The Roundhouse | Collecting Employee Timetables

In this 33rd episode of The Roundhouse, an on-camera interview series established in 2013, Trains Magazine Associate Editor Bob Lettenberger plays host to Brian Schmidt, Editor of Classic Trains Magazine. The two gather at the roundtable to discuss an endeavor they both enjoy – collecting employee timetables! Listen in, as Bob and Brian reveal the […]

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With I-80 roadwork done, NJ Transit to end fare discount

Map of NJ Transit rail lines between Hackettstown, N.J., and New York City

NEWARK, N.J. — With roadwork completed, NJ Transit will end its temporary discount fare program for passengers affected by emergency repairs on Interstate 80 as of Monday, June 30, the agency has announced. Sinkholes that developed along the highway led to extended lane closures for repairs, leading NJ Transit to offer 50% discounts for travelers […]

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New York MTA to order more than 300 commuter railcars

Rendering of meet between trains with new Alstom railcars

NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will purchase 316 new electric multiple-unit railcars for use on the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad after the MTA’s Finance Committee approved the purchase today. The new M9-A cars will be built by Alstom Transportation. Pilot cars in the order are slated to be delivered in […]

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News & Products for the week of June 23rd 2025

A red model hopper car

News & Products for the week of June 23rd 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 June 23rd, […]

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Toy trains in Argentina

model tinplate tender and crane

In the 1920s, as Argentina’s economy boomed and its railway system expanded, toy trains began to capture the imaginations of children and adults.  Because British investors and engineers played a key role in Argentina’s railroad development, it made sense that the first toy trains came from European manufacturers like Hornby. It was a simple matter […]

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Derailment temporarily halts Northeast Corridor traffic between Philadelphia, Washington (updated)

Amtrak logo.

WASHINGTON — Amtrak service in the Northeast Corridor has been disrupted this morning (June 23, 2025) by a track closure between Philadelphia and Washington attributed to “disabled equipment from one of our rail partners,” according to the Amtrak Northeast social media feed. The passenger operator has also announced at least one heat restriction in the […]

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East Troy Industrial Park, Ep. 14 | Painting the backdrop

Painting the initial backdrop installation a single shade of blue was just fine to get things started on the HO scale (1:87.1) East Troy Industrial Park project layout. However, David and Bryson share an easy technique for blending the background sky color with the adjacent wall color, and set the stage for those stunning photos […]

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Walthers HO Horizon Fleet passenger cars

Color photo of HO scale passenger car painted silver with red, white, and blue graphics

Walthers HO Horizon Fleet passenger cars Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $49.98 Era: 1989 to present Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com Features on Walthers HO Horizon Fleet passenger cars: Coach and cafe club food service cars Factory-installed diaphragms GSI roller-bearing trucks with 36” turned-metal wheels with RP-25 […]

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Chief sees bus bridge, Floridian long delays continue: Long-distance update (corrected)

CHICAGO — Although the majority of Amtrak’s regional and Northeast Corridor service has been operating close to schedules despite recent torrid temperatures, June has been a rough month so far for several inter-regional trains. The Southwest Chief has been particularly hard hit, with a freight derailment west of Ft. Madison, Iowa, returning westbound passengers “to […]

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Heat leads to Amtrak operating restrictions in Midwest

CHICAGO — The current heat wave in the Midwest and East is bringing operational impacts for Amtrak and commuter rail systems. Amtrak last week issued a “fact sheet” on how it responds to high heat, noting that restrictions are issued when ambient temperatures exceed 95 degrees or track temperatures reach 128 degrees. Temperatures have reached […]

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NJ Transit resumes service on North Jersey Coast Line

NJ Transit logo

NEWARK, N.J. — After being shut down for more than a day because of storm damage, NJ Transit has resumed commuter rail operations on its North Jersey Coast Line. Service was restored after 4:30 a.m. today (June 21, 2025), the agency said in an updated service advisory. Service on the line to Bay Head, N.J., […]

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VIA Rail Canada, Unifor announce tentative agreement on new contract

Small tractor pulling luggage cart next to passenger train

MONTREAL — VIA Rail Canada and Canadian union Unifor have reached tentative agreement on a new three-year contract, averting a strike that could have begun as soon as this Sunday, June 22. If ratified, the agreement will be retroactive to Jan. 1 of this year and run through Dec. 31, 2027. VIA said terms would […]

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