Top 10 stories of 2022: No. 1, Rail labor and the near strike

People holding signs while standing on sidewalk

The conclusion of our countdown of the Trains News Wire Top 10 stories of 2022, as determined by a vote of Trains editors, columnists, and masthead correspondents. Railroads were catapulted into national headlines in the fall as labor negotiations came down to the wire, raising the prospect of the first strike or lockout in three […]

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Top 10 stories of 2022, No. 5: Gulf Coast passenger conflict

Passenger train crossing long bridge at dusk

Continuing our countdown of the Trains News Wire Top 10 stories of 2022, as determined by a vote of Trains editors, columnists, and masthead correspondents: A lengthy and acrimonious process finally produced a settlement between Amtrak, Norfolk Southern, CSX Transportation, and Alabama State Port Authority late in the year, providing a framework to bring passenger […]

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CP train derails in Alberta

Canadian Pacific Railway beaver logo

TABER, Alberta — Eleven cars of a Canadian Pacific freight train were reported to have derailed early Wednesday morning near the town of Taber, CTV News reports, leading to lane closures on adjacent Provincial Route 3. No injuries were reported and no hazardous material were involved, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Traffic on […]

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U.S. rail traffic remains down as year’s end approaches

Weekly table showing U.S. carload rail traffic by commodity type plus overall intermodal traffic

WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic’s year-end slump continued in the week ending Dec. 24, with volume down 4.8% compared to the same week in 2021, according to the latest statistics from the Association of American Railroads. The overall figure of 400,289 carloads and intermodal units included 193,195 carloads, down 4.1%, and 207,094 trailers, down 5.5%. […]

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Trinity 3281 hopper from Walthers Mainline

Trinity 3281 hopper: A pink model hopper car is shown against a white background

Trinity 3281 hopper from Walthers Mainline Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $31.98 Era: Late 1990s+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218, 414-527-0770, walthers.com Trinity 3281 hopper features: Separately-applied brake gear, running board, discharge gates, inlet hatches, and end ladder cages Correct 36″ RP-25 metal wheelsets Proto-Max […]

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Bob Cochran’s Vermont Rail System in HO scale

Trains.com Video features layout owner Bob Cochran and his 22’-10” x 25’-7” HO scale (1:87) Vermont Rail System inspired by Rutland Railroad’s Bellow Falls Subdivision. Bob grew up watching trains of Central Vermont and Boston & Maine across from his childhood home in Bellow Fall, Vt., so you’ll be sure to see plenty of Northeastern […]

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Walthers Mainline 60-foot Pullman-Standard bulkhead flatcar

Walthers Mainline 60-foot Pullman-Standard bulkhead flatcar Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $34.98 Era: 1968+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218, 414-527-0770, walthers.com Walthers 60-foot Pullman Standard bulkhead flatcar features: 8′ 6″ tall bulkheads with bolt attachment details Detailed brake gear with piping 70-ton roller-bearing trucks 33″ […]

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