WASHINGTON — Amtrak has introduced its long-awaited NextGen Acela service between Washington and New York, with the first new trainsets departing today (Aug. 27, 2025) from Washington at 5 a.m. and Boston at 6 a.m. ET on trips for invited guests. Service for the general public begins Thursday, Aug. 28. The first of what will […]
WASHINGTON — A Dallas Area Rapid Transit light rail train came in contact with an overhead catenary wire, leading to arcing that started a fire, the National Transportation Safety Board says in its preliminary report on the July 30, 2025, incident that led to injuries to 11 passengers. The incident occurred about 3:33 p.m., and […]
Q: I own the Ives train set my father had as a boy. Based on information found at the Ives Train Society website, I believe locomotive No. 3253 dates from between 1921-1923. The three passenger cars seem to match set No. 504. The overall condition of the paint and sheet metal is poor. I doubt […]
I found this manuscript from the late John Grams in our manuscript files. There was no date on the envelope but it’s likely from the early 1990s. The article discusses 12 Lionel products that, while great inventions, were fraught with problems or didn’t work exactly as advertised. He included the following disclaimer: “Lionel trains were […]
Follow Model Railroader magazine Editor Eric White as he demonstrates how to scratchbuild generators for the HO scale (1:87.1) East Troy Industrial Park Project Railroad. Using manufactured shipping containers as a guide, Eric constructs the generator structures using .040″ styrene sheets. He details the process of cutting and assembling the frame for the units, and […]
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority announced Monday (Aug. 25) that portions of the rapid transit Orange Line are now operating at 55 mph as of Sunday, Aug. 24. The increase — from a prior speed limit of 40 mph — is on a four-station section at the north end of the Orange Line, […]
CHICAGO — More evidence of how Amtrak’s equipment is stretched thin surfaced over the weekend when the company was forced to cancel Saturday’s northbound Floridian out of Miami because no locomotive was available to fill in for ailing motive power, according to Amtrak. As a result, the Chicago-Washington, D.C.-Miami through substitute for the Capitol Limited […]
PHILADELPHIA — With action to address its funding crisis still stalled, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority on Sunday (Aug. 24) began enacting a 20% service reduction including the elimination of 32 bus lines and reductions to rail service and other bus routes. The cuts begin as Philadelphia schools, which rely on public transportation for both […]
Trains.com staff members David Popp and Cody Grivno share their techniques for install printed backdrops on the HO scale (1:87.1) East Troy Industrial Park project layout. They use SceniKing paper backdrops and unique craft scissors to seamlessly blend printed scenes—including a river, barn, and tree line—into the painted sky. All of that, plus more scenery […]
Add Boise, Idaho, and Anchorage, Alaska, to a list of locations expressing interest in launching commuter rail service. The Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho (COMPASS) last week selected commuter rail as its preferred form of future mass transit, based on a study that has been in progress since January 2024. The planned service would […]
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Amtrak has recognized CPKC as its top host railroad in 2024, the ninth straight year the company or predecessor Canadian Pacific has topped the annual host railroad report card. CPKC was the only railroad to receive an “A” grade on the 2024 report card, although the other five Class I rairloads […]
We’re changing things up for our latest product review video. Trains.com Director David Popp took the Rapido HO TurboTrain 2.0 on the road to run on Gerry Leone’s Bona Vista RR. Learn more about the full-size United Aircraft TurboTrain and our review sample, decorated in early Amtrak colors. Then watch the five-car train pass through […]
