News & Products for the week of March 17th 2025

An orange model locomotive

News & Products for the week of March 17th 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 March 17th, […]

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From The Cab: Caboose memories

A long line of blue and yellow cabooses in a railroad yard.

I’ve been around long enough to have caboose memories. Am I really that old? I guess so. When I transferred to Amtrak after 10 years with Seaboard Coast Line, my former freight railroad, we still employed full crews of five persons — an engineer, fireman, and brakeman on the head, with a conductor, and flagman […]

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County Line Rail acquires Texas short line Sabine River & Northern

Logo of County Line Rail

HOUSTON — County Line Rail, which acquires and develops rail yards and terminals in the Gulf Coast region, has purchased the Sabine River & Northern, a 40-mile short line in the southeastern corner of Texas. The railroad dates to 1966. It connects three Class I railroads — BNSF, CPKC, and Union Pacific. It operates a […]

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Early Burlington Northern locomotives in review

Freshly painted green-and-black diesel locomotive in front of freight cars in yard

  When the long-anticipated “Hill Lines” merger finally created the Burlington Northern on March 2, 1970, it was time not to mourn the loss of a favorite, the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, but to embrace and record the details of the changeover. I had been through this six years before, when the Norfolk & Western […]

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NTSB investigating incident at Port of Stockton

Two red end-cab switchers with "Port of Stockton" sign in background

STOCKTON, Calif. — The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating an injury accident that occurred earlier this week at the Port of Stockton, the agency said today (March 14, 2025). The accident occurred on Tuesday, March 11, during a re-railing operation, the board said on social media. KOVR-TV reports the NTSB declined to provide information […]

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STB issues draft environmental statement on proposed Texas border crossing railroad

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board’s Office of Environmental Analysis today issued a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Green Eagle Railroad’s proposed construction and operation of a 1.3-mile rail line and border crossing in Eagle Pass, Texas. The draft reviews two potential routes for the line, which was proposed in December 2023, as well as […]

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Built by Others: Adam Palmer’s San Juan Central Version 2

A model railroad layout assembled at a convention center

Built by Others is an article series showcasing layouts constructed by modelers using plans and projects from the pages of Model Railroader and its related products. Malcolm Furlow’s HOn3 San Juan Central layout first appeared in a multi-part series in the pages of Model Railroader between 1983 and 1984. Adam Palmer’s San Juan Central V2 […]

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STB to take closer look at NS bid to control Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board will take a closer look at Norfolk Southern’s proposal to officially control Virginia terminal railroad Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line. CSX had asked the board to review competition issues involving NS and NPBL. CSX and NS have been locked in a legal dispute over the NPBL for six years. […]

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Two hurt as CSX trains collide in Baltimore yard

Portion of image from X.com of derailed cars in yard. Use only as teaser image

FOX45 drone is over a train derailment in South Baltimore near Frankfurst Ave and Shell Road right now. MDOT and MTA confirm it is not impacting MARC services. We’re waiting for more info from CSX. More: https://t.co/FCtNt7Ix6Z@FOXBaltimore pic.twitter.com/qPJlDlWAXt — Ashley Cusicanqui FOX45 (@ashleycusitv) March 14, 2025 BALTIMORE — Two crew members were taken to hospitals […]

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With Baltimore tunnel project under way, CSX detours 16-plus trains per day

BALTIMORE — Just hours after empty coal train E730 rolled through the Howard Street Tunnel at 3:35 a.m. Feb. 1, a small army of contractors and CSX workers arrived to begin removing the 1.7-mile tunnel’s single track. The 100-car coal train was the last through the 1895 Baltimore & Ohio tunnel, which will be shut […]

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North American trade disputes create opportunities for CPKC, Creel says

Single locomotive in CPKC paint scheme crossing bridge

NEW YORK — Canadian Pacific Kansas City CEO Keith Creel looks at the uncertainty currently swirling around North American trade and sees an opportunity. CPKC has a lot riding on the outcome of tariff spats involving the U.S., Canada, and Mexico: The 2023 merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern was a $30 billion […]

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