‘Missouri River Runner’ service suspension extended

Amtrak2

ST. LOUIS — The suspension of Amtrak’s Missouri River Runner service has been extended to at least Sunday, June 2. Flooding elsewhere in the Midwest has led Union Pacific to divert freight traffic onto the route, leading to the suspension of the passenger service. Chartered bus service is providing substitute transportation, stopping at all stations […]

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Master of the E&W Turn

NYC8626

New York Central SW8 8626 stands at the road’s Avon Yard near Indianapolis in 1966. Another EMD switcher powered the E&W Turn some 140 miles to the north. Louis A. Marre As a struggling schoolteacher in northern Indiana in the early 1960s, I worked a few summers as a brakeman on a couple of local railroads, […]

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‘California Zephyr’ detouring because of flooding (updated)

Amtrak2

CHICAGO — Amtrak’s westbound California Zephyr is detouring between Chicago and Omaha today via the Union Pacific’s former Chicago & North Western mainline, as will the eastbound train that arrives Thursday and Thursday’s departure from Chicago. The detour off of the normal BNSF Railway route is because of ongoing flooding problems in the Midwest, according […]

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Digital Command Control resources for model railroaders

DCCresources

Learn all about Digital Command Control (DCC) with the Model Railroader staff! Bill Zuback The July 2019 issue of Model Railroader magazine features a buyer’s guide for Digital Command Control (DCC) starter systems. To learn more about DCC, check out this DCC resources page. Below you’ll find links to reference articles, product reviews, and demo […]

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New model trains for the week of May 30, 2019

Broadway Limited Imports HO scale Electro-Motive Division SD7 and SD9 diesel locomotive

Broadway Limited Imports HO scale Electro-Motive Division SD7 and SD9 diesel locomotive HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division SD7 and SD9 diesel locomotive. SD7: Chessie System (Baltimore & Ohio reporting marks); CSX (fictional scheme, dark blue and yellow with boxcar herald); Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (black and gray with “Way of the Zephyrs” slogan); Pennsylvania RR […]

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May new large scale products from Garden Railways magazine

piko_humvee

PIKO America US Army Humvee Transport flatcar PIKO America Beetle Wagon Auto Transport flatcar PIKO America Santa Fe ore car LGB Golden Spike Locomotive set LGB replica track spike box The Train Department Talyllyn No. 1 Engines & rolling stock Accucraft, 3260 Central Ave, Union City CA 94587, is selling an Adams 415 class radial […]

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Selecting the right DCC system

SelectingDCCsystem_01

❶ Introductory systems. Introductory systems like the Bachmann E-Z Command, left, and NCE PowerCab are inexpensive ways to get into Digital Command Control. Larry Puckett offers DCC shopping tips. I can’t even begin to remember how many times folks have asked me “which Digital Command Control system should I buy?” or “Which one is best […]

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FRA withdraws proposed minimum crew size rule

Union Pacific Montana Sub Crew Change Justin Franz

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration will not implement a rule requiring a certain number of people in the cab of freight trains, the agency announced this week. On Thursday, the FRA withdrew a notice of proposed rulemaking that dated back to 2016, when the federal agency was considering requiring at least two people aboard […]

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Ask Trains: Where are major flyovers on U.S. railroads?

Zoo Interlocking Flyover Philadelphia Pennsylvania

A train-view of a flyover at Zoo Interlocking in Philadelphia. Brian Solomon Question: Where are some other mainline flyovers in the U.S.? — Frank Klos, San Diego, Calif. Answer: A flyover is grade-separated track arrangement used to keep busy lines fluid by avoiding the need for conflicting crossover movements, often built in conjunction with junctions […]

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