Analysis: CSX’s acquisition of trucking company might have the right chemistry

Man transfers chemicals from tank car to tanker truck

CSX Transportation’s acquisition of bulk liquid chemicals trucking firm Quality Carriers is a bold and smart move that should help boost the railroad’s carload traffic. The deal, announced last week, matches CSX’s chemicals business — the largest in the East — with the nation’s biggest fleet of truck tankers. The idea is that CSX can team […]

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Athearn adds new diesels and bi-level cars to HO scale Genesis line

Computer rendering of an HO scale Electro-Motive Division SD90MAC diesel locomotive

Athearn made a big splash recently by announcing three newly tooled HO scale models for its Genesis family of products. A General Electric AC4400CW and an Electro-Motive Division SD90MAC will be added to the Genesis 2.0 product line. Surfliner bi-level intercity cars will be in the original Genesis line. The SD90MAC is based on an […]

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News & Products for the week of May 20, 2021

Union Pacific 2-6-0 Mogul Up steam locomotive.

Large scale locomotives  2-6-0 Mogul steam locomotive. Union Pacific. One road number. Five-pole can-type ball-bearing motor, hook-and-loop couplers, and cab interior with engineer figure. $689.99. July 2021. PIKO America, 619-280-2800, piko-america.com Large scale passenger cars Union Pacific wood passenger coaches. Two road numbers. Factory applied brake wheels, hook-and-loop couplers, and plastic wheelsets. $132.99 each. July […]

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News & Products for the week of May 20, 2021

Double-ended pin vise with chrome handle

Tools  Double-ended pin vise. Steel and plastic construction with chrome handle. Accepts no. 50 through no. 80 drill bits. $9.99. Produced by Excel, available from the Kalmbach Hobby Store, KalmbachHobbyStore.com Cushion grip scribe. Tool produces micro-fine scribed panel lines, punch holes, rivet marks, and more. Includes one replaceable steel tip. $7.99. Produced by Excel Blades, […]

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Model railroad locomotive, freight car, passenger car, detail, tool, and book announcements for May 20, 2021

WalthersProto HO scale Electro-Motive Division

Product news  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. Here are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of May 20, 2021. HO scale locomotives  Genesis 4-8-4 FEF-2 and FEF-3 steam […]

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Walthers Adult Individual Contestant Matthew Mendolia Makes the Most of his Space


Matthew Mendolia sits posed behind his finished layout

WAUKESHA, Wis. — There are only a few weeks left to submit a layout for judging in the Walthers National Model Railroad Build-off, and with the May 31 deadline looming closer every day, modelers nationwide are sure to be scrambling to add their finishing touches. Yet from the cramped confines of his dorm room, Eastern […]

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Analysis: Amtrak’s ‘ConnectUS’ map fails to prioritize low-hanging fruit of additional service

People walk on platform in front of bilevel passenger cars

  ST. PAUL, Minn.— If there is any “no brainer” on Amtrak’s recently unveiled “Connects US” map of potential routes, it is adding an extra train to the Chicago-Twin Cities portion of the Empire Builder’s route. Amtrak has plenty of built-in corridors like this one, routes between major population centers it already serves that could […]

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What’s the timeline for a Canadian National merger with Kansas City Southern?

Canadian National and Kansas City Southern logos

If Canadian Pacific does not top Canadian National’s $33.6 billion offer for Kansas City Southern in the next five days, a CN-KCS merger would proceed toward the approval process. First, KCS shareholders must approve the deal announced yesterday, which would give them $200 per share in cash, along with 1.129 shares of CN common stock, […]

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News & Products for the week of May 13, 2021

Ron’s Books Plymouth Locomotives Vol. 1 cover

Books Plymouth Locomotives Vol. 1. Reprints of ads and brochures for Plymouth Locomotive Works. Includes Plymouth Mine-O-Motives, Plymouth Torqomotive, Plymouth bulletins, and MDT four- and six-wheel locomotives. Softcover, 86 pages. $35. Manufacturers’ Catalog Archive series. SilverLake Images LLC and Ron’s Books, 914-967-7541, ronsbooks.com Tools 21-piece mini tool set. Includes five hex-nut drivers, six slotted screwdrivers, […]

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