Farmer reiterates that BNSF has ‘no interest’ in merger

Two seated women facing each other in on-stage talk

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — BNSF Railway CEO Katie Farmer still doesn’t see further rail industry consolidation as inevitable if a Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger is approved. Just the fact that the topic keeps being discussed could be taken as an argument against the merger, Farmer said in a conversation with Trains prior to her appearance today […]

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CPKC, BNSF CEOs urge shippers to speak out on UP-NS merger

Woman gesturing in front of sign with large white letters

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — The CEOs of Canadian Pacific Kansas City and BNSF Railway took aim at the proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger during the first day of the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers winter meeting — and urged the rail customers in attendance to voice any concerns they may have to federal regulators. CPKC CEO […]

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Athearn HO Johnstown America BethGon Coalporter

Color photo showing B end of HO scale bathtub gondola painted aluminum and red with red, yellow, black, and white graphics on white background.

Athearn HO Johnstown America BethGon Coalporter Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Single car, $49.99; five-pack, $239.99 Era: 2006+ to 2014+ (varies based on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Athearn HO Johnstown America BethGon Coalporter features: 36” machined metal wheels with RP-25 contours Body-mounted McHenry scale lower shelf couplers […]

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CSX completes upgrades to expand Ohio’s Willard Yard

WILLARD, Ohio — CSX Transportation has added merchandise capacity at its Willard, Ohio, rail yard after phased improvements helped convert the idled hump yard to a flat switching facility. Railroad officials say the former Baltimore & Ohio terminal can now handle 600 railcars per day, up from 300  two years ago. CSX shut down the […]

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Union Pacific adds GPS tracking for intermodal customers

Green containers on double-stack cars

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific, in coordination with supply chain technology group Blume Global, has added GPS tracking to its fleet of 53-foot EMP and UMAX intermodal containers assigned to domestic intermodal service. The containers, owned in partnership with other Class I railroads, now represent the largest GPS-equipped, rail-owned container fleet in North America. The […]

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News & Products for the week of January 12th 2026

A gray streamlined model locomotive

News & Products for the week of January 12th 2026 Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of January 12th, 2026. […]

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Major intermodal firm STG Logistics files for bankruptcy

COLUMBUS, Ohio — STG Logistics, the nation’s fourth-largest asset-based intermodal marketing company, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a New Jersey federal court today (Monday, Jan. 12). The pre-negotiated plan wipes out 91% of the company’s nearly $1 billion debt load and gives it $150 million in new capital to support core business operations […]

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UP urges regulators to reject BNSF request to reopen UP-SP merger case

Train on bridge approaching small building covering tracks

WASHINGTON — BNSF Railway’s bid to have federal regulators review Union Pacific’s compliance with conditions imposed as part of the 1996 UP-Southern Pacific merger is nothing more than a publicity stunt, UP told the Surface Transportation Board last week. On Nov. 28 — three weeks before UP and Norfolk Southern submitted their merger application — […]

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BNSF and CN ask STB to force UP and NS to produce more merger documents

WASHINGTON — Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern are withholding key documents that are needed for rival railroads, shippers, and regulators to properly evaluate their transcontinental merger proposal, BNSF Railway and Canadian National have told the Surface Transportation Board. In separate filings, BNSF and CN say the STB cannot properly assess the merger’s potential impacts on […]

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