News photo: Airo on the move

ARVADA, Colo. — Amtrak’s first Airo trainset — a diesel-powered version destined for use in Amtrak Cascades Service — arrived in Colorado on Wednesday, July 23, en route to an extended stay for testing in Pueblo, Colo. P42 No. 22 was in charge special train No. 964, ferrying the new equipment from Siemens Mobility’s Sacramento plant. […]

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News & Products for the week of July 21st 2025

A model pneumatic freight car

News & Products for the week of July 21st 2025   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 July 21st, […]

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Atlas Summer 2025 HO and N catalog

Color photo showing cover of product catalog

The Atlas Summer 2025 HO and N catalog was recently posted on the manufacturer’s website. The 60-page PDF includes new models and signals in both scales, as well several items in new paint schemes and road numbers. All of the offerings are scheduled for release in the third quarter of 2026. N scale In N […]

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Newest subway cars debut on NYC Transit’s B line

Subway train on curve in open-air segment

NEW YORK — New York City Transit rolled out its latest generation of subway equipment, the R211 car, on the B Line on Monday (July 21, 2025), marking the fourth route to receive the new railcars and meaning the equipment is now operating in all five boroughs. “I’m thrilled that B train riders from the […]

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Oregon museum receives TriMet light rail vehicle

White articulated light rail vehicle with blue and yellow trim

BROOKS, Ore. — The Oregon Electric Railway Museum has added one of the first MAX light rail vehicles to its collection, a donation from Portland-area transit agency TriMet. MAX LRV No. 101 was part of the original set of equipment used to launch TriMet’s light rail service on Sept. 5, 1986, reviving a form of […]

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Trailer On Train Express

Trailer On Train Express

Louisville & Nashville converted these 43-foot flatcars for trailer-on-flatcar service in 1955 by adding rub rails and jack connections. L&N marketed its service as “TOTE,” Trailer On Train Express.The trailers are an exterior-post, 32-foot type. Louisville & Nashville photo […]

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Walthers HO ACF 5250 review

Color photo of HO scale covered hopper painted gray with red and black graphics on white background

A newly tooled American Car & Foundry 5,250-cubic-foot capacity four-bay Center Flow covered hopper has joined the WalthersMainline product range. The injection-molded plastic HO scale model features prototype-specific hatches and outlet gates, 36″ metal wheels on plastic axles, and body-mounted Proto-Max couplers. Prototype history American Car & Foundry introduced the 5250 Center Flow in 1964. […]

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The Roundhouse | Using Employee Timetables

In this episode of The Roundhouse, host Brian Schmidt and Bob Lettenberger continue to explore how employee timetables offer rail enthusiasts a “behind the curtain” look at operations. These official documents are vital for planning photography, conducting historical research, and accurately modeling railroads. They also serve as an index to other crucial railroad documents. Be […]

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News & Products for the week of July 14th 2025

Four model locomotives in various paint schemes

News & Products for the week of July 14th 2025   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 July 14th, […]

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Athearn Genesis N acid tank car

Color photo of N scale tank car painted black with yellow graphics on white background

Athearn Genesis N acid tank car Scale: N (1:160) Price: Single car, $44.99; three-pack, $124.99 Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Athearn Genesis N acid tank car features: Based on 13,000-gallon prototype Body-mounted McHenry Type F double-shelf couplers Car operates on codes 40, 55, and 80 track Etched, stainless steel […]

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Vancouver’s SkyTrain introduces new Mark V trainsets

Blue and black transit train on elevated right-of-way

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — The first new Alstom-built Mark V trainset for heavy-rail transit system SkyTrain entered service today (July 10, 2025), transit operator TransLink has announced. The 47-trainset order was placed in December 2020 and represents the largest single rolling stock order for the SkyTrain system, which debuted in 1985 and now covers three […]

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