BISMARCK, N.D. — BNSF Railway’s plans to replace a more than century-old bridge across the Missouri River took another step forward Monday, while a preservation group’s effort to stop the bridge project sustained another setback. The Bismarck Tribune reports the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality issued the water quality certification necessary for BNSF to […]
SISSETON, S.D. — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem’s proposed state budget includes $6.25 million to help upgrade the Sisseton-Milbank Railroad, a 37-mile line serving a grain elevator which has deteriorated to the point that traffic can only creep along at 5 mph or less, and averages about one derailment a year. The Mitchell Republic reports […]
NEWARK, N.J. — The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has issued a Request for Qualifications for a 2.5-mile elevated train system to replace the current Newark AirTrain. This is the Port Authority’s second attempt to advance the project, approved by Federal Aviation Administration last year [see “Newark AirTrain project gets federal environmental […]
NEW YORK — Wabtec’s FLXdrive battery-electric locomotive project has been named “Commercial Technology of the Year” at the annual Platts Global Energy Award ceremony, held last week. In a Commodity Insights Magazine report, judges indicated they liked the fact that Wabtec “has engaged a lot of customers” and is “already generating revenue” from the project. […]
Three 2-6-0s (rebuilt from U.S. Army 0-6-0s) team up on a Midland Terminal ore train in the Cripple Creek mining district near Bull Hill, Colo., in October 1948. The MT shut down in February 1949. Donald Duke photo […]
General American Transportation Corporation 2600 Airslide hopper in N scale from Athearn Genesis Scale: N (1:160) Price: Single car, $39.99; two-pack, $69.99 Era: 1957+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com General American Transportation Corporation 2600 Airslide hopper features: Factory installed wire grab irons and brake piping […]
American Car and Foundry 50-foot boxcar from Moloco Trains Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Contact manufacturer Era: 1971+ (Varies by paint scheme) Manufacturer: Moloco Trains, info@molocotrains.com, www.molocotrains.com American Car and Foundry 50-foot boxcar features: Prototype-specific cushioned or non-cushioned versions Car number specific handbrakes Prototype specific American Car and Foundry draft gear design Multiple versions of door […]
Q: While cleaning out my late uncle’s attic, I found his stash of O gauge trains that I plan to run beneath my Christmas tree this year. Many of them say “Lionel” on the sides. Please tell me what they are worth. J.D., CA A: During the holiday season, many electric trains are dug out […]
Arriving in hobby shops now is the Athearn HO scale General Electric Dash 9-44CW diesel locomotive. The newly tooled model features a variety of railroad-specific details. Road names offered on the first run of the six-axle road locomotive are Canadian National (red, white, and black with “wet noodle” herald); Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (warbonnet); […]
MEDFORD, Mass. — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority opened its Green Line light rail extension to Medford this morning (Monday, Dec. 12), completing a $2.3 billion project adding five stations. The Boston Globe reports more than 200 people were gathered at the Medford/Tufts station by 4:37 a.m., with a packed first train departing at 4:52 […]
ScaleTrains has released a second run of its HO General Electric ES44AC diesel locomotive. The modern six-axle road unit is decorated for Canadian Pacific (with and without Lord Strathcona’s Horse stencil), Citirail (silver, blue, and yellow), CSX (armed forces, first responders, and law enforcement schemes in one road number each), Ferromex (original red, white, and […]
The Lionel Scout locomotive has been for many an entry point to the toy train hobby. For me, it was the little engine that got me back into it. I’ve been in the toy train hobby for many years and have amassed an impressive collection of Lionel’s postwar F3s, Berkshires, Turbines, and other locomotives. But […]
