Regulators, concerned about service, order big four U.S. railroads to continue to provide detailed performance data

Train crossing a diamond

WASHINGTON — Citing ongoing service problems at the big four U.S. Class I railroads, federal regulators today ordered BNSF Railway, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, and Union Pacific to continue reporting expanded performance metrics for an additional six months. The Surface Transportation Board in May ordered all Class I systems to provide weekly reports that cover […]

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Union Pacific General Electric standard turbine from ScaleTrains

Long yellow diesel locomotive and fuel tender

Union Pacific General Electric standard turbine Scale: N (1:160) Price: Direct current with Next18 connector – without tender, $144.99; with tender, $189.99. With ESU LokSound 5 Micro Digital Command Control and sound decoder with Full Throttle, Next18 connector, and sugar cube speaker – without tender, $244.99; with tender, $289.99. Era: 1950s to 1962 (varies depending on road number) […]

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UP 2-8-8-0 in the Blue Mountains

Union Pacific 2-8-8-0 in the Blue Mountains

The Union Pacific’s 3500-class 2-8-8-0s were often found lugging freights in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon. Here, No. 3532 pulls 70 cars of an extra freight upgrade west of La Grande, Ore., in July 1948. Henry R. Griffiths Jr. photo […]

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Gunderson Multi-Max auto racks from ScaleTrains

Model of silver and orange auto rack train car

Gunderson Multi-Max auto racks Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $46.99 Era: 2015 to present (varies depending on scheme) Manufacturer: ScaleTrains, 4901 Old Tasso Rd. NE, Cleveland, TN 37312; 844-987-2467; scaletrains.com Gunderson Multi-Max auto racks feature: New road numbers Late body type Late end doors with “zig-zag” angle panels Molded corrugated side panels American Steel Foundries low deck swing-motion trucks Detail kit […]

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Officials are out in force for CREATE’s latest groundbreaking

Eight people with shovels digging into box of dirt

CHICAGO — To weigh the significance of Tuesday’s groundbreaking for part of CREATE’s latest infrastructure project, consider the adage that “success has many fathers, but defeat is an orphan.” Then consider the 13 speakers and many other representatives from federal, state, county, and local government that were part of the ceremony for the Forest Hill […]

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34-foot 100-ton two-bay hopper from Wm. K. Walthers Inc.

Model of orange two-bay hopper

34-foot 100-ton two-bay hopper Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $31.98 (undecorated, $29.98) Era: 1970s to present (varies depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com 34-foot 100-ton two-bay hopper features: Factory-applied door and brake details Heavy die-cast metal underframe 36” metal wheelsets with RP-25 contours Proto-Max metal couplers Road names: Gifford […]

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Gunderson Auto-Max articulated auto rack from Athearn

Drawing of white auto rack car with red "Kansas City Southern" billboard lettering

Gunderson Auto-Max articulated auto rack Scale: N (1:160) Price: $54.99 Era: 1999+ to 2016+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Gunderson Auto-Max articulated auto rack cars feature: Separate, factory-applied brake wheel and brake details Simulated corrugated roof Full articulation with flexible diaphragm Safety striping 70-ton […]

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CN challenges STB’s draft environmental review of CP-KCS merger

Kansas City Southern train leaves terminal

WASHINGTON — Canadian National is challenging some conclusions federal regulators reached in their draft environmental review of the proposed Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger. Chief among them: The assumption that the merged Canadian Pacific Kansas City would not increase fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. CN, in an Oct. 14 filing with the Surface Transportation […]

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Electro-Motive Division GP38-2 from Athearn Genesis

Drawing of yellow and black diesel locomotive

Electro-Motive Division GP38-2 Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin NEM connector, $229.99; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound decoder, $329.99. Era: 1973+ to present (varies depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Electro-Motive Division GP38-2 diesel locomotive features: Road-number-specific details Trainline and m.u. hoses Walkway tread detail Separate, factory-installed uncoupling levers, […]

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