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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Canadian National orders Wabtec’s new Precision Dispatch System

Canadian National is the first railway to order a new dispatching system that Wabtec says is a major building block toward network automation, the companies announced on June 6. The latest version of Wabtec’s Precision Dispatch System is scheduled to be operational at CN in late 2023. CN completed installation of an earlier version of […]

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Wabtec to modernize locomotives for Australian mining railroad

Wabtec will modernize Fortescue Metals Group’s 28 C44-9W locomotives into AC44C6Ms, the companies announced on June 5. The first dozen upgraded units, completed at Wabtec’s plant in Fort Worth, Texas, are already en route to the western Australian iron ore railroad. The remaining locomotives will be delivered over the next two years. “While we have […]

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Rail unions again request arbitration as contract talks remain stuck

Trains Magazine logo

Rail unions negotiating new national contracts with Class I railroads have again requested arbitration as talks remain stalled. Labor and the National Carriers Conference Committee have been working on joint mediated negotiations under the direction of the National Mediation Board. The talks had resulted from the unions’ request to be released from mediation after more […]

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NEWS VIDEO: New Brightline route drawbridge now operating

blue river bridge opening

Video by Mark Elias, Mark Elias Media Services JUPITER, Fla. — Florida East Coast Railway’s new Loxahatchee River drawbridge that will begin carrying frequent Brightline passenger trains in early 2023 is now being raised for boat traffic and lowered for trains. Dismantling of the former 96-year-old bridge on the site began in mid-April, when accommodations […]

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Baltimore & Ohio class I-18 steel bay-window caboose from Tangent Scale Models

Baltimore & Ohio class I-18 steel bay-window caboose Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $106.95 Era: 1965 to 1986+ Manufacturer: Tangent Scale Models, P.O. Box 6514, Asheville, NC 28816, 828-412-3886, tangentscalemodels.com Baltimore & Ohio class I-18 steel bay-window caboose features: Era-specific body details, including bay windows and marker lights Kadee scale couplers Wire grab irons, ladder rungs, […]

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East Broad Top begins restoring main line south

Two men talking on bridge with work on rail line in background

SALTILLO, Pa. – The long-awaited restoration of the narrow gauge East Broad Top Railroad’s main line south – dormant for nearly seven decades – is under way. A three-pronged approach involves EBT Foundation, Inc., full-time staff; a volunteer track gang led by Gene Tucker of the Friends of the East Broad Top; and a crew […]

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Railroads’ automotive carloads show signs of improvement: Analysis

Train passing below red rock formations

CHARLESTON, W.VA. — Class I railroads are hauling more automotive carloads, a possible sign that the auto sector’s supply chain is improving. Association of American Railroads’ weekly carload report reveals in recent weeks that shipments of motor vehicles and parts are exceeding 2020 and 2021 weekly volumes. This could ease a multi-year carload deficit dragged […]

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