New model trains for the week of March 26, 2020

HO scale freight cars American Car & Foundry two-bay Center Flow covered hopper. New paint schemes: BNSF Ry. (gray with black circle-cross herald, five road numbers) and Cemex Mexico (gray with reporting marks only). New road numbers: Burlington Northern (Cascade Green with large herald), Chicago & North Western (yellow), CSX (tan), Norfolk & Western (gray), […]

Read More…

Unions ask railroad, FRA to increase virus protection NEWSWIRE

Labor unions representing rail and transit workers have asked the Federal Railroad Administration for two emergency orders to address the dangers in their work environments amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The orders, requested March 20, are requested for Class I railroads and for Amtrak and passenger operators. “Currently, the railroads have made very little effort […]

Read More…

New model trains for the week of March 19, 2020

HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division SD60M diesel locomotive. Burlington Northern (four road numbers), BNSF Ry. (Cascade Green patchouts in two numbers, Heritage II and Heritage III schemes in one number each), Canadian Pacific (without gold beaver herald in two numbers, with herald in one number), Norfolk Southern (Thoroughbred scheme, three numbers), and Union Pacific (as-delivered […]

Read More…

Locomotive profile: EMD SD70 series locomotives

BNSF Railway SD70 series SD70ACE No. 8762 pulls a Norfolk Southern train in Indiana. Jim Wrinn EMD-built SD70 series locomotives •YEARS BUILT: 1993-present •MANUFACTURER: EMD •OPERATED ON: Most North American Class I freight railroads •NAMES: SD70, SD70I, SD70M, SD70MAC, SD75I, SD75M, SD70M-2, SD70ACe, SD70ACe-P4, SD70ACe-P6, SD70ACe-T4, and SD70-ACe-T4P4; nicknames: Big Mac, Mac, Grinstein, Flags, Flares […]

Read More…

Class I railroads update pandemic response (updated) NEWSWIRE

Class I railroads have been updating customers on their response to the COVID-19 outbreak, with four offering information through their company websites. Here’s the most recent information: — Norfolk Southern, in a March 14 note from Alan Shaw, executive vice president and chief marketing officer, said it is allowing remote work for employees whose jobs […]

Read More…

News Wire Digest Second Section for Friday, March 13 NEWSWIRE

More Friday rail news: — BNSF Railway is not shielded from liability in lawsuits stemming from asbestos contamination in Libby, Mont., the Montana Supreme Court has ruled. The Flathead Beacon reports that the court upheld a ruling by Montana Asbestos Claim Court Judge Amy Eddy, who concluded the claims against the railroad are not preempted […]

Read More…

New model trains for the week of March 12, 2020

Broadway Limited Imports HO scale Pennsylvania RR GG1 electric locomotive HO scale locomotives Pennsylvania RR GG1 electric locomotive. Pennsylvania RR (Dark Green Locomotive Enamel with brown roof, five gold leaf stripes, and Futura or Roman lettering in three numbers each; Dark Green Locomotive Enamel with broad buff stripe and Roman lettering in two numbers; and […]

Read More…

Trains News Wire Digest for Wednesday, March 4 NEWSWIRE

The Wednesday morning rail roundup: — In a significant blow to the fledgling commuter rail service, California voters in Sonoma and Marin counties have turned down a measure extending the quarter-cent sales tax that funds Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit. Approval of the measure would have guaranteed funding through 2059, the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat reports; without […]

Read More…