2025 marked another great year for new releases in model railroading. Whatever your scale or discipline in the hobby, odds are good that there was a new release that caught your eye and had you reaching for your wallet. As we look forward to 2026, Eric White, Cody Grivno, Lucas Iverson, and David Popp take […]
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News photo: Genesee & Wyoming adds to semiquincentennial locomotive fleet
NORWOOD, Ohio — Genesee & Wyoming has marked the arrival of the semiquincentennial year of U.S. independence with the latest addition to its growing fleet of 250th anniversary locomotives. Indiana & Ohio Railway C44-9W No. 4445 joins earlier commemorative locomotives at the Arizona Eastern [see “News photo: Genesee & Wyoming’s latest …,” Trains.com], as well […]
Semiquincentennial anniversary locomotives in O gauge
The United States celebrates its semiquincentennial anniversary (250 years) in July 2026! Manufacturers have started announcing motive power for this notable event. The following is a list of what’s been announced; I will update this article as I receive more announcements. If you know of a locomotive not on this list, including S gauge engines, […]
Fire damages locomotive at New York heritage railway
KINGSTON, N.Y. — The cause is under investigation after an out-of-service locomotive of the Catskill Mountain Railroad caught fire early New Year’s Day. A fire involving Alco RS1 No. 400 was reported about 3 a.m.; the Kingston Fire Department said it took about two hours to bring the incident under control. No injuries resulted. The […]
Fourteenth person dies from Mexican derailment
OAXACA, Mexico — A 73-year-old woman died Thursday (Jan. 1) from injuries suffered in Sunday’s derailment of the Interoceanic Train, the Mexican Navy announced, raising the accident’s death toll to 14. The Dec. 28 derailment on the trans-isthmus service between Salina Cruz and Coatzacoalcos saw one locomotive and four cars of the northbound train derail, […]
Proposed schedule released for return of Canada’s Northlander
NORTH BAY, Ontario — In another step toward restoration of Northlander passenger service, Ontario Northland has released a proposed timetable for the train, expected to resume this year. The timetable released in December calls for 10 hour, 40-minute service on the approximately 740-kilometer (460-mile) route between Toronto and Timmins, Ont. The trains will serve 13 […]
U.S. weekly rail traffic shows small gain to conclude 2025
WASHINGTON — U.S. rail volume eked out a small gain over 2024 levels in the final full week of 2025, ending a nine-week string of declines compared to the prior year. According to statistics from the Association of American Railroads, traffic for the week was 392,295 carloads and intermodal units — well below the weekly […]
Reading & Northern again hits 1-million ton mark in coal shipments (updated)
PORT CLINTON, Pa. — Reading & Northern Railroad has shipped more than 1 million tons of anthracite coal for the third straight year, the company announced on Dec. 31. That figure came despite a downturn in export volume, the railroad said in a press release, thanks to the domestic market that mainly supports U.S. steel […]
Classic Toy Trains new products for January 2026
Locomotives & rolling stock Atlas Model Railroad Co., Inc., 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205, offers an O gauge Gunderson 60’ Hy-Cube Boxcar as part of the Master series. The boxcar features several roadnames and O-54 operation. Expected delivery in third quarter of 2026. Price: $109.95. Website: shop.atlasrr.com MTH Electric Trains, 7393 Washington Blvd. Ste. […]
Trains’ top stories of the year, 2018-2025
As 2026 begins, and with Trains’ top railroading story of 2025 announced on the final day of the just-completed year, we today a look back at the top stories in our previous annual countdowns. This year’s pick, the planned Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger, was a rare unanimous choice among our voters. And while it’s impossible to […]
News photo: Last train on the Central New England Railroad
EAST WINDSOR, Conn. — After 30 years of operation on 14 miles of state-owned former New Haven Railroad track, Central New England Railroad operated its last train on the final day of 2025, as Genesee & Wyoming’s Connecticut Southern prepared to take over the line on Jan. 1, 2026. GP9 No. 3760 moved a single […]
Channel Tunnel service resumes, but delays, cancellations linger
LONDON — Rail service has resumed through the Channel Tunnel after a Tuesday shutdown, but delays continue today (Dec. 31) for trains packed with delayed travelers. The UK newspaper The Independent reports 30 Eurostar trains were cancelled Tuesday, and at least one that did operate arrived in Paris some 12 hours behind schedule. In all, […]
