The ongoing effect of United States tariffs on the model train industry

The following is a series of edited excerpts from an interview conducted by David Popp with Stacey Walthers Naffah, president and CEO of Wm. K. Walthers, Inc. on April 21, 2025. It is part of Trains.com and Model Railroader‘s ongoing coverage of U.S. tariffs. Click here to watch the complete video interview on Trains.com Video. […]

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Amtrak Gulf Coast trains to be known as ‘Mardi Gras Service’

Map of rail line between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala.

The Gulf Coast continues to wait for its long-awaited Amtrak service. But at least now it knows the name for the trains between Mobile, Ala., and New Orleans. The two daily round trips will be known as Amtrak Mardi Gras Service, the company announced today. No date for the start of service was announced beyond […]

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Union Pacific posts flat quarterly results despite volume growth

Yellow locomotive leading freight train with Chicago skyline in background

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific reported flat quarterly earnings today (April 24, 2025) as a decline in fuel surcharge revenue offset record freight revenue that flowed from industry-leading volume growth. “We had a solid start to the year … we delivered record first quarter operating performance,” CEO Jim Vena told investors and analysts on the […]

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New Hampshire roundhouse group receives Webb preservation award

Wooden four-stall roundhouse with weathered green doors

ANDOVER, Mass. — New Hampshire’s Bartlett Roundhouse Preservation Society is the recipient of this year’s H. Albert Webb Memorial Railroad Preservation Award, the Massachusetts Bay Railroad Enthusiasts have announced. The Enthusiasts, who administer the grant created by member Leigh Webb, also have awarded $65,000 to 19 projects as part of their 2025 Railroad Preservation Grants […]

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Minnesota museum opens Northern Pacific steam exhibit

Two steam locomotives in museum roundhouse

ST. PAUL, Minn. — For the first time in decades, it’s possible to see three Northern Pacific steam locomotives gathered in a roundhouse, thanks to the efforts of the Minnesota Transportation Museum (MTM). The museum is exhibiting two NP 4-6-2s and a 4-6-0 at its former Great Northern Railway Jackson Street Roundhouse in St. Paul. […]

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Weekly U.S. rail volume continues above 2024 levels

Weekly table showing U.S. carload rail traffic by commodity type, plus total intermodal volume

WASHINGTON — Weekly U.S. rail traffic continues to run ahead of 2024 levels, with increases in both carload and intermodal traffic. Statistics from the Association of American Railroads for the week ending April 19 shows total traffic of 496,053 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 4.5% over the same week a year ago. The […]

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NTSB report on NS rear-end collision urges FRA to finish research on patching hole in PTC

WASHINGTON — The probable cause of a rear-end collision between two Norfolk Southern freight trains near Easton, Pa., last year — an incident that involved three trains in all — was the engineer’s failure to follow restricted speed requirements, the National Transportation Safety Board said today (April 23, 2025). But the lack of positive train […]

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VIA’s Canadian turns 70, operating with equipment from when it began

TORONTO — April 24,1955, was what Canadian Pacific publicity mavens characterized as a “Red Letter Day,” because that was when its new silver flagship, the Canadian, debuted with daily departures from Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal. Seventy years later, VIA Rail Canada commemorated the occasion with a high-profile sendoff of its version of the train — […]

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Colorado member of U.S. House seeks to remove funding for Front Range passenger project

Map of proposed Fort Collins-Pueblo rail service

DENVER — One of Colorado’s members of Congress is calling for the U.S. Department of Transportation to rescind funding to the state’s Front Range Passenger Rail project, claiming it a waste of federal funding. Colorado’s governor says no federal funding has been allotted to construction for the project. U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Windsor, Colo.), in […]

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NTSB releases preliminary report on California switching fatality

Aerial view of railroad yard where fatal accident occurred

WASHINGTON — The conductor of a contract switching operator at BNSF Railway’s auto distribution facility in Richmond, Calif., was killed when he was pinned between two railcars during a shoving move, the National Transportation Safety Board said today (April 23, 2025) in its preliminary investigation report on the April 4 incident. The conductor of three-person […]

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Trains.com Insider Interview | Walthers CEO Stacey Walthers Naffah Talks Tariffs and Global Trade

Trains.com Insider Interview | Wm. K. Walthers, Inc., CEO and President Stacey Walthers Naffah stops by the Firecrown Media Wisconsin office to visit with Trains.com Director David Popp. The shift in U.S. trade policies and practices remains the topic of greatest interest to hobbyists. You’ll want to hear, directly from Stacey, how tariffs impact the […]

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Wabtec revenue and profits increase while order backlog grows

Locomotive cabs in primer paint on factory floor

PITTSBURGH — Wabtec reported higher quarterly revenue and earnings today thanks to growth in its freight and transit business segments. “The Wabtec team has started the year strong, delivering over 20% in earnings per share growth and highlighting the continued business momentum across both the Freight and Transit segments,” CEO Rafael Santana said. Operating income […]

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