Pinsly Railroad CEO named to STB rail-shipper panel

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Pinsly Railroad Co. CEO Ryan Ratledge has been appointed to a three-year term on the Surface Transportation Board’s Railroad-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council. “I am honored to represent Pinsly Railroad Company and small railroads across the country on the RSTAC committee,” Ratledge said in a statement released on Wednesday. “I look forward to […]

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GATX says demand for freight car leases is holding steady

Black tank car

CHICAGO — Rail equipment lessor GATX Corp. on Tuesday reported lower North American profits as expenses grew faster than revenue during the third quarter. The North American rail segment profit declined 31%, to $70.7 million, as revenue increased 6.4%, to $296.5 million. The company said the decline in the segment’s profit was due to lower […]

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Wabtec earnings surge on higher freight and transit revenue

PITTSBURGH — Wabtec on Wednesday reported stronger earnings as the equipment manufacturer’s revenue and profits grew in both its freight and transit segments. “We delivered a very strong quarter evidenced by continued growth in our backlog, sales, margin, and earnings,” CEO Rafael Santana said on the company’s earnings call. The company’s operating income increased 17%, […]

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Startup company targets blocked crossings with sensor network

Tank car blocking street behind lowered crossing gate

Oculus Rail, a startup company based in Norfolk, Va., wants to cure a railroad headache: Frequently blocked grade crossings that frustrate motorists and communities alike. The company aims to build a grade-crossing sensor network that can help reroute traffic and emergency vehicles around blocked crossings. Oculus Rail — which launched a smartphone app last week […]

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UP train derails near Houston

Damaged track and derailment debris

WALLER, Texas — No injuries were reported as 23 cars of a Union Pacific train derailed Monday afternoon in Waller County between the towns of Waller and Prairie View, the Waller County Sheriff’s Office reported on Monday (Oct. 20, 2025). The Sheriff’s Office reported the derailment about 6:30 p.m. CT, and said that 17 cars […]

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News & Products for the week of October 20th 2025

A navy blue and yellow model locomotive

News & Products for the week of October 20th 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 20th, […]

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CN announces changes to senior management

Canadian National logo

MONTREAL — Canadian National today announced changes to its senior leadership, naming Patrick Whitehead as its chief operating officer and Janet Drysdale as chief commercial officer. Whitehead’s appointment as COO ends CN’s unique approach to developing the operating plan, planning the network of the future, and managing day-to-day operations. Traditionally railroads have a lone chief […]

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Must-have products for a Burlington Northern layout

Color photo showing front of HO scale diesel painted yellow and black with red, white, and black graphics on scenic base with sky backdrop.

The Burlington Northern RR began operations in March 1970, the product of a merger between the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Great Northern; Northern Pacific; and Spokane, Portland & Seattle. It was also the railroad I grew up with in Crookston, Minn., my hometown in northwest Minnesota. For many years, I’ve been researching the early years […]

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Atlas O Premier Fall 2025 catalog

orange and black model engine

The Atlas O Fall 2025 Premier catalog was recently published on the manufacturer’s website. Highlights include: New locomotives GP30 The locomotive includes Proto-Sound 3.0, onboard DCC/DCS decoder, detachable snowplow, O-42 operation, and road-specific ditch lights. Available roadnames: BNSF; NKP; Indiana & Ohio; Norfolk & Western; Raritan Central. Available in 3-rail version only. Price: $729.95. New […]

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