Product News Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, structures, electronics, train sets, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. Here are the products Model Railroad editors have news on for the week of Jan. 7, 2021. HO scale locomotives Norfolk & Western class A 2-6-6-4 […]
If a train isn’t ready to leave when you are, you probably won’t take it. That’s the reality confronting Amtrak management and the states who sponsor passenger service as they attempt to chart a course for 2021 and beyond. Until last March, the number of departures on rail corridors across the U.S. had been on […]
Whether you’re a Rivet Counter or an Operator, ScaleTrains.com has an SD45 for you. These HO scale models are available now with every last detail installed, or just the highlights, and with dual-mode sound decoders, or as direct- current models with a provision to add your favorite Digital Command Control (DCC) decoder. General Motors’ Electro-Motive […]
Monday midday rail news: Bombardier to build 205 new cars for SkyTrain Bombardier has signed a contract to build 205 cars for SkyTrain, the rail rapid transit system of Vancouver, British Columbia, agency TransLink. The contract is valued at $565 million, and includes an option for up to 400 additional cars. Cars will be built […]
FRA issues new rule on brake inspections The Federal Railroad Administration has issued a new rule increasing the amount of time freight equipment can be left “off-air” (stopped with the air brake system depressurized) before requiring a new brake inspection. In a press release, the agency says the rule should reduce the number of idling […]
Two Class I railroads were among the companies to invest in the latest round of funding for one of the startup companies that is developing self-driving trucks. Online technology publication TechCrunch has reported that Union Pacific and Canadian National both were among the investors in a $350 million round of funding for TuSimple. CN declined […]
DENVER — Canadian rail tour operator Rocky Mountaineer will utilize its glass-topped single-level coaches and introduce a lounge car as part of a new SilverLeaf Plus class when it begins operation from Denver to Moab, Utah, next August. The “Rockies to Red Rocks” cruise operation announced last week [see “Digest: Rocky Mountaineer to launch Colorado-Utah […]
HO scale locomotives Alco S-4 diesel locomotive. New paint schemes: CP Rail (red, white, and black with Multimark herald); Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (pinstripe scheme); Baltimore & Ohio (blue and yellow); Grand Trunk Western (black and red with “wet noodle” herald); Pennsylvania RR (Dark Green Locomotive Enamel and yellow); and Southern Pacific (black and […]
Thursday morning rail news: CN should avoid layoffs unless virus causes another drop in traffic, CEO says Canadian National is likely to avoid further layoffs unless the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic causes a significant drop in rail traffic. The Canadian Press reports CEO JJ Ruest said Wednesday, after marking the 25th anniversary of […]
HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division F-series diesel locomotives. Burlington Northern (Northern Pacific “Pinetree” scheme patchout; F7A, F7B, and F7A-B set in one road number each), Denver & Rio Grande Western (Aspen Gold, silver, and black; F9B in one number; F9A-B set in two numbers), Milwaukee Road (1970s orange and black; F7A in one number and […]
HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division GP7 diesel locomotive. Great Northern (Empire Builder scheme); Belt Ry. of Chicago (1950s to 1970s scheme); Chessie System (Chesapeake & Ohio reporting marks); Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (black-and-gray scheme); Erie Lackawanna (gray, maroon, and yellow scheme); and Reading Co. (yellow-and-green scheme). Four road numbers per scheme (two each in direct […]
OMAHA, Neb. — Outgoing Union Pacific Chief Operating Officer Jim Vena, who accelerated Precision Scheduled Railroading operational changes across the system, will not rule out popping up at another Class I railroad. Vena was asked last week about his plans once his stint is up at UP, which the Canadian National veteran joined in January […]
