Western Maryland Scenic adds former California Zephyr dome (corrected)

Stainless steel dome car with red stripe along windows

CUMBERLAND, Md. — The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad has added dome-lounge Silver Palace, a well-traveled car built by the Budd Co. in 1948 for Western Pacific for use on the California Zephyr. Following completion of maintenance, inspections, and upgrades, the car will enter excursion service, replacing dome-lounge Stampede Pass, which the heritage railroad had previously […]

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CPKC says Union Pacific aims to stifle competition for Gulf Coast grain

red, yellow and other colors on a locomotive

WASHINGTON — Union Pacific’s contention that Kansas City Southern can’t haul grain from the Upper Midwest to the Gulf Coast using trackage rights south of Beaumont, Texas, is “revisionist history,” Canadian Pacific Kansas City has told federal regulators. Earlier this month CPKC asked the Surface Transportation Board to enforce the trackage rights that KCS gained […]

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Atlas O PS 4427 high-side covered hopper

Color photo of O scale three-bay covered hopper in Oxide Red paint with white graphics.

A Pullman-Standard 4427 high-side three-bay covered hopper is making its debut in the Atlas O Premier line. The model, acquired when Atlas O purchased select M.T.H. tooling in March 2021, features plastic and die-cast metal construction and a mix of molded and separate, factory-applied detail parts. Prototype history The PS 4,427-cubic-foot capacity three-bay covered hopper […]

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News & Products for the week of August 21st 2023

A blue model locomotive against a white background

News & Products for the week of August 21st 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 21st […]

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New ownership for the Choo Choo Barn

three people standing next to a red sign

New ownership for the Choo Choo Barn Gary Russell of Stevens, Pa. purchased the Choo Choo Barn’s model train layout along with the adjoining Strasburg Train Shop in late April. Russell plans to increase the shop’s online presence, and expand the selection of large-scale trains in the shop. He also plans to upgrade the electronics on […]

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Amtrak exercises contract option for 10 more Airo trainsets

Blue and red cab car leads train into curveint

WASHINGTON — Amtrak said it has exercised a contract option and ordered 10 additional Airo trainsets for use on regional and state-supported routes, bringing to 83 the total number of the trainsets to be manufactured by Siemens Mobility at its plant in Sacramento, Calif. “We’re thrilled to satisfy the soaring demand for train travel with […]

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A look at Menards 2023 Halloween village items

black pumpkin house

Have you seen the Menards 2023 Halloween village items yet? My husband and I have been waiting for them to show up on shelves, and this past weekend, they finally were out. There are a number of pieces you might like to add to your layout, and figures too. Without delay, here’s a look at […]

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Amtrak police dogs

canine police dog in station

Amtrak police dogs More than 50 police dogs serve and protect Amtrak’s trains and stations throughout the United States. From birth to adulthood, these canines are trained to work with their human counterparts, protecting them from threats such as bombs. A few of the dogs are solely trained to detect narcotics. In fact, when Amtrak’s […]

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