NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. — BNSF Railway says it has not determined a timeline for replacing the bridge between North Sioux City and Sioux City, Iowa, that collapsed June 23 as a result of flooding, and continues to re-route traffic through Creston, Iowa. KTIV-TV reports that railroad spokeswoman Kendall Sloan said the railroad is coordinating […]
Type of Train: Freight
News & Products for the week of July 1st 2024
News & Products for the week of July 1st 2024 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 July 1st […]
ScaleTrains HO Rivet Counter Trinity reefer
The ScaleTrains HO Rivet Counter Trinity reefer recently arrived at the Model Railroader offices. Join Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he provides a brief history of the full-size BNSF Ry. cars, points out the various details on the contemporary freight car, and demonstrates how the sound and light functions work. Then see two of the […]
White paper urges public ownership of U.S. railroads
Rail labor groups today released a report calling for public ownership of Class I freight railroads in the U.S., arguing that the current system is broken because it’s beholden to Wall Street. The 98-page report contends that the Class I railroads’ relentless focus on cost-cutting has hurt safety, service, employees, infrastructure investment, and passenger service. […]
Iowa Interstate founding chairman dies at 102
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Iowa Interstate Railroad today announced that its founding chairman, Dr. Paul H. Banner, died on June 17 at the age of 102. Banner was instrumental in the efforts to save the railroad in 1984 following the liquidation of the Rock Island. “To describe Paul Banner as a visionary would be an […]
Teamsters Canada Rail Conference members reauthorize strikes against CN, CPKC
LAVAL, Quebec — Members of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference have voted to reauthorize strikes at Canadian Pacific Kansas City and Canadian National, the union announced Saturday, June 29. Overall, 89.5% of union members participated in the vote, with 98.6% voting to reauthorize the strike, the union said. At CN, conductors, engineers, and yard workers […]
Crew member injured as CPKC train derails in Iowa (additional update)
MIDWAY BEACH, Iowa — One crew member was reported airlifted to a hospital with serious injuries after the derailment of a CPKC train that reportedly ran away on a spur line on Saturday, June 29, near Montpelier, Iowa. The incident occurred about 7 p.m. near Midway Beach in Muscatine County, Chris Jasper, Muscatine County Director […]
Sam Foster’s Owl Cove Lumber Co. in O scale
Enjoy a glimpse of 1930s-era logging operations on Sam Foster’s 6 x 40-foot On30 (1:48) scale model railroad. Tall timber and equally impressive railroad engineering abound on this freelanced, around-the-walls narrow gauge (30″) layout. You can read more about the layout in the August 2024 issue of Model Railroader magazine. […]
Gotthard Base Tunnel set for full reopening Sept. 2
FAIDO, Switzerland — Work in the Gotthard Base Tunnel to repair damage from an August 2023 derailment is complete, SBB, the Swiss Federal Railways, announced Thursday. Plans are to resume full operations through the tunnel on Monday, Sept. 2. The reopening will restore service in less than 2 hours between Zurich and Lugano, and end […]
MTH announces new custom-run flatcar
Trainworld, 751 McDonald Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11218, is offering a Flat Car with Pipe Load (70-76071, shown, 70-76072) aa part of the RailKing One Gauge line. The car is 1:32 scale, features a removable pipe load, and is available in two numbers. Expected delivery in September 2024. Price: $149.99. Order from trainworld.com […]
Tunnel under a town
A Maine Central E7 leads a northbound train out of the Boston & Maine tunnel under Bellows Falls, Vt., in the 1950s. David K. Johnson photo […]
Federal court orders FRA to allow BNSF Railway to expand track inspection program
WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court has ordered the Federal Railroad Administration to allow BNSF Railway to expand its automated track inspection program while simultaneously reducing the frequency of traditional visual inspections. Railroads are permitted unlimited use of automated track inspection systems that rely on lasers and other technology to find track geometry defects. But […]