Rapido HO General Electric C30-7

Screen shot from video with HO scale diesel on scenicked model railroad and title bar in lower left corner.

A sample of the Rapido HO General Electric C30-7 diesel locomotive recently arrived at our offices. In this product review video, Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno shares a brief history of the six-axle road unit and Union Pacific 2415; highlights the various factory-applied detail parts; and demonstrates some of the sound and light effects […]

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Steam and diesel on the Union Pacific

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June 13, 1950, finds three Fairbanks-Morse H20-44 end-cab road-switchers and 4-8-2 No. 7019 at Union Pacific’s San Bernardino (Calif.) engine house. The F-Ms had taken over Cajon Pass helper chores in 1948. When they were found wanting, UP brought steam back for a spell in 1950–51. Chard Walker photo […]

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UP intermodal train derails in eastern Oregon

Union Pacific logo without slogan. UP Bailey Yard explosion appear to be accidental.

LA GRANDE, Ore. — Eleven single-stack container cars of a Union Pacific train derailed west of La Grande on Thursday evening, Feb. 27, Union County Emergency Services reports. The derailment occurred about 9 p.m. No injuries were reported and Union Pacific confirmed no hazardous materials were involved. Two grade crossings — at Fire and Greenwood […]

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UP train derails in Yuma, Ariz.

Container on ground from derailment of intermodal cars

YUMA, Ariz. — Approximately a dozen cars of a Union Pacific intermodal train derailed Tuesday evening just north of Yuma, closing a grade crossing overnight and significantly delaying the Sunset Limited. No injuries were reported in the incident, which occurred about 6:15 p.m., UP said in a statement to TV stations KYMA and KECY. Rural […]

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STB chairman updates efforts to address long-running proceedings

Passenger train passes grain elevator and closed interlocking tower

WASHINGTON — Surface Transportation Board Chairman Patrick Fuchs — who has indicated a desire to have the board address matters more quickly, as well as be more transparent — today (Feb. 21, 2025) offered updates on six long-running proceedings, one of which dates to 2009. The matters in question are: — An abandonment request from […]

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UP train derails on Tehachapi Pass

Derailed freight cars on curve

CALIENTE, Calif. — About 15 cars of a Union Pacific train derailed on Tehachapi Pass today (Tuesday, Feb. 18), blocking traffic on the busy route shared by UP and BNSF Railway. KBAK-TV reports the Kern County Fire Department was called to the derailment about 9:29 a.m. on Caliente-Bodfish Road, 2 miles north of State Route […]

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UP announces locomotive honoring Abraham Lincoln

Side-view illustration of red, maroon, and gray locomotive.

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific has marked Presidents Day by announcing plans for a locomotive to honor the nation’s 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, who signed the legislation authorizing construction of the Transcontinental Railroad, leading to UP’s creation. The paint scheme of locomotive No. 1616 will feature “the unique colors of Lincoln’s era,” UP said in […]

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UP train derails near San Antonio

Union Pacific logo without slogan. UP Bailey Yard explosion appear to be accidental.

KIRBY, Texas — Approximately 15 cars of a Union Pacific train derailed today (Feb. 15, 2025) in Kirby. No injuries or hazardous materials spills were reported. The derailment occurred about 1 p.m., a Union Pacific representative told KSAT-TV. The city said in a Facebook post that Gibbs Sprawl Road on the city’s northeast side will […]

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MTH announces new locomotive

yellow model locomotive

MTH Electric Trains, 7393 Washington Blvd., Ste. 101, Elkridge, MD has announced a new ES44 locomotive.  The 1:32 scale engines feature two remote-controlled ProtoCouplers, a detachable snow plow, onboard DCC/DSC decoder, and much more (70-2186 shown). Eight paint schemes will be available. Expected delivery in September 2025. To order, contact your local MTH retailer or […]

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Railroads shut out of 250 best-managed companies list

Coal train passes interlocking tower in snow

No railroads landed on the Wall Street Journal’s ranking of the 250 best-managed companies of 2024. The annual Management Top 250 list measures corporate effectiveness by considering performance in five areas, including customer satisfaction, employee engagement, innovation, social responsibility, and financial strength. The ranking, developed and compiled by the Drucker Institute, is based on data […]

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