California congresswoman urges STB to reject CP-KCS merger

KCS3947Laredo

U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., has urged the Surface Transportation Board to reject the proposed Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger, arguing that the first Class I combination in two decades would stifle competition. “The proposed merger represents a grave threat to competition in the domestic rail industry, which is already highly consolidated,” Porter wrote in […]

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American Z Line June 2022 locomotive announcements

blue and white locomotive

American Z Line June 2022 locomotive announcements Scale: Z (1:220) Price: Contact manufacturer Era: Nickel Plate Road Alco PA-1, December 1947 to November 1961; Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Electro-Motive Division SW1000, 1966 to 1970 Manufacturer: American Z Line, 6142 Northcliff Blvd., Dublin, OH 43016, 614-764-1703, americanzline.com EMD SW1000 features: AutoLatch couplers Directional light-emitting-diode lighting Blackened […]

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Atlas O 40-foot General American Transportation Corp. Airslide covered hopper

blue colored hopper

40-foot General American Transportation Corp. Airslide covered hopper Scale: O (1:48) Price: $79.95 (undecorated, $74.95) Era: 1953 to 1980s+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Atlas O, 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205, 908-687-0880, shop.atlasrr.com 40-foot General American Transportation Corp. Airslide covered hopper features: See-through running boards and brake wheel platform Separate, factory-applied grab irons and […]

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Cost pressures prompt Union Pacific to reduce financial outlook

Yellow locomotives leading train of double-stacked containers over bridge

OMAHA, Neb. – Union Pacific has lowered its financial expectations for this year in light of rising fuel prices, inflation, and the impact of its sluggish operations. It’s now unlikely that UP will reach an operating ratio of around 55% for the year, Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Hamann told an investor conference on Tuesday. UP […]

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Union Pacific joins RailPulse freight car location monitoring joint venture

Train with yellow locomotives in flat area

OMAHA, Neb. – Union Pacific has joined the RailPulse joint venture that will provide customers with real-time location information for freight cars wherever they are on the North American rail network. UP becomes the second Class I railroad to participate in RailPulse, alongside founding member Norfolk Southern. The company’s other partners include shortline holding companies […]

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90200 isn’t just any former locomotive

Passenger train about to pass over water on a bridge in a city landscape.

CHICAGO—Non-powered control unit 90200 isn’t just any former locomotive that lost its prime mover and traction motors when converted to a glorified baggage car with cab controls. Seen here outside Amtrak’s Chicago locomotive shop on June 2, 2022, coupled to an Illinois-owned Siemens SC-44 Charger, the carbody once was number 200. It is the first […]

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Athearn HO scale Electro-Motive Division SD40 diesel locomotive

illustration of Santa Fe locomotive

Electro-Motive Division SD40 diesel locomotive Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current with 21-pin NEM connector, $169.99; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami 2 sound decoder, $269.99 Era: 1967 to 2007+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822, 800-338-4639, athearn.com Electro-Motive Division SD40 diesel locomotive features: Directional light-emitting-diode headlights Rubber m.u. hoses Curved […]

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Athearn Genesis 13,000-gallon tank car

black tank car

13,000-gallon tank car Scale: N (1:160) Price: single car, $44.99; three-pack, $124.99 Era: 1980s+ to 2018+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822, 800-338-4639, athearn.com 13,000-gallon tank car features: Separate, factory-applied metal grab irons and handrails Body-mounted McHenry double-shelf couplers Rubber trainline hoses Early and late body styles Uncoupling […]

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Athearn Genesis HO scale Electro-Motive Division GP15-1 and GP15T diesel locomotive

illustration of blue locomotive

Electro-Motive Division GP15-1 and GP15T diesel locomotive Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current with 21-pin NEM connector, $219.99; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami 2 sound decoder, $319.99 Era: 1977+ to present (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822, 800-338-4639, athearn.com Electro-Motive Division GP15-1 and GP15T diesel locomotive features: Uncoupling levers Trainline […]

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Amtrak adds Capitol Limited bike capacity

Amtrak logo.

WASHINGTON—Effective immediately, each departure of the Chicago-Washington, D.C. Capitol Limited is accepting reservations for up to 12 full-size bicycles along the route of a train that parallels popular trails through Maryland, West Virginia, and southern Pennsylvania. Last Friday, Amtrak announced increased capacity through mid-September, “due to high demand.” For $20, passengers can check a bike […]

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