Intermodal volume drags down weekly U.S. rail figures

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

WASHINGTON — A significant drop in intermodal traffic was the catalyst for a decline in weekly U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Sept. 17, according to statistics from the Association of American Railroads. Overall traffic was 490,654 carloads and intermodal units, down 2.9% from the same week in 2021. That included 251,126 containers and […]

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53-foot intermodal container with refrigeration unit from Walthers

White intermodal container with "Tiger Cool Express" logo on side

53-foot reefer container Scale: HO (1:87:1) Price: $17.98 Era: Modern Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com 53-foot reefer container features: Injection-molded plastic construction Refrigeration unit Compatible with WalthersProto or Mainline well cars (sold separately) Release date: Winter 2023 Paint schemes: Axsun (white, black, and yellow), Canadian National (white, green, and black […]

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Atlas O bulkhead flatcar

Screen shot of O scale freight car on wood workshop bench

The Atlas O 68-foot bulkhead flatcar is back in new paint schemes and road numbers. Model Railroader magazine Senior Editor Cody Grivno hosts our latest product review video, taking an in-depth look at the Trainman series model. Features on the bulkhead flatcar include side stake pockets, simulated tie loops, a fish-belly center sill, pull plates, […]

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Westerfield Models LLC re-releases Norfolk & Western 46-foot battleship gondola

Model of six-axle dark gray gondola

Norfolk & Western 46-foot battleship gondola Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $47 plus shipping Era: 1914-1930 Manufacturer: Westerfield Models LLC, 1964 Lacey Ct., Gardnerville, NV 89410; 303-658-9343; westerfieldmodels.com Norfolk & Western class GKa/GKb 46-foot battleship gondola features: Unpainted one-piece cast urethane body with integral frame Cast urethane detail parts Yarmouth etched bronze eyebolts Decals covering all versions […]

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Rail workers’ group calls for Wednesday picketing

People with picket signs on sidewalk

An ad-hoc rail workers’ group is calling for informational picketing on Wednesday to address what it calls “the staffing shortages and lack of a decent quality of life” for employees as railroads, employees, and customers wait to see if unions will ratify tentative agreements that averted a strike last week. Meanwhile, the International Association of […]

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Amtrak’s Maple Leaf overtakes a freight train

Passenger train approaches on track next to passing freight

Amtrak’s Maple Leaf catches a CSX intermodal train   With vehicle-train collisions near the top of the issues list following the Southwest Chief derailment at a Missouri roadway earlier in the summer, Trains News Wire scouted an appropriate photo location in western New York during a recent trip to capture an Amtrak train at a […]

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Walthers 40-foot Ortner 100-ton aggregate hopper

Model of yellow hopper with white background

40-foot Ortner 100-ton aggregate hopper Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $44.98 Era: 1970s to present (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com 40-foot Ortner 100-ton aggregate hopper features: Air-equipped door details as appropriate Factory-installed wire grab irons and end railings Removable load Detailed brake […]

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Innotrans trade fair opens in Berlin

Cab ends of red trainset and blue and white trainset on adjacent display tracks

BERLIN — The world’s biggest rail industry trade fair, InnoTrans, has returned after a four-year gap caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The show opened its doors in Berlin today (Tuesday, Sept. 20), with 2,834 exhibitors from 56 countries using the entire Messe Berlin exhibition grounds, which includes 26 buildings covering more than 1.7 million square feet, […]

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