Athearn Genesis HO scale Amtrak California passenger cars

illustration of Amtrak California passenger cars

Amtrak California passenger cars Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Single car with NCE decoder with lighting functions, $149.99; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami SoundCar, $199.99. Four-pack with NCE decoder with lighting functions, $579.99; dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami SoundCar, $649.99 Era: mid-2000s+ Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822, 800-338-4639, athearn.com Amtrak California passenger car features: All-wheel electrical pickup Cab coaches […]

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Federal funds available for grade crossing elimination or improvement

U.S. Department of Transportation logo

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation is offering more than $573 million in grant funding this fiscal year to address grade-crossing issues as part of its Railroad Crossing Elimination Program, created as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed and signed in November 2021. The competitive discretionary grant program, administered by the Federal Railroad […]

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BNSF coal train derails in Nebraska

BNSF Railway logo

BENNET, Neb. — A BNSF Railway spur line is expected to be out of service for three weeks after a bridge collapsed as a result of a coal-train derailment Thursday evening. The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office said 18 cars were involved in the derailment, which occurred about 5 p.m. BNSF spokesman Ben Wilemon told the […]

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Amtrak California II (Surfliner) passenger cars from Athearn Genesis

illustration of Amtrak California II (Surfliner) passenger cars

Amtrak California II (Surfliner) passenger cars Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: With dual-mode NCE decoder with lighting functions, $149.99; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami SoundCar, $199.99 Era: mid-2000s+ Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822, 800-338-4639, athearn.com Amtrak California II (Surfliner) passenger car features: All-wheel electrical pickup Business class cars feature upper and lower service areas Cafe cars have […]

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Southwest Chief resumes regular schedule after Missouri derailment

Locomotive switches passenger cars in foreground as train passes in background

CHICAGO — The Southwest Chief that departed Los Angeles Tuesday evening and its westbound counterpart leaving Chicago today (Thursday, June 30) are the first Chiefs to operate over the train’s full route, passing the scene of the fatal derailment in Mendon, Mo., since that accident on Monday. Monday’s westbound Southwest Chief was cancelled, and the […]

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Atlas HO scale Nippon Sharyo Metra commuter cars

Metra silver passenger car

Nippon Sharyo Metra commuter cars Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Type 8500 cab car, $139.95; Type 6000 trailer, $119.95; and three-pack (cab car and two trailers), $379.85 Era: Present day Manufacturer: Atlas Model Railroad Co., 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205, 908-687-0880, shop.atlasrr.com Nippon Sharyo Metra commuter car features: 21-pin plug for optional Digital Command Control operation Illuminated, directional […]

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American Mainline Model Trains large scale three-bay hopper

cream colored AML hopper

AML large scale three-bay hopper Scale: Large (1:29) Price: $160 Manufacturer: Accucraft AML, livesteamstation.com Large scale three-bay hopper features: Die-cast trucks with metal wheels Road Names: CSX (cream); Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; BNSF; Burlington Northern (Cascade Green); Canadian National (red); Conrail; and Union Pacific. Four road numbers per scheme. Other exclusive schemes available through […]

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Atlas HO scale Motive Power Industries MP36PH-3C diesel locomotive

diesel locomotive with Metra on it

Motive Power Industries MP36PH-3C diesel locomotive Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with speaker and ditch lights, $229.95; with dual-mode ESU LokSound sound decoder, $339.95. Add $10 for MBTA models. Era: Present day Manufacturer: Atlas Model Railroad Co., 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205, 908-687-0880, shop.atlasrr.com  Motive Power Industries MP36PH-3C diesel locomotive features: Die-cast metal underframe Ditch lights […]

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CSX train derails in Georgia

Derailed tank cars

WAYCROSS, Ga. — A locomotive and 19 cars of a CSX Transportation train derailed early this morning (Thursday, June 30), just north of Waycross, WCWJ-TV reports. The derailment occurred about 2:30 a.m. No injuries were reported and no hazardous material situation has been reported, although photos show at least one tank car with a placard […]

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