G&W train dispatchers vote to join union

Genesee & Wyoming train dispatchers have voted to join the American Train Dispatchers Association, the union said this week. Based at the American Rail Dispatching Center in St. Albans, Vt., the 34 G&W dispatchers control railroad traffic in 43 states on more than 13,000 miles of shortline track. The center handles dispatching for nearly all […]

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Short line founder Gene Blabey II passes away

Eugene (Gene) H. Blabey II, who founded several short lines during a 50-year railroading career, died on Sept. 2. He was 85. Blabey was among the first railroaders inducted into the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association’s Short Line Railroad Industry Hall of Fame. “Gene was a legend in our industry and a leading […]

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Norfolk Southern and final SMART-TD general committee reach tentative agreement

Crew member riding on locomotive steps

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern has reached a tentative agreement with its final general committee SMART-TD union that represents conductors. SMART-TD (the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division) is the largest labor union on NS, and two of its three general committees on the railroad had already backed tentative contract deals. […]

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News & Products for the week of September 3rd 2024

A black model steam locomotive

News & Products for the week of September 3rd 2024   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 September 3rd […]

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Switzerland’s Gotthard Base Tunnel resumes full operation

Red and white passenger train at tunnel portal

POLLEGGIO, Switzerland — More than a year after a freight train derailment inflicted extensive damage, the Gotthard Base Tunnel — the world’s longest rail tunnel — fully resumed regular operations today, ending an extensive, and expensive, period of repairs and reroutes for one of Europe’s main north-south rail arteries. For the first time since August […]

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How do I repair the modern Lionel Poultry Dispatch Car?

brown model poultry car

I have two modern Lionel operating cars based on the postwar No. 3434 Poultry Dispatch Car. One, the No. 29825 Postwar Celebration version of the 3434, has the figure suspended on the operating arm between two springs. On the other, a No. 16739 Looney Tunes Foghorn Leghorn Poultry Car, the operating arm appears to have […]

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Classic Toy Trains new products for September 2024

model car carrier

Locomotives & rolling stock The Lionel Collectors Club of America (LCCA) is selling a custom-run Lionel LCCA 2024 Omaha Convention Union Pacific Boat Loader (2401230). The car is 10 ½” long and operates on O-27 curves. Price: $95. Limit one car per member. To learn more visit lionelcollectors.org or call the business office at 815-223-0115. […]

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CSX reaches more early labor deals

Intermodal train with single engine passes maintenance vehicle next to tracks

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation announced on Friday, Aug. 30, that it had reached five-year tentative labor agreements with two more unions. That increases its total to agreements with 11 unions covering 15 work groups and amending 20 collective agreements, CSX said, covering more than 50% of its unionized workforce. The latest agreements are with […]

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