Matson, BNSF announce measures to fight container theft

HONOLULU — Ocean shipping firm Matson, BNSF Railway, and heavy-duty lock maker War-Lok will partner to enhance security for intermodal shippers, an effort set to begin in the second quarter of 2026. The program will provide two new layers of security at no cost to customers, Matson said in an annoucement this week. The first […]

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Athearn HO EMD SD40-2 diesel locomotive

In this product review video, Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno examines the Athearn HO scale Electro-Motive Division SD40-2. Cody begins with the prototype history, noting that EMD produced more than 3,900 units between January 1972 and February 1986. These six-axle units were rated at 3,000 horsepower and featured a 16-cylinder 645E3C diesel engine. The […]

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Athearn HO scale EMD SD40-2 diesel locomotive

In this product review video, Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno examines the Athearn HO scale Electro-Motive Division SD40-2. Cody begins with the prototype history, noting that EMD produced more than 3,900 units between January 1972 and February 1986. These six-axle units were rated at 3,000 horsepower and featured a 16-cylinder 645E3C diesel engine. The […]

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Class I railroad traffic: 2025 in review

WASHINGTON — Tariffs, geopolitical tensions, a persistently soft truck market, and an uncertain economy marked an eventful 2025, but U.S. rail traffic still managed to eke out a 1.5% gain last year. All six Class I railroads, in fact, posted year-over-year gains in overall volume. On paper, Canadian Pacific Kansas City recorded the biggest percentage […]

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New Berkshire CEO: BNSF needs to improve its profitability

Double-stack train with three orange-fronted locomotives

OMAHA, Neb. — BNSF Railway needs to close the operating-ratio gap with the other Class I railroads, new Berkshire Hathaway CEO Greg Abel said on Saturday in his first annual letter to shareholders. BNSF continues to perform well from a safety standpoint and has improved its efficiency and service, Abel wrote. “In 2025, shipments spent […]

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Athearn Genesis HO GE Dash 9-44CW review

Color photo showing middle of long hood on an HO scale modern GE six-axle diesel locomotive painted orange, green, and yellow with a silver fuel tank on white background.

The latest product sample from Athearn Trains sent me on a nostalgia trip. Inside was Burlington Northern Santa Fe Dash 9-44CW 960. The HO scale model, from the manufacturer’s Genesis series, was decorated in the railroad’s Heritage I paint scheme. I immediately flashed back to the second half of 1996 when these units were making […]

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BNSF, TCU intermodal employees reach contract agreement

Freight train with orange locomotives leaves yard as commuter train approaches

FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway has reached a tentative five-year agreement with members of the Transportation Communications Union Intermodal group, the railroad announced on Friday, Feb. 20. “This new tentative agreement reflects the vital role our TCU intermodal team members play in our operation,” BNSF CEO Katie Farmer said in a press release. “Open, […]

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Athearn Genesis HO GE Dash 9-44CW diesel locomotive

In this product review video, Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno examines the Athearn Genesis HO scale GE Dash 9-44CW diesel locomotive. Cody begins with the prototype history of the Dash 9 series, noting that General Electric produced more than 3,600 units between 1993 and 2004. These six-axle units were rated between 4,000 and 4,400 […]

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Athearn Genesis HO GE Dash 9-44CW diesel locomotive

In this product review video, Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno examines the Athearn Genesis HO scale GE Dash 9-44CW diesel locomotive. Cody begins with the prototype history of the Dash 9 series, noting that General Electric produced more than 3,600 units between 1993 and 2004. These six-axle units were rated between 4,000 and 4,400 […]

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Hobbyshop Window for February 13th 2026

Color photo of showing nose of a modern N scale diesel locomotive painted orange, black, and silver on white backdrop.

For many years Hobbyshop Window was a popular department in the pages of Model Railroader magazine. We’re excited to bring it back as an occasional feature on Trains.com. Here’s a recap of some of the items that arrived at our offices for the week ending February 13th 2026. Keep up to date on the latest […]

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BNSF, Union Pacific deliver perfect peak seasons for intermodal customers

BNSF Railway and Union Pacific say they delivered perfect peak seasons for their parcel customers during the holiday rush of 2025. BNSF says its teams safely delivered more than 80 million parcel shipments on time — a 9% increase over volumes in the Thanksgiving-to-Christmas period of 2024. “Every year at BNSF, we come together to […]

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