federal Railroad Administration grant funding. The grants announced today (Thursday, Aug. 18) by the U.S. Department of Transportation are part of the Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair Program. The projects included […]

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CN, energy firm Keyera to look at new terminal in Alberta

Canadian National logo

CALGARY — Canadian National and oil and gas service and transportation firm Keyera will evaluate development of a new terminal to ship conventional and clean energy in Alberta’s “industrial heartland,” the companies announced Wednesday. The facility would be on adjoining land belonging to CN and Keyera and would provide a single terminal to transport energy […]

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Western Maryland Scenic schedules benefit for PRR No. 1361 restoration

Large steam locomotive with train at station

CUMBERLAND, Md. — The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad will hold a steam-powered fundraiser Oct. 14 to benefit restoration of the Railroaders Memorial Museum’s Pennsylvania Railroad K4s-class 4-6-2 steam locomotive No. 1361, based in Altoona, Pa. An evening dinner train will be pulled by WMSR’s ex-Chesapeake & Ohio Railway 2-6-6-2 engine No. 1309 (Baldwin, 1949), temporarily […]

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Iowa town turns down CP offer to address increased rail traffic

Red locomotive with gondola cars

CAMANCHE, Iowa — The city of Camanche has rejected an offer for $200,000 from Canadian Pacific to mitigate the impact of the pending CP-Kansas City Southern deal, with Mayor Austin Pruett telling KWQC-TV the offer is “very offensive.” The funds would have addressed closing two of the seven grade crossings in the community of 4,570, […]

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Reading & Northern 2102 to handle freight train on Friday

Steam locomotive pulling freight cars rounds curve

PORT CLINTON, Pa. — This is turning out to be the summer of steam on Pennsylvania’s Reading & Northern Railroad. Less than a week after a spectacular doubleheaded public excursion [see “News photos: Doubleheaded ‘Iron Horse Ramble’ …,” Trains News Wire, Aug. 14, 2022], the railroad’s Passenger Department has posted on social media that R&N […]

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