Bill reintroduced to support freight railcar replacement, upgrades

New brown boxcar

WASHINGTON — Two Illinois congressmen, backed by 39 cosponsors, have reintroduced legislation to provide a tax credit for replacement and modernization of the U.S. freight railcar fleet. U.S. Reps. Darren Hood, a Republican, and Brad Schneider, a Democrat, on Tuesday, Feb. 11, reintroduced HR 1200, the “Freight Rail Assistance and Investment to Launch Coronavirus-era Activity […]

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Arctic blast hinders operations on BNSF’s Northern Transcon

FORT WORTH, Texas — Extreme cold has hobbled BNSF Railway’s operations on its Northern Transcon in North Dakota and Montana. “The extreme cold affecting the Northern Transcon route through Montana and North Dakota, with temperatures plunging over 20 degrees below zero in some areas overnight, has hindered normal train operations,” BNSF said in a customer […]

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Norfolk Southern train derails in Ohio

Derailed tank cars at grade crossing

ATTICA, Ohio — One tank car of ethanol was among those reported to be leaking after a derailment of a Norfolk Southern train Tuesday (Feb. 11, 2025) in Attica, Ohio. The derailment occurred about 8:19 p.m., according to the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office. No injuries were reported. Norfolk Southern said in a statement reported by […]

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A closer look at well cars

Color photo of weathered yellow well car with cherry blossom magenta and blue containers.

Q: I’ve noticed 53-foot intermodal containers on top of what I believe are 40-foot containers. What I’m not sure about is whether the smaller container is in a 40-foot well car or a 53-foot car? — David Bellamy A: The 40-foot intermodal container in the bottom position can be in a 40- or 53-foot well […]

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Intermodal train derails in Massachusetts

Map of Pan Am Southern, operated by Berkshire & Eastern

WENDELL, Mass. — Eight cars of an intermodal train operated by the Berkshire & Eastern Railroad derailed today (Feb. 11), the Greenfield Recorder reports. No injuries were reported and no hazardous materials were involved; a Genesee & Wyoming spokesman told WWLP-TV that the train was carrying a mix of commodities. Wendell Police Sgt. Steven Gould […]

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Railroads shut out of 250 best-managed companies list

Coal train passes interlocking tower in snow

No railroads landed on the Wall Street Journal’s ranking of the 250 best-managed companies of 2024. The annual Management Top 250 list measures corporate effectiveness by considering performance in five areas, including customer satisfaction, employee engagement, innovation, social responsibility, and financial strength. The ranking, developed and compiled by the Drucker Institute, is based on data […]

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Maya Train budget slashed by Mexico’s president

Pasenger train in shadows at station

MEXICO CITY — Mexico’s Maya Train project has been hit by a major budget cut, while at least one other rail infrastructure program has seen a significant boost as President Claudia Sheinbaum shifts priorities, the news site La Verdad Noticias reports. Funding to complete the tourism-oriented Maya Train, meanwhile saw a 70.7% cut, from 125.9 […]

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News & Products for the week of February 10th 2025

An image of two gray model locomotives with red, white, and blue striping

News & Products for the week of February 10th 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 February 10th, […]

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CSX seeks systemwide agreement with conductors

yellow and blue train on track

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX wants to create a single, systemwide contract covering conductors represented by the SMART-TD union. The railroad currently has three regional contract agreements with the union. In a notice to conductors, CSX says that consolidating those contracts into one “will allow CSXT to better utilize trainmen employees throughout CSXT’s system, improve train […]

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7 ways to add more realism to your layout

yard with several model locomotives on track

Adding details that make a scene more interesting or increase operating potential can take your layout to a whole new leave of realism. Try one (or all) of the ideas listed below! Share your photos with us at editor@classictoytrains.com. Detail track and add lineside details Adding details to the right-of-way is an easy way to […]

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New study multiplies possible routes for Del Mar rail tunnel project

Map of routes for rail line relocation in the Del Mar, Calif., area

SAN DIEGO — The San Diego area planning agency seeking to develop an inland alternative to the Surf Line rail route along the Del Mar Bluffs has once again broadened the number of prospective routes — with options including a massive relocation project along Interstate 5. The San Diego Association of Governments, or SANDAG, includes […]

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Two Union Pacific trains derail in Nebraska (updated)

Burning containers at site of train derailment

DIX, Nebraska — Two Union Pacific trains derailed today about 150 miles apart on the railroad’s Overland Route main line in Nebraska, with a fire resulting from one of the incidents. KNOP-TV reports that several fire departments responded to a derailment in Dix, about 30 miles from the Wyoming state line, at 6:50 a.m. The […]

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