MTH Trains’ Wolf sets 2021 end date for company

Model Railroader

M.T.H. Trains President Mike Wolf has announced his May 2021 retirement and the subsequent closure of the company after 40 years in business. “It is, therefore, with mixed emotions that I tell you I have decided to retire in 2021 and close the business,” he said in a June 8, 2020 letter to the industry. […]

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Hartland Locomotive Works halts train production

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Large-scale model railroad equipment manufacturer Hartland Locomotive Works has ceased production, possibly for good. The Laporte, Ind. company posted a letter May 28 on its website stating it has ceased train production due to difficulties in its overall business and the Covid-19 virus. It has been part of the hobby for more than 25 years. […]

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New model trains for the week of June 11, 2020

Red fowler boxcar

See the latest model railroad products in HO, N, and O scales! HO scale locomotives General Electric P42 diesel locomotive. Amtrak (phase 2 heritage scheme in two road numbers, phase 3 scheme in four numbers, phase 4 heritage scheme in one number, and phase 5 scheme in four numbers) and VIA Rail Canada (Renaissance paint […]

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CN says conductor was killed when hit by ‘kicked’ car

More Friday morning rail news: CN employee killed by ‘kicked’ car, railroad says The Canadian National conductor killed at the railroad’s Surrey, British Columbia, yard earlier this week was hit by a car the conductor’s train had “kicked” a few minutes earlier, according to a CN “safety flash” issued to employees. In the June 1 […]

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Changes coming to NS yard in Bellevue, Ohio

NORFOLK, Va. — Changes are afoot at Norfolk Southern’s Moorman Yard in Bellevue, Ohio, the largest hump yard in the East. In a letter to customers this week, Chief Marketing Officer Alan Shaw said the railroad will modify service at Bellevue this month. “We are now in the process of reviewing individual yards to enable […]

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Amtrak halts New Orleans service because of storm

Friday evening rail news in brief: Amtrak suspends service to, from New Orleans because of Cristobal Amtrak will suspend service to and from New Orleans for several days because of the forecast landfall of Tropical Storm Cristobal along the Gulf Coast, cancelling the City of New Orleans while abbreviating service on the routes of the […]

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In memoriam: John “Jack” Ozanich, 1943-2020

Man in snowy scene with ride on steam locomotive.

John “Jack” Ozanich of Paw Paw, Mich., died on May 29. He was 76 years old. Jack’s well-known HO scale Atlantic Great Eastern layout was featured in Great Model Railroads 2005. In that same issue he shared the story of his 3-3/4” scale Sandy Ridge & Clear Lake Ry. that operated through 29 acres around […]

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AAR pans House transportation proposal

More Thursday morning rail news in brief: AAR ‘extremely disappointed’ in transportation bill The Association of American Railroads is voicing its disapproval of the transportation bill unveiled Wednesday by Democratic members of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. AAR CEO Ian Jefferies says in a statement that “America’s railroads are extremely disappointed in the […]

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Miami-Dade approves negotiations over Brightline commuter rail proposal

Wednesday morning rail news in brief: Miami-Dade OKs negotiations over Brightline commuter operation While the area’s commuter railroad and mayor voiced opposition, Miami-Dade county commissioners have endorsed negotiations with Virgin Trains USA for proposed commuter-rail service on the southern end of Brightline’s route between Miami and West Palm Beach, Fla. The Miami Herald reports that […]

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