Q: What website is best for finding prototype photos of freight cars to help with realistic weathering? — Jim Veronico A: Though some websites are certainly better than others, I’m reluctant to declare a single website as the “best” for finding prototype freight car photos. Over the years, I’ve found that using multiple sites helps […]
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Federal judge issues temporary restraining order preserving New York congestion pricing
NEW YORK — The federal government’s efforts to stop New York’s congestion tolling program suffered a setback today (Tuesday, May 27) as a U.S. District Court judge issued a temporary restraining order, allowing the program to continue through at least June 9. Judge Lewis Liman ruled that the U.S. Department of Transportation could not withhold […]
ASLRRA Jake Awards honor railroads with top safety records
WASHINGTON – Nearly 400 railroads earned Jake Safety Awards from the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association – including 357 that had zero reportable injuries in 2024. To achieve a Jake Award, an ASLRRA member railroad must perform better than the average Federal Railroad Administration reportable injury frequency rate per 200,000 person-hours worked at […]
10 photogenic railfanning spots
For the dedicated photographer looking for quality over quantity, finding the perfect location to capture railroading against stunning backdrops is a never-ending quest. Whether you’re a seasoned expert or just looking for a change in scenery, these 10 photogenic railfanning spots — from rugged mountains to scenic waterways and cityscapes — provide exceptional opportunities. Of […]
Bond agencies deliver cautionary note on Brightline finances
MIAMI — The finances of Brightline’s Florida operation have produced cautionary action by bond-rating agencies on Wall Street, which have downgraded the company’s bonds and notes over concerns about its ability to service its debt. The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports in a paywalled article that Fitch Group and Kroll Bond Rating Agency downgraded more […]
Model Railroader Photo of the Day: The first Electro-Motive Corp. FTs
The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe was the first railroad to order Electro-Motive Corp. FTs, and four of them are seen here leading an extra (note the white flags on the lead unit) through Starkville, Colo. The scene was on the late David Haines’ N scale AT&SF layout. Bill Pearce took the photo. Model Railroader‘s […]
Union Pacific Big Boy-Lincoln diesel trip set for July
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 and the railroad’s diesel honoring Abraham Lincoln will make a round trip between Cheyenne and Denver in July, with a public whistle-stop appearance in Greeley, Colo., in each direction. The railroad will also auction off four cab rides to support the Union Pacific Railroad Museum in […]
Mexico’s Maya Train sustains heavy losses, needs freight to become profitable, official says
Mexico’s Maya Train — built to attract tourists to sites on the Yucatan Peninsula — has little chance of becoming profitable without the development of freight traffic on the route, the operation’s general director said this month. The news site Infobae reports that, at a seminar of the Mexican Railway Association earlier this month, Gen. […]
Toy train parts suppliers
One of the questions we receive quite regularly is where to find parts. Sooner or later, it’s likely you’ll need a part for your locomotive or rolling stock. It could be as simple as replacing traction tires or as complicated as a postwar rehab project. In either case, we’ve got you covered! For each retailer, […]
Track scales, vital but often overlooked
How much a railroad charges to move freight depends largely upon the weight of the cargo. Large shippers maintain in-plant track scales and weigh each car — knowing the weight simplifies the paperwork involved in billing the shipment Other shippers rely on the railroad’s own track scales, which are usually located along a through yard […]
Strong Amtrak summer demand triggers sellouts, high prices, despite some capacity gains: Analysis
CHICAGO — Sellouts in coach and high prices in sleeping cars, if space is available at all, are the rule rather than exception in a News Wire survey of Amtrak long-distance trains as summer arrives. Travelers will often face limited inventory for the rest of the summer despite marginal increases in equipment deployment. In a […]
Unifor members authorize strike against VIA Rail Canada
MONTREAL — VIA Rail Canada workers represented by Canadian union Unifor have authorized a strike that could come as soon as June 22, the union announced Monday, May 26. Some 97.5% of workers represented by Unifor Council 4000 and Local 100 voted in favor of strike authorization. “This strike vote is not just a number […]
