FTA announces $2.2 billion relief package for transit systems

Red and white Caltrain at station.

WASHINGTON — At an event with Vice President Kamala Harris, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today announced that it will award $2.2 billion to 35 recipients in 18 states through President Biden’s American Rescue Plan. The funds will help public transportation agencies pay for day-to-day operations as they continue to provide […]

Read More…

Meet the Modeler: Jim Kelly

Locomotive on an N scale model train layout

What was your first train set (or locomotive)? When I was very young, I had several Marx wind-up trains. They would circle the loop of track several times and then run down. My first “real” train set was an S gauge American Flyer with an Atlantic type steam locomotive and several cars. I was probably […]

Read More…

News & Products for the week of March 10, 2022

Illustration with side and end views of HO scale Alco RS-3 painted red and black with white graphics.

Products News & Products: 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. Here are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of March 10, 2022.   HO scale locomotives   Alco RS-3 […]

Read More…

Ask MR: What does an air repeater car do?

A Cascade Green air repeater car is seen in a train in a rail yard

Q: While browsing a railcar photo site, I came across an interesting Burlington Northern car. The photo’s caption calls it an “air repeater car.” What is its intended purpose? Where is it mainly used? – Tom Huffman, Fort Worth, Texas A: An air repeater car is used to keep up the pressure in brake air […]

Read More…

Washington state heritage railroad suspends operations

Logo of the Chehalis Centralia Railroad and Museum

CHEHALIS, Wash. — An inability to obtain insurance has forced the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad & Museum to suspend passenger operations until further notice, and perhaps for good. The heritage rail operation posted a notification on its Facebook page Saturday that it would halt operations, saying it was “looking to resume operations as soon as we are […]

Read More…

Utah rail line facing widespread Colorado opposition

Map showing proposed rail route in Utah

DENVER — Widespread opposition has developed in Colorado to federal approval allowing construction of Utah’s Uinta Basin rail line, with opponents voicing environmental concerns over the rail line that could see shipment of up to 350,000 barrels of crude oil daily, or about 10 unit oil trains. The Denver Post reports 42 Colorado cities, 11 […]

Read More…