MONTREAL — Montreal commuter rail operator Exo is stepping up testing of new but long-delayed rolling stock, built by China’s CRRC under a C$196 million order placed in 2017. A set of the new bilevel cars is shown en route to Montreal on Saturday, Aug. 26, after a stop at Montreal West. The first cars […]
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News & Products for the week of August 28th 2023
News & Products for the week of August 28th 2023 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 August 28th […]
Diesel locomotives in the garden
Do you have a photo you’d like considered for a future gallery? Email editor@gardenrailways.com for more information. […]
Union Pacific asks federal court to resolve CPKC trackage rights dispute
WASHINGTON — Union Pacific has asked a federal court to declare that the railroad has no obligation to handle Canadian Pacific Kansas City grain trains via trackage rights between Beaumont, Texas, and the ports of Houston and Galveston. UP, which filed the complaint on Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of […]
Analysis: Pin your high-speed hopes on 186-mph Brightline West project
Until Texas Central became a zombie company over the past couple of years, its plan to link Dallas and Houston with a fleet of Japanese bullet trains was the country’s best shot at finally getting true high-speed passenger rail. Texas Central’s concept — operate proven 205-mph Shinkansen trains on a dedicated right-of-way with no grade […]
The return of the MTH RS11
The return of the MTH RS11: Making its first return to the MTH Premier Line since 2019, the Alco RS11 brings with it the grit and grind that we’ve come to love from Alco locomotives. From the unique angles on the frame to the cranking engine effects, this model will quickly become a favorite road […]
Diesel-electric locomotives have streetcar roots
It’s strange but true: Diesel-electric locomotives have streetcar roots. With diesel locomotives rapidly replacing steam locomotives in the years after World War II, it’s easy to imagine diesels as a natural evolution of the steam locomotive. The fact is, there was almost no transfer of technology. The melodious steam whistle was replaced by a blaring […]
How Amtrak services fared with summer travel surge: Analysis
WASHINGTON — Though Amtrak ridership for June and July 2023 did not reach pre-pandemic levels for the same months in 2019, a review of company statistics shows systemwide revenue beat the total for those months thanks to strong performance from Northeast Corridor and long-distance service. Frequency and capacity played a part in the performance shown […]
Dieselmotive buys former Gettysburg Railroad F7s
Dieselmotive Co, Inc. of Turlock, Calif., has purchased two former Gettysburg Railroad F7s last operated in 2013, with an eye toward returning the locomotives to freight service. The two units, last used by the Pioneer Lines short line in Gettsysburg, Pa., in 2013, are en route to a short line in Kansas for evaluation and […]
Rocky Mountaineer resumes regular operations in Canada
KAMLOOPS, British Columbia — Rocky Mountaineer tour train service resumed its normal schedule in Canada as of Sunday, Aug. 27, following several days of disruptions, the company reports. Some departures had been cancelled as a result of wildfires in British Columbia, as well as an emergency order by British Columbia government that restricted non-essential travel […]
VIA Rail Canada puts C$80 million into preservation of four historic stations
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — VIA Rail Canada is in the midst of spending more than C$80 million to preserve and upgrade four heritage stations across its network, the company said last week. That includes C$25 million at Winnipeg, where work is expected to be completed later this year. That money is being spent between 2020 and […]
Unusual locomotives – Hawaii
In many states, finding an operating Whitcomb 45-ton centercab switcher isn’t that unusual. But in Hawaii, which eschewed railroading in general decades ago, any operating locomotive is unusual. Working railroads anywhere in the islands are pretty much non-existent, with visitors having to be content with railway historical societies, museums, and private attractions. You’ll find one […]