Southern California’s Metrolink names new CEO

Smiling man in blue coat and tie

LOS ANGELES — Darren Kettle, currently executive director of the Ventura County Transportation Commission, has been named as new CEO of LA-area commuter rail operator Metrolink. Kettle succeeds Stephanie Wiggins, who in June became CEO of L.A. Metro, which oversees bus and light rail operations in the LA area and is one of the five […]

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CSX coal train derails in Richmond, Va.

Derailed coal hoppers, some on their side

RICHMOND, Va. — Thirteen cars of a CSX Transportation coal train derailed in Richmond on Friday afternoon, reportedly sending some of the coal into the nearby James River. WRIC-TV reported the derailment occurred about 1:30 p.m. There were no injuries. Initial reports said the waterway was not affected, but drone footage on Saturday showed coal […]

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Walthers Cornerstone HO scale Modern Suburban Station

Front of a modern train station with bollards lined out front.

If you’re in the market for a station to accompany a passenger line on your layout, this kit may be the perfect addition you’ve been waiting for. The Walthers Cornerstone HO scale Modern Suburban Station is a relatively quick and easy build, and the end result is a clean, modern station with lots of room […]

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Accurail HO twobay covered hopper kit

Accurail two bay covered hopper

Accurail, well-known for its line of HO scale freight car kits, has added a new model to its product range, the American Car & Foundry (ACF) 2,970-cubicfoot capacity two-bay Center Flow covered hopper. The injection-molded plastic car features a mix of molded and separately applied parts, two-piece pneumatic-gravity discharge gates, and Accumate couplers. Prototype background. […]

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Atlas HO General Electric Dash 8-40B

Atlas HO General Electric Dash 8-40B

Atlas is back with its General Electric Dash 8-40B, originally released in 2001. The new model is now available with an Electronic Solutions Ulm (ESU) LokSound dual-mode decoder. General Electric (GE) built 151 Dash 8-40B locomotives in 1988 and 1989 for Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Conrail; New York, Susquehanna & Western; St. Louis Southwestern […]

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Kusan “K” Series Boxcars

Kusan K Series boxcar

In the late 1950s, Nashvillearea toy manufacturer Kusan was making products that might be the epitome of the term “toy train.” Geared toward the entry level of the market, these items were colorful and affordable. The company’s “K” Series boxcars were produced between 1956 and ’60. They could be produced rapidly in the Franklin, Tenn., […]

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MTH Trains O gauge EMD SD24

O Gauge Wisconsin Central SD24 by MTH

Introduction to MTH’s O gauge SD24 When I found out that the next locomotive for us to test and review was an MTH O gauge SD24 road diesel, my response was pretty much “Huh?” I needed to track down my old Diesel Spotter’s Guide for sure! I was familiar with SD7s and SD9s, but the […]

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Union Pacific plans to end container embargo after one week

LOS ANGELES — Union Pacific will resume international container shipments to Chicago from the West Coast at the end of its current seven-day suspension of such service, CEO Lance Fritz told Reuters on Thursday. “We’re starting to see containers clear, so I anticipate in the seven-day period … we should get back down to a […]

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Reading & Northern acquires 11 ex-San Luis & Rio Grande cars

Train with steam locomotive approaches through rock cut

PORT CLINTON, Pa. — The Reading & Northern Railroad has purchased 11 passenger cars from the fleet formerly owned by the San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad, the Colorado operation of bankrupt Iowa Pacific Holdings. Among the cars bought at auction are several notables, including the former Southern Railway steam program open-air coach Lookout Mountain […]

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