Athearn HO three-bay offset-side hopper

Color photo showing B end of HO scale three-bay offset-side hopper painted red with white graphics on white background

Athearn HO Athearn HO three-bay offset-side hopper Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Single car, $37.99; four-pack, $139.99 Era: 1950s+ Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Athearn HO three-bay offset-side hopper features: Body-mounted McHenry scale plastic couplers with factory-installed trip pin Factory-applied wire grab irons, stirrup steps, end braces, and brake platform […]

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Port of Philadelphia acquires yard site from Norfolk Southern

Aerial view of area around Port of Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA — The Port of Philadelphia has acquired a 152-acre rail yard adjacent to the port from Norfolk Southern, and will activate an existing intermodal transfer facility at the site. Acquisition of the Mustin Yard property is part of development plans outlined in the port’s recently released strategic plan looking ahead to 2040. The Philadelphia […]

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USDOT to withhold $2.1 billion for Chicago transit projects

Map illustrating new transit route.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation on Friday said it would withhold $2.1 billion in previously awarded for two Chicago Transit Authority infrastructure projects, citing a rule issued earlier in the week barring Disadvantaged Business Enterprise programs for federally funded projects. The move is the second this week targeting major transit projects in locations […]

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Trains in the UK: A postscript

British freight train

BROOKFIELD, Wis. — It wasn’t the trip I wanted. Or planned. But you don’t always get to choose your experiences. And while I’m still tremendously disappointed to have missed the Trains/Special Interest Tours UK Celebration of Steam event — with its four steam excursions and visits to three notable rail museums — I’m trying to […]

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BLET ratifies new five-year contract with Union Pacific

Freight train crossing diamond after crossing bridge

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen have ratified a new five-year contract with Union Pacific by a wide margin, the union announced today. The agreement, which includes raises totaling 18.8%, compounded, over the life of the contract, covers almost 6,000 BLET members at UP. It was ratified by a […]

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Cando to acquire Houston rail terminal

Logo of Cando Rail & Terminal

Cando Rail & Terminals, one of North America’s largest owners and operators of first and last mile rail infrastructure, will acquire a 900-car storage, staging, and transload terminal in Houston. The Manitoba-based Cando will acquire the Channelview Terminal from Texas Deepwater Partners, the company said today (Friday, Oct. 3, 2025). “We are very pleased to […]

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NJ Transit sets ‘Meet Our Rail Fleet’ event

Logo for NJ Transit "Meet Our Rail Fleet" ebent

HOBOKEN, N.J. — NJ Transit is partnering with three other organizations for a “Meet Our Rail Fleet” event — featuring displays of historical equipment and an opportunity to learn about careers with the transit agency — set for Sunday, Oct. 12, at Hoboken Terminal. The event — in conjunction with the United Railroad Historical Society […]

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Amtrak uses make-up equipment to avoid cancelling Empire Builder

Passenger train with two locomotives passing under signal bridge with Chicago skyline in background

CHICAGO — In a change from recent operations, Amtrak was able to put together a makeup trainset to prevent cancellation of the westbound Empire Builder that departed Chicago on Wednesday, Oct. 1. Significant long-distance train delays have often resulted in cascading cancellations for lack of equipment since Amtrak lost nearly complete Superliner sets to devastating […]

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Maintenance of way union praises former CSX chief executive

NOVI, Mich. — The union representing maintenance-of-way workers has penned a public letter of support for departed CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs, just days after SMART-TD general chairmen issued a statement critical of Hinrichs’ three-year tenure at the railroad. “Recent articles have painted Joe Hinrichs harmful to both rail labor and the railroad industry,” the Brotherhood […]

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How do I find toy train part numbers?

Classic Toy Trains magazine logo

Thanks for the list of sources for parts in the Fall 2025 issue of CTT. I have nine prewar and postwar engines awaiting attention; I’ll need parts for some of them, and your list will be invaluable. But some sources don’t do searches for parts, which raises the question: Where do we find part numbers? […]

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