Selling the service

Chicago & North Western stenciled “The Overland Route” on rolling stock, promoting its favorable connection with the Union Pacific Railroad. J. Michael Gruber collection “KEEP ON TRUCKIN’… BY TRAIN” proclaims the slogan on the side of this Union Pacific caboose, seen in East Los Angeles. Recognizing the public visibility of a moving cross-country train, UP […]

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Railroad electrification proposals

At the end of the 1930s, the United States stood as the world leader in railroad electrification. With 2400 route-miles and more than 6300 track-miles under electric power – far more than any other country – U.S. electrification represented more than 20 percent of the world total. Electricity was harnessed for a variety of railroad […]

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Athearn upgrades its HO scale SD40-2 diesel locomotive

Athearn HO SD40-2 diesel Athearn recently introduced a “new” SD40-2 to replace the firm’s earlier model, which has been available since 1983. Most notably, the new locomotive offers near-scale size plastic handrails, molded in appropriate colors. Also, there are three variations of dynamic brake housings as well as exhaust stack and radiator intake screens that […]

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The 4-6-2 Pacific-type steam locomotive

Prior to the Hudsons, Mountains, and Northerns, the 4-6-2 Pacific-type was celebrated as THE passenger locomotive at the turn of the 20th century. Outperformed in later years by their bigger, faster, and stronger successors, the smaller racehorses continued to hold their own until the end of steam along North America’s railroads. Though, it can be […]

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California concludes zero-emissions locomotives are ready to roll

The California Air Resources Board pitted a standard diesel-electric locomotive consist against zero-emissions alternatives – including battery-electric models from Wabtec and ProgressRail as well as Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s hydrogen fuel cell locomotive – in a hypothetical test run from the Port of Los Angeles to Barstow, Calif. The analysis concludes that the current zero-emissions […]

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News photo: Mexico, meet La Empresa

LAREDO, Texas — The Final Spike Steam Tour has entered the third country on its itinerary. This morning, the train celebrating the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger crossed into Mexico, a historic moment underscoring the three-nation linkage created by the CPKC merger and marking the first trip into that country for CP 4-6-4 No. 2816. […]

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Holiday trains & ‘Polar Express Train Rides’ (2024)

Holiday trains & Polar Express Train Rides (2024) Holiday trains & Polar Express Train Rides (2024): It’s never too early to start planning for a magical train ride with family and friends — especially when tickets go on sale during the spring and summer for some venues. Purchasing a ticket for a holiday ride on […]

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News & Products for the week of May 13th 2024

News & Products for the week of May 13th 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 May 13th […]

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Alberta to develop province-wide passenger rail plan

CALGARY, Alberta — The government of Alberta is developing a “Passenger Rail Master Plan” that seeks to create a provincial rail system include a line linking Calgary and Edmonton, commuter rail networks around those two cities, and routes to parks in the province’s mountains, Premier Danielle Smith said in a Monday press conference. The province […]

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Longer lengths of haul help propel CPKC’s first-quarter earnings

CALGARY, Alberta — Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s first-quarter financial results reflected the progress the railway has made in the year since the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger, executives said today. “One year into our historic combination, I am proud of what our dedicated family of railroaders has accomplished as we deliver on the benefits of […]

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