Modern Rocky Mountain railroading – Colorado style

Multiple model freight trains are led by yellow and gray model locomotives in a rural industrial setting

The thunder of modern motive power and the rumble of long trains rolling through Colorado’s Rocky Mountain passes caught Bill Becker’s imagination years ago, and it remains the theme of his fictional N scale Colorado & Eastern RR. Working in this small scale makes it possible to capture the majesty of the Rocky Mountains with […]

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Ehernberger Collection at American Heritage Center expands

Page from September 1958 Trains Magazine with two steam locomotive photos.

LARAMIE, Wyo. — Jim Ehernberger, 88, has now been retired longer than his time working for the Union Pacific. Yet, Ehernberger still considers himself a railroad man. Over the years, he has amassed a collection of documents, maps and photographs detailing western U.S. railroad activity. While he previously donated a portion of his collection to […]

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News photos: East Broad Top honors Kovalchick family

Plaque mounted on locomotive driving whel

ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. — The family responsible for saving the East Broad Top Railroad has been honored by the EBT Foundation for its role in preserving the narrow gauge line. In a Saturday ceremony, the EBT dedicated a monument to Fannie and Nick Kovalchick and their family. The Kovalchicks, who operate a scrap metal firm, […]

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SEPTA service cuts begin

Map of SEPTA rail network showing lines to be cut

PHILADELPHIA — With action to address its funding crisis still stalled, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority on Sunday (Aug. 24) began enacting a 20% service reduction including the elimination of 32 bus lines and reductions to rail service and other bus routes. The cuts begin as Philadelphia schools, which rely on public transportation for both […]

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The N Scale Architect interlocking tower

Color photo of N scale interlocking tower painted gray, green, and brown with track in foreground.

The N Scale Architect interlocking tower Scale: N (1:160) Price: $59.95 Manufacturer: The N Scale Architect, 4063 County Highway 2, DeLancey, NY 13752; thenarch.com The N Scale Architect interlocking tower features: Based on Kansas City Terminal Ry. Tower No. 2 in Kansas City, Mo. (Kit depicts tower before it was modified with two brick additions […]

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Boise, Idaho, takes step toward developing commuter rail service

Map of rail route in Idaho

Add Boise, Idaho, and Anchorage, Alaska, to a list of locations expressing interest in launching commuter rail service. The Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho (COMPASS) last week selected commuter rail as its preferred form of future mass transit, based on a study that has been in progress since January 2024. The planned service would […]

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Model Railroader Photo of the Day: Switching at the chemical plant

Multiple model locomotives and a chemical plant on a model railroad layout

As railfans snap photos of two recently delivered Midwest Valley SD60Fs, Missouri, Kansas & Quincy Alco C-420 No. 6421 switches a chemical plant on the track above. The scene is on Gary Hoover’s old MK&Q layout. Gary also took the photo. Model Railroader‘s Photo of the Day features images from our archives, celebrating decades of […]

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Amtrak honors CPKC for host-railroad performance

Two passenger trains meeting on straight track

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Amtrak has recognized CPKC as its top host railroad in 2024, the ninth straight year the company or predecessor Canadian Pacific has topped the annual host railroad report card. CPKC was the only railroad to receive an “A” grade on the 2024 report card, although the other five Class I rairloads […]

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Rapido HO TurboTrain 2.0

We’re changing things up for our latest product review video. Trains.com Director David Popp took the Rapido HO TurboTrain 2.0 on the road to run on Gerry Leone’s Bona Vista RR. Learn more about the full-size United Aircraft TurboTrain and our review sample, decorated in early Amtrak colors. Then watch the five-car train pass through […]

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