Though I’ve been in the hobby for more than 70 years, I’m still amazed at the number of new products being released. Gone are the days when the Lionel or American Flyer “wish books” would fill our dreams of new engines, cars, or accessories. Now we have the internet, hobby shops, and train shows to […]
Follow David Popp, as he works to add essential scenery to the HO scale (1:87) East Troy Industrial Park project! Learn how to protect detailed strip wood with masking tape before pouring a custom passenger platform. And then explore helpful tips and tricks for applying Woodland Scenics Smooth-It, tinted with slate gray pigment to mimic asphalt. […]
News & Products for the week of February 16th 2026 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 16th […]
Craig Fuller is the CEO at FreightWaves. The freight market has been sending mixed signals for months, but one trend stands out clearly as we move deeper into 2026: Trucking spot rates have staged a meaningful recovery, while intermodal rates remain stubbornly anchored near cycle lows. Look at the data. Truckload spot rates (inclusive of […]
VOORHEESVILLE, N.Y. — The village of Voorheesville, thwarted in court in its effort to prevent a new Norfolk Southern crew-change facility, is now seeking to prevent the railroad from receiving future grants from the State of New York — as well as saying that the state should recover money already given to NS. The Albany […]
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 […]
Three U.S. labor unions are requesting federal mediation in pay and benefits disputes with Canadian Pacific Kansas City, the labor organizations announced today (Feb. 12). Making the request are the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division, and Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen. They say CPKC workers on the […]
Trains Turntable: Commentary from Jared Cassity, national safety and legislative director for the SMART-TD union If there is a foundational principle that defines the only meaningful factor in transportation, it can be asked in this one simple question: Is it safe? Whether referencing our country’s first significant mode of transportation — railroads — or the […]
CHICAGO RIDGE, Ill. — Metra SouthWest Service trains are back in operation today (Thursday, Feb. 12) following a Wednesday freight derailment that shut down the 15-round-trip-a-day operation between Chicago Union Station and Orland Park/Manhattan, Ill. In a social media post shortly after 5 a.m., the commuter operator said it had been informed its tracks would […]
WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic was down for a second consecutive week in the period ending Feb. 7, with declines in both carload and intermodal traffic. Statistics from the Association of American Railroads for the week show a total of 486,854 carloads and intermodal units, a drop of 3.2% from the corresponding week in 2025. […]
PORT CLINTON, Pa. — The Reading & Northern Railroad has promoted Jim Raffa to chief marketing officer, the company has announced. Raffa entered railroading as a trackman with R&N predecessor Blue Mountain & Reading in 1989, and after the Reading & Northern was formed in 1990, he became coal traffic manager and real estate manager. […]
CHICAGO RIDGE, Ill. — Metra has canceled all operations on its SouthWest Service today (Feb. 11, 2026) following a freight derailment this morning near its Chicago Ridge station. No injuries have been reported, and Chicago Ridge police say there is no danger to the public from the derailment. A Metra spokeswoman told the Chicago Sun-Times […]
