Indiana port adds rail capacity, eyes container traffic

The Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor has dedicated $25 million to infrastructure upgrades, including two new railyards and the port’s first all-new dock in two decades. “Today marks a historic day for this region, our workers and this port,” Ports of Indiana CEO Jody Peacock said in a statement yesterday. “This is the first new dock […]

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How-to Library | Detailing and weathering a diesel locomotive, part 2

Efforts to make a new, HO scale (1:87.1) Alco RS1 diesel locomotives appear more worn continue. Here, David Popp demonstrates easy and effective airbrush weathering techniques for adding dirt, rust, grime, and faded-paint effects. […]

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Regulators scrutinize trends on second day of rail growth hearings

WASHINGTON – At the opening of today’s Surface Transportation Board hearing on the lack of rail freight volume growth, Vice Chair Karen Hedlund said she was still struck by what she heard the day before from analysts and shippers and Class I railroad executives. “What we heard yesterday was a tale of two cities. And […]

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CSX rolls out Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis heritage locomotive

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The 19th heritage locomotive in the CSX fleet is No. 1851, a tribute to predecessor railroad Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis. CEO Joe Hinrichs unveiled the locomotive today in a post on LinkedIn, as has been customary. “The NC&StL railroad was founded in 1845 and was acquired in a hostile takeover by […]

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Museum restores Erie Mining hi-rail car

Yellow restored Erie Mining hi-rail car indoors

  DULUTH, Minn. – The Lake Superior Railroad Museum has restored a former Erie Mining hi-rail car — a 1957 Pontiac — to service. The Pontiac Chieftain station wagon was put into service in 1957 on Erie Mining Co.’s 74-mile main line between Hoyt Lakes and Taconite Harbor.   The vehicle traveled an estimated 110,000 […]

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Report shows link between manifest train length and derailments caused by train makeup and handling issues

WASHINGTON – Long manifest trains are more likely to derail than their shorter counterparts due to excessive in-train forces – and the number of wrecks related to train makeup and handling issues has increased sharply since U.S. railroads adopted Precision Scheduled Railroading operating models that rely on ever-longer trains, according to a National Academies of […]

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Hearing focuses on turning around the rail industry’s growth problem

WASHINGTON – The first day of the Surface Transportation Board’s unprecedented hearing focusing on growth in the rail industry – or, more precisely, the lack of it – allowed the Class I railroads to tout their successes. But the rail executives had to wait for an analyst panel that outlined the breadth and depth of […]

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News & Products for the week of September 16th 2024

News & Products for the week of September 16th 2024   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 September 16th […]

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Analysis: What a work stoppage at East, Gulf coast ports means for CSX, NS

Yellow-and-blue diesel locomotive with containers on curve

  Class I railroads’ intermodal volumes have been strong this year, but the growing threat of an East Coast ports work stoppage risks upending supply chains just as the freight industry was normalizing.   East Coast Class I railroads CSX and Norfolk Southern are keeping an eye on the potential for a widespread strike at […]

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CN blames unplanned CPKC trackwork for June congestion in Directional Running Zone

Train with red and black locomotives crosses cruved trestle

When Canadian National reported disappointing second quarter results in July – partly due to congestion related to trackwork in the Directional Running Zone it shares with Canadian Pacific Kansas City in British Columbia – executives were vague on why some of the maintenance of way work in the country’s most important corridor was unplanned. At […]

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CSX train collides with truck hauling military equipment in South Carolina

Screenshot of video showing train hitting truck carrying tan military equipment

GOOSE CREEK, S.C. — Amateur video shows when a CSX Transportation train collides with truck hauling military artillery equipment at Goose Creek, The Post and Courier reports.   Goose Creek is located about 15 northwest of Charleston on a former Atlantic Coast Line route that also hosts Amtrak’s Silver Meteor.   The incident occurred Thursday […]

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New Norfolk Southern CEO Mark George prioritizes operational excellence

A black locomotive under a silver signal bridge

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. – Norfolk Southern, which has struggled to maintain consistent and reliable service in recent years, will no longer tolerate mediocre operational performance, new CEO Mark George says. “The tolerance for poor performance inside of rails has always bothered me,” George said this morning in his first public remarks since replacing Alan Shaw […]

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