UP train derails west of Fort Worth, Texas

Union Pacific logo without slogan. UP Bailey Yard explosion appear to be accidental.

GORDON, Texas — About 35 cars of a Union Pacific train, including some believed to be carrying hazardous materials, derailed today (Aug. 12, 2025), ABC News reports. Palo Pinto County officials told the network that no leaks have been reported, but that the incident “is being treated as a HazMat situation.” No injuries were reported. […]

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Goode: UP-NS deal is latest chapter in railroads’ long history of expansion

Union Pacific’s proposed $85 billion acquisition of Norfolk Southern is the logical outcome of nearly two centuries of rail history, retired NS CEO David Goode says. “The story of railroading has always been the story of mergers and expansion,” he says. And creating the first transcontinental railroad is no exception. These days Goode looks at […]

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CSX eyes growth, service gains amid merger speculation

Intermodal train navigating switches

Amid merger speculation and ongoing freight doldrums, CSX will continue to focus on its own growth, service, and operations initiatives, Chief Commercial Officer Kevin Boone told an investor conference today. “Despite a trucking market that’s not really helpful right now … we are seeing truck conversions coming in every week,” Boone says. “I think that […]

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Lionel releases 2025 Volume 2 catalog

catalog page with locomotive set

Lionel Trains has released a 2025 Volume II catalog. The 44-page book includes new items in the Legacy, LionChief, Star Wars, and Accessory lines. Highlights include a Santa Fe Super Chief set (No. 2622020), which includes two F3A locomotives, two F3Bs (one unpowered), baggage car, Pullman sleeper car, dome car, diner, three sleeping cars, and […]

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Model Railroader Photo of the Day: A curbside view

A model freight train is lead by a black and red model locomotive on a model railroad layout with vehicles and a town in the background

Motorists in Green Junction have a curbside view of rail activity on the Central Vermont (CV). Today, two Electro-Motive Division GP9s, one leased from neighboring Boston & Maine, bring the CV’s Palmer-to-Brattleboro local through Green Junction. Thomas Nordanberg photographed the scene on Ole Pade’s HO scale layout in Sollentuna, Sweden. Model Railroader‘s Photo of the […]

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Americold cold storage facility opens at CPKC’s Kansas City intermodal terminal

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Americold today opened its $120 million cold storage Import-Export Hub at the Canadian Pacific Kansas City intermodal terminal in Kansas City, Mo., clearing the way for higher volume single-line, cross-border temperature controlled intermodal service linking the U.S. and Mexico. “This is more than infrastructure — it’s a fully integrated solution that […]

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Changing the wick in a modern fan-driven smoke unit

Burnt wick taken out of a smoke unit

Is your locomotive struggling to produce a good amount of smoke, even after cranking up the smoke volume and adding fluid? While it’s not the one-and-only culprit, a charred smoke wick is a common problem.  The wick is a strand or braided fiber glass material in the smoke unit’s heating chamber. It generates the smoke […]

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Pennsylvania House again passes transit funding bill

Map of SEPTA rail network showing lines to be cut

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania’s House on Monday passed legislation that would address the funding crisis faced by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and other state agencies, but the bill’s future in the state Senate remains uncertain. The bill passed Monday by the House would provide $292 million from state sales tax, public radio station WITF […]

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WalthersProto HO Wabash streamlined cupola caboose

Color photo of HO scale caboose molded in gray plastic with formed wire and etched-brass detail parts.

WalthersProto HO Wabash streamlined cupola caboose Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $75.98 Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com WalthersProto HO Wabash streamlined cupola caboose features: All-new model As-built or modernized smokejack Clear window glazing Detailed interior Factory-installed wire grab irons and handrails Minimum radius, 18”; recommended radius, 22” […]

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Evett joins Patriot Rail as vice president of design and construction

Head shot of smiling man

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Patriot Rail has named Anthony Evett as vice president of design and construction. The appointment of Evett, who has more than two decades of experience in transportation, maritime, and freight infrastructure, was effective as of Monday (Aug. 11, 2025). “Tony Evett brings a rare combination of technical expertise, strategic vision, and collaborative […]

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EBT opens more trackage, returns steam locomotive No. 16 to service

Low-angle view of steam locomotive

ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. — The East Broad Top Railroad celebrated two notable events on Friday (Aug. 8, 2025), returning 2-8-2 No. 16 to operation after it was sidelined for several months, with the locomotive bringing ta train to the campus of Southern Huntingdon County High School adjacent to the railroad. It is the first train […]

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Juveniles charged for stealing, derailing locomotive in South Carolina

Logo of the Laurens, S.C., police department

LAURENS, S.C. — Two juveniles have been detained and charged with a series of crimes after allegedly stealing and derailing a locomotive, the City of Laurens Police Department has announced. The police are investigating break-ins at CSX Transportation and Carolina Piedmont Railroad facilities on Saturday, Aug. 9. Between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. the juveniles […]

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