PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The new seasonal rail service between Pittsfield, Mass., and New York City is scheduled to operate during summer weekends this year and again in 2023. Amtrak and local transportation officials will evaluate the demand, determining if the pilot project should be continued. “We are pleased to work together with our partner agencies […]
BISMARCK, N.D. — The state of North Dakota has declined for a second time to issue an opinion on the ownership of the Bismarck-Mandan rail bridge, and the U.S. Coast Guard is indicating it will move ahead with the process which would allow BNSF Railway to demolish and replace the bridge. The Bismarck Tribune reports […]
Johnstown America BethGon coal gondola Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Five-pack, $234.99 Era: 1990s to 2000s (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822, 800-338-4639, athearn.com Features: Injection-molded plastic body Separate, factory-installed brake wheel, wire grab irons, and etched-metal crossover platforms 36” machined metal RP-25 contour wheels Body-mounted McHenry scale couplers […]
40-foot high-cube intermodal container Scale: O (1:48) Price: $26.95; eight-pack, $215.60 Era: Present day Manufacturer: Atlas Model Railroad Co., Inc., 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205, 908-687-0880, shop.atlasrr.com Features: Detailed door rods, landing pads, and corner posts Based on International Organization for Standardization Type 45G1 Available fourth quarter 2022 Road Names: ZIM (Z Factor, brown and […]
Guide to Electro-Motive E and F units Book: Guide to Electro-Motive E and F units Author: Jeff Wilson Price: $27.99 Manufacturer: Kalmbach Media, 21027 Crossroads Circle, P.O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612, 262-796-8776, KalmbachHobbyStore.com Topics covered: How E and F units came to be Introduction to freight Post-war passenger boom Freight dieselization Demise of E […]
OTTAWA, Ontario – Class I railroads operating in Canada would be required to report additional performance and staffing metrics under a proposal Canadian regulators unveiled on Friday. Transport Canada’s move was announced on the same day that the Surface Transportation Board said it will temporarily require the big railroads to provide more detailed operational and […]
Big Boy locomotive models: Union Pacific’s 25-strong fleet of 4-8-8-4 Big Boy steam locomotives evoke images of fast freight, vast Western scenes, and the pinnacle of steam railroading in North America during and just after World War II. Model makers over the years have helped model railroaders capture the essence of that special 1940s to […]
PUEBLO, Colo. — The new operator of a half-century-old Colorado rail testing facility has begun the transition to full operations at the site. In March 2021, the Federal Railroad Administration awarded ENSCO a 20-year contract to operate and maintain the Transportation Technology Center (TTC) in Pueblo, Colorado. Perhaps confusingly, another company, previously named TTCI, owned […]
LONDON — Locomotive and equipment manufacturer Stadler has won a major order to build new powerful dual-mode — electric and diesel — locomotives for British rail freight company GB Railfreight. The new units will begin the process of replacing an extensive fleet of EMD-built Class 66 (model JT42CWR) locomotives, derived from the SD40 design. The […]
Trains Magazine and Western Maryland Scenic will be hosting 60 guests at its sold-out event Nov. 4-6, 2022, to welcome back the last Baldwin-built steam locomotive made for the USA. The world’s largest operating Mallet will perform for guests for three days in its first fall photographers’ event. The event will include a program on […]
WASHINGTON – Federal regulators have ordered Class I railroads to provide more detailed operational and staffing metrics and will require the big four U.S. systems to submit service recovery plans in light of widespread service problems that were spotlighted during hearings last week. The Surface Transportation Board, in a decision issued on Friday, said “immediate […]
Power-LOC figure eight expander set Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $59.98 Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers, Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218, 414-527-0770, walthers.com Power-LOC figure eight expander set features: Nickel silver rail, brown ties, and gray plastic roadbed Snaps together without tools or rail joiners Set includes two 9” straight sections, six 18” radius […]
