Metra introduces locomotive honoring veterans

Locomotive with group of people

CHICAGO — Metra has added to its fleet of specially painted locomotives with an F40PH-3 honoring veterans. The Chicago Sun-Times reports the unit, introduced last week at a luncheon to honor veterans who work at the commuter rail operator, will enter service on the Rock Island District, moving to the BNSF and Milwaukee District lines […]

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Getting the shot: John Crisanti

train surrounded by mountains in morning

Photographer John Crisanti John Crisanti is a railroader, photographer, and model railroader residing on Colorado’s Front Range. His creative use of light, weather, and wide-angle allows him to capture dramatic scenes of everyday freight. His interest in rail photography does extend beyond The Centennial State. Crisanti recently shared (with Trains) the story of going off-the-grid […]

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HO scale GP16 from InterMountain

Color photo showing nose details on HO scale diesel locomotive.

An HO scale GP16 diesel locomotive is the latest offering from InterMountain Railway Co. The model, based on prototypes rebuilt by Seaboard Coast Line (SCL) in the late 1970s and early 1980s, features an injection-molded plastic body; a die-cast metal chassis; and a variety of separate, factory-applied detail parts. GP16 was the designation SCL gave […]

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Is it time to preserve an Amtrak Genesis P40?

An Amtrak passenger train rolls through arid country against a blue sky

Is it time to preserve an Amtrak Genesis P40? Since 1993, Amtrak’s iconic Genesis diesels have hauled countless millions of passengers across its network. From Sunset Limited to Downeaster, the Genesis has been the locomotive for generations of Amtrak travelers. While the Genesis models remain among the most common locomotives for long distance passenger service, […]

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ScaleTrains N scale EMD SD40T-2

Title screen from product review video showing N scale diesel painted yellow and gray.

The ScaleTrains N scale EMD SD40T-2 diesel locomotive recently visited our Milwaukee, Racine & Troy State Line Route. Join Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he provides a short history of the tunnel motor locomotive and Union Pacific 8803; highlights the many prototype-specific details on the Rivet Counter line model; and demonstrates the sound […]

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ScaleTrains N scale EMD SD40T-2

Title screen from product review video showing N scale diesel painted yellow and gray.

The ScaleTrains N scale EMD SD40T-2 diesel locomotive recently visited our Milwaukee, Racine & Troy State Line Route. Join Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he provides a short history of the tunnel motor locomotive and Union Pacific 8803; highlights the many prototype-specific details on the Rivet Counter line model; and demonstrates the sound […]

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GM&O GP35s

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Gulf, Mobile & Ohio traded in its Alco FA units on EMD GP30s and GP35, which came from La Grange with the AAR Type B trucks from the FAs. F. Axtell Kramer Jr. photo […]

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News & Products for the week of November 4th 2024

A black model steam locomotive

News & Products for the week of November 4th 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 November 4th […]

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Another look at Lionel catalog volume 1 for 2024

catalog page with locomotives

Lionel catalog volume 1 for 2024 is filled with plenty of treasures. I should know because several months ago, I spent hours studying the latest additions to the O gauge line and then shared my observations on Trains.com. It was a lot of fun, especially after hobbyists who had read my opinions replied with their […]

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Amtrak NPCU ‘Cabbage’ locomotives

Amtrak locomotive on track in city

Amtrak has been using unpowered F40PH locomotives for decades in various corridors across the country. For its shorter-distance trains — where one or both ends of the run lack turning facilities — these units allow Amtrak to assign only one powered locomotive instead of two. The first F40PH converted was AMTK No. 200, which had […]

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Metro-North introduces Siemens dual-mode locomotives

Three-quarters view of blue and silver passenger locomotive

CROTON-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Friday introduced the first of its newest locomotive for Metro-North Railroad, a dual-power variant of the Siemens Charger. Siemens SC42-DM locomotives Nos. 301 and 302, the first of 33 units, were unveiled in a ceremony at the Harmon Shops in Croton-on-Harmon. The locomotives feature a 4,200-hp diesel […]

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VIA Historical Association unveils restored FP9A

Yellow and blue F unit locomotive

SALFORD, Ontario — It was fitting that on Oct. 31, a ghost of VIA Rail Canada’s past was officially brought back to life. The VIA Historical Association completed a full restoration of FP9A No. 6539 back into its classic blue and yellow paint scheme. The unit debuted at the Ontario Southland Railway shops in Salford, […]

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