KCS, CN offers first looks at 2023 capital plans

Illustration of trains meeting on parallel bridges

BOCA RATON, Fla. — It is probably no surprise that, as Kansas City Southern’s north-south main line becomes a focal point in its pending merger with Canadian Pacific, that route is also front and center in its capital spending plans for 2023, as well. A number of capacity projects on that route figured in the […]

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Weather cancellations impact Amtrak and its western network

Train approaching in snowstorm

CHICAGO — The well-publicized snows that buried Buffalo, N.Y., and resulted in a lengthy cancellation of the New York/Boston-Chicago Lake Shore Limited haven’t been this winter’s only disruptor of Amtrak’s national network. Extreme weather since late December has also been responsible for two significant Amtrak long-distance train cancellations in the west. Flooding truncates Starlight The […]

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Work begins on Union Pacific Challenger No. 3985

Diesel and two steam locomotives in large shop building

  SILVIS, Ill. – Railroading Heritage of Midwest America crews have taken the first steps toward returning Union Pacific Challenger No. 3985 to operation this week by stripping parts off the 4-6-6-4. Today crews lifted the cab off the locomotive. “RRHMA crews have been making good progress all week striping down [No.] 3985,” says Steve […]

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Athearn HO scale EMD GP7

Screen capture of GP7 Product Review video

A new run of the Athearn HO scale Electro-Motive Division (EMD) GP7 is arriving in hobby shops. The Genesis-series diesel locomotive features railroad- and road-number-specific details. Join Model Railroader senior editor Cody Grivno as he hosts this video review of the four-axle road switcher. Paint schemes offered in this run of the GP7 include Pennsylvania […]

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BNSF, contractors face BIG waiting game

Rendering of large intermodal terminal

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Craig Rasmussen, BNSF Railway assistant vice president, engineering services and structures, had plenty of big projects to review during his presentation today (Friday, Jan. 6) at the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association Conference. But they all pale in comparison to the BIG project still to come — the Barstow International […]

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Athearn HO scale EMD GP7

Screen capture of GP7 Product Review video

A new run of the Athearn HO scale Electro-Motive Division (EMD) GP7 is arriving in hobby shops. The Genesis-series diesel locomotive features railroad- and road-number-specific details. Join Model Railroader senior editor Cody Grivno as he hosts this video review of the four-axle road switcher. Paint schemes offered in this run of the GP7 include Pennsylvania […]

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Work underway for new Amtrak/SEPTA station in Pennsylvania

Amtrak logo.

COATESVILLE, Pa. – Work is underway on a new $65 million Amtrak/SEPTA station in Coatesville, the West Chester Daily News reports. Expected completion is fall 2025. The job includes design, station and streetscape construction, and Amtrak track work at Fleetwood Street, just east of the existing Pennsylvania Railroad station building. According to a Pennsylvania Department […]

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‘Arizona Spike’ to be sold at auction

Engraved railroad spike made of three types of metal

NEW YORK — If you have an extra $300,000 to $500,000 burning a hole in your pocket, you can own a piece of transcontinental railroad history. Upon completion the first transcontinental railroad in May 1869 at Promontory Summit, Utah, four ceremonial spikes were created: two golden spikes, a silver spike, and a gold, silver, and […]

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Alco RS3-M “Chop Nose” diesel locomotive from Bowser

Alco RS3-M chop nose: an image of a blue model locomotive

Alco RS3-M “Chop Nose” diesel locomotive from Bowser Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: DC locomotive, $249.95; DCC locomotive with LokSound V5, $349.95 Era: 1975+ Manufacturer: Bowser Manufacturing Co. Inc., 1302 Jordan Ave., Montoursville, PA 17754; 570-368-2379; bowser-trains.com Alco RS3-M “Chop Nose” diesel locomotive features: Prototypically-accurate long hood height Prototypical dynamic brake location Separate, factory-applied air houses, windshield […]

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