Clean-up under way after 31-car BNSF derailment in Texas

BNSF Railway logo

DACUS, Texas — Clean-up is in progress following the weekend derailment of 31 cars of a BNSF Railway train of crushed limestone in the small town of Dacus. No injuries were reported. There is some disagreement between the railroad and local officials over the reporting of the incident. BNSF told KTRK-TV on Monday that it […]

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News & Products for the week of May 15th 2023

an image of a model caboose

News & Products for the week of May 15th 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 May 15th 2023. […]

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Lac-Mégantic to commemorate 10 years since rail disaster

Fire-damaged town and derailed train

LAC-MÉGANTIC, Quebec —Lac-Mégantic plans four days of events in July to mark the the passage of 10 years since of the train derailment and fire that killed 47 people and destroyed much of the community’s downtown, the Canadian Press reports. Mayor Julie Morin says the city has a “duty to remember” the tragedy, and will […]

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News photos: ‘Poseidon’ helps CN fight Alberta fires

Canadian National has turned a flatcar, two tank cars, and a track maintenance vehicle into a firefighting train, dubbed "Poseidon," fighting Alberta widefires. CN

EVANSBURG, Alberta — A 10-mile stretch of Canadian National’s transcontinental main line about 65 miles west of Edmonton, Alta., continues to be surrounded by what has become the Yellowhead County wildfire, but trains are getting through the area in part because of CN firefighting equipment known as “Poseidon.” The compact fire train was fashioned out […]

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New plan released for redevelopment of Washington Union Station

Rendering of large open space at train station

WASHINGTON — A significant reduction in parking spaces — including elimination of above-ground parking and bus facilities — and a larger train hall are key features of a revised plan for redevelopment of Washington Union Station released Friday. The Washington Post reports the revised plan from the Federal Railroad Administration — developed after a two-year […]

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Pennsylvania legislature sees series of rail-regulation bills

The pennsylvania state seal

HARRISBURG, Pa. — While one wide-ranging bill has advanced out of a Pennsylvania House committee, four other bills aimed at regulating railroads in the state have also been introduced since the East Palestine, Ohio, derailment, which also impacted Pennsylvania residents. The Tribune-Democrat of Johnstown, Pa., reports none have yet been voted on by the state House […]

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Martinez Amtrak station remains closed

Aerial view of train at station

MARTINEZ, Calif. — The Amtrak station in Martinez, Calif., remains closed this weekend as a result of a mercury spill discovered on Monday, with the source of the spill still a mystery to authorities. KTVU-TV reports that Contra Costa County health officials said Friday they are making progress in cleaning up the spill, discovered by […]

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Mid-Continent Museum prepares for 60th Anniversary celebration

Diesel locomotive and heavyweight passenger cars

NORTH FREEDOM, Wis. — The Mid-Continent Railway Museum will mark its 60th anniversary with a day-long celebration on Saturday, May 27. Along with the museum’s regular 55-minute train ride aboard Delaware, Lackawanna & Western steel passenger coaches, the museum will also run a second train consist of its two wooden Copper Range Railroad passenger cars […]

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