New model trains for the week of July 9, 2020

HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division GP38-2 diesel locomotive. Canadian National (red, white, and black with Illinois Central reporting marks); Canadian Pacific (with large herald in two road numbers, small herald in one number); Illinois Central Gulf (orange-and-white and orange-and-gray schemes, two numbers each); Missouri Pacific (1972 as-delivered paint scheme); Soo Line (red “SOO” lettering on […]

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Introductory course ‘signals’ there’s more to learn about PTC

PHILADELPHIA — Two days of an introductory course does not a signal and train control expert make. Then again, it’s not supposed to. When Trains attended a 2016 University of Wisconsin-Madison Engineering Professional Development course in Philadelphia on the topic, this editor-author had delusions of learning about the latest in positive train control tech. Instead, […]

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Railroads wait to see impact of rule approving LNG moves

Railroads have gained regulatory approval to haul liquified natural gas in tank cars. Now the questions are how quickly will an LNG market develop and how big will it be? Controversial new federal regulations governing the movement of LNG by rail are scheduled to go into effect next month. Previously LNG shipments required special permits […]

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New model trains for the week of June 25, 2020

See the latest model railroad products in HO, N, O, and large scales! HO scale freight cars American Car & Foundry 4,600-cubic-foot-capacity three-bay Center Flow covered hopper. Burlington Northern (1979 as-delivered scheme in nine road numbers [three single cars and two three-packs]), Chicago & Eastern Illinois (gray with “buzzsaw” herald, two numbers), Family Lines (gray […]

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New model trains for the week of June 18, 2020

See the latest HO, N, and O scale model railroad products from Athearn, Bluford Shops, Walthers, and more! HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division GP15-1 diesel locomotive. BNSF Ry. (factory weathered Burlington Northern patchout in two road numbers, Heritage I in one number), California Northern (green and cream and Genesee & Wyoming orange and black, three […]

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UP derailment in Wyoming leads to explosions, fire

Sunday morning rail news in brief: Explosions, fire follow derailment of UP train in Rock Springs, Wyo. A Union Pacific derailment led to explosions and a wildfire near Rock Springs, Wyo., on Saturday, as the 26 cars that derailed included multiple cars of liquefied petroleum gas and alcohol, according to a report from the Sweetwater […]

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Class I officials say traffic shows early signs of recovery

Railroad volumes are beginning to show signs of early recovery after the sharp downturn that accompanied the coronavirus pandemic, executives from four Class I railroads told an investor conference on Tuesday. Officials from Canadian National, CSX Transportation, Kansas City Southern, and Union Pacific all said the resumption of North American auto production and its impact […]

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MPI work now fully relocated to Wabtec plant in Erie

ERIE, Pa. — At first glance the 111-year-old locomotive plant built by General Electric in Erie looks no different, but new signs emphasize GE is no longer part of Erie. A new era has begun. So what is happening in Erie more than a year after Wabtec took control? The biggest change includes the integration […]

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