The Louise Express Christmas layout

overview of Christmas train layout

Verlyn Noring received his first train set when he was 5 years old. Today, he still admires that Marx No. 999 set, which is proudly displayed on his fireplace mantle. In 1982, Verlyn and Louise attended the LCCA convention in Dearborn, Mich. They spotted a custom painted postwar Christmas train set for sale. Like many […]

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Memorable train rides: Australia’s ‘Indian Pacific’

man leaning on silver train

Trains David Lassen’s pick: Indian Pacific Name of train: Indian Pacific The route: Sydney-Adelaide-Perth, Australia Duration: Four days, three nights. The current once-a-week schedule has the train leaving Sydney at 1:55 p.m. on Wednesdays and arriving in Perth at 3 p.m. on Saturdays. The adventure: This was both adventure and recovery time after covering the […]

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WalthersProto HO EMD SD9

Capture of title screen from Product Review video.

A new run of the WalthersProto HO EMD SD9 was recently released. Join Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he provides a brief history of Great Northern No. 595, points out the many freestanding details on the six-axle road switcher, and demonstrates the various light and sound functions on the ESU LokSound 5-equipped model. Then see […]

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WalthersProto HO EMD SD9

Capture of title screen from Product Review video.

A new run of the WalthersProto HO EMD SD9 was recently released. Join Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he provides a brief history of Great Northern No. 595, points out the many freestanding details on the six-axle road switcher, and demonstrates the various light and sound functions on the ESU LokSound 5-equipped model. Then see […]

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NTSB releases final East Palestine report

Fire along railroad track at derailment site

WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board on Friday released the final report on the Feb. 3, 2023, Norfolk Southern derailment and hazardous chemical release in East Palestine, Ohio — a document finalized by the June 25 meeting held by the board in East Palestine. As indicated at that meeting [see “NTSB issues 31 new […]

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STB calls hearing for Class I railroads to outline plans for growth

Red locomotive with double-stack container cars

WASHINGTON — Federal regulators are summoning executives from the six Class I freight railroads to a rare public hearing to explain how their companies plan to invest in and grow their business amid concern over recent negative volume trends. In a notice published today (Friday, July 12), the Surface Transportation Board said it also welcomes […]

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New York begins work to replace aging Albany rail bridge

Steel girder bridge over river

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York state has begun work on a new rail bridge across the Hudson River in Albany to replace a structure with portions dating to 1865, and also awarded funding to tear down a deteriorating, vacant warehouse that led to interruptions of rail service in 2022, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced today. The […]

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Significant delays, cancellations disrupt Amtrak’s network

Passenger train at grade crossing

CHICAGO — Amtrak’s stretched-thin and aging fleet is encountering significant challenges to reliability across the entire system this week as national network trains remain sold out for many segments. Sunset cancelled With Tropical Storm Beryl causing widespread flooding in the Houston area early in the week, Amtrak truncated the eastbound Sunset Limited at San Antonio, […]

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Restaurants with model railroad layouts

An image of three cats on a model railroad layout

A rail-themed restaurant is a concept familiar to many rail enthusiasts. Perhaps you’ve dined at one yourself. Often located in a converted passenger station, the décor is themed, unsurprisingly, after railroads. Sometimes, these restaurants will feature authentic dining car plates from one or several railroads, and other such memorabilia. Sometimes, though, these rail-themed restaurants will […]

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News photos: Big Boy on the road in Nevada and California

Steam locomotive and short train in desert passing below camera location. Elrond Lawrence photo

ROSEVILLE, Calif. — Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 has reached the westernmost point of its current tour, beginning the first of two days of public display today in Roseville. Information on the display is available here. Here are a few images catching up on recent days of the “Westward Bound” tour, with Elrond Lawrence […]

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BNSF derailment in Oklahoma leads to brief evacuation

Image of derailed cars by grain elevator

WOODWARD, Okla. — Eighteen cars of a BNSF train derailed Thursday, July 11, in downtown Woodward, briefly leading to an evacuation order until it was determined the contents of the train posed no public safety hazard. KOCO-TV reports BNSF said in a statement that the derailment occurred about 5:30 p.m. and the cars involved carried […]

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