During the latter half of the 1920s the single expansion articulated locomotive had evolved into a very capable machine. It could lug a heavy train over mountain grades, and in flat terrain it could run at the same speed as a 2-8-2. But railroad locomotive superintendents grappled with an unanswered question. Could a simple articulated […]
TORONTO — The Toronto Transit Commission has opened its newest rail transit line, the 10.3-kilometer (6.4-mile), 18-station Line 6 Finch West. The light rail line launched service on Sunday, Dec. 7, offering connection to TTC’s subway Line 1 (University-Yonge), 30 TTC bus routes and other regional transit systems. Regional transit agency Metrolinx says in a […]
It was a sad day when those 1950s E7, E8, and assorted FP units reached the point where they were clearly reaching the end of their operational life. Their long car bodies and gentle curved noses symbolized North American passenger train travel. Both EMD and General Electric offered replacement models with varied results. The best […]
Freight Car Class: Lesson 4, Airbrushing Techniques | Unlock the versatility of your airbrush to transform stock models into realistic, weathered railroad replicas! This segment of the freight car series shows you how to use an airbrush for effects like faded paint, dust, grime, and rust. Learn how to work your double-action airbrush, how to thin paint […]
PUEBLO, Colo. — Dr. Rand Ghayad, the Association of American Railroads’ senior vice president of policy and economics, will be the keynote speaker at the 31st annual AAR Research Review, hosted by MxV Rail in Pueblo on April 28-30, 2026. Ghayad will open the conference by addressing policy and economic issues shaping the rail industry […]
CHICAGO — Metra will open an online merchandise store on Wednesday, Dec. 10, offering Metra-branded merchandise such as replica station signs, T-shirts and hoodies, and mugs and water bottles. It is the first time the commuter rail operator has offered such products for sale. “This new store is part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen […]
SQUAMISH, British Columbia — The Railway Museum of British Columbia has received a $50,000 Heritage Legacy Fund grant from Heritage BC to assist with work on its car shop. The museum matched the grant, netting $100,000 for the project. The grant funds the reconstruction of the shop’s five rail doors. Each 14- by 22-foot door […]
WASHINGTON — Inadequate training methods contributed to a November 2024 incident on the Coastal Carolina Railway in which a conductor suffered amputation of his left leg after being struck by a railcar in a gravity-drop move, the National Transportation Safety Board said its final investigation report released today (Dec. 8, 2025). The Nov. 19, 2024, […]
News & Products for the week of December 8th 2025 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 December 8th, 2025. […]
Milwaukee and model railroading share deep, historic ties. Model Railroader Magazine, Wm. K. Walthers, Inc., and the National Model Railroad Association all had their humble beginnings in the beer city. This rich heritage has fostered a healthy and diverse group of model railroad clubs throughout Southeast Wisconsin that are still active today. Finding these clubs […]
PECOS, Texas — The heavy haul trucking company whose rig was stopped on a grade crossing and struck by a Union Pacific Z-train a year ago, killing the train crew, has filed a lawsuit against the railroad. The countersuit, filed last week by Boss Heavy Haul and Optimized Process Designs in Reeves County District Court […]
It isn’t much of a stretch to proclaim the 2-8-4 Berkshire-type steam locomotive as the “poster child” of the Super Power era of steam locomotives. “Berkshire,” “Kanawha,” “Big Emma” — regardless of what they were called, the wheel configuration helped advance steam technology through size, speed, and power. The development of the Berkshire all started […]
