Who has new locomotive power in 2024?

Locomotive power 2024 Someone turned on the new locomotive faucet, but its just a slow drip right now. For several years no new six-axle freight locomotives have been built for North America’s Class I railroads. Now, there are some signs of life. Last year saw orders from Canadian National and BNSF Railway — Canadian National […]

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Nine rail projects included in Mega, INFRA grant awards

WASHINGTON — Nine rail-related projects were included among the 37 receiving funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation through Mega Grant and INFRA Grant program funding announced on Friday. Two projects — including one from the rail-related group — received grants under both programs. The Mega Grant program — formally the National Infrastructure Projecg Assistance […]

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Illinois Central’s EMD SD40A diesel locomotive

The Illinois Central’s EMD SD40A diesel locomotive resulted from the railroad’s desire to increase fuel capacity.     “Customer modifications to production units aren’t all that unusual, don’t usually result in more than minor engineering and construction revisions, and seldom are dignified by a separate builder’s class,” wrote former Trains Managing Editor Wally Abbey in […]

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Conway Scenic Railroad forges cruise-ship partnerships

NORTH CONWAY, N.H. – Cruise-ship passengers will soon be riding Conway Scenic Railroad’s trains over its Mountain Division through picturesque Crawford Notch in New Hampshire’s 6,000-foot-high White Mountains. Service is expected to begin in June. The railroad will offer ship patrons another option for shore excursions when they debark at Portland, Maine, a popular port […]

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CN revenue and profits decline in fourth quarter, but railway expects growth this year

MONTREAL – Canadian National expects traffic to bounce back this year due to a combination of an improving economy and the railway’s own growth projects, executives said today while announcing fourth-quarter results that included lower volume, revenue, and profits. “Through 2023, our team of dedicated railroaders leveraged our scheduled operating model to deliver exceptional service […]

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House hearing explores highway crossing challenges

WASHINGTON — Although the House Transportation and Infrastructure’s Rail Subcommittee hearing Thursday was titled, “Oversight and Examination of Railroad Grade Crossing Elimination and Safety,” the 21/2-hour session also dealt with other issues. These included miles’ long trains, the state of wayside equipment detection, the pending mandatory crew-size rule making, and Class I railroads’ reticence to […]

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Broken rail led to CN derailment, TSB tells news site

LA BROQUERIE, Manitoba — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada reports a broken rail at a grade crossing has been confirmed as the cause of last week’s derailment of a Canadian National train near La Broquerie, the website Steinbach Online reports. The 27-car derailment occurred Thursday, Jan. 11, at about 7:15 p.m. There were no […]

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News & Products for the week of January 15th 2024

News & Products for the week of January 15th 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 January 15th […]

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MARS notebook: CPKC’s blending of cultures

LOMBARD, Ill. — One final batch of notes from this week’s Midwest Association of Rail Shippers Winter Meeting, marking the organization’s 100th anniversary: Blending cultures Merging railroads can be difficult, simply as a matter of blending cultures. The Penn Central merger famously was hindered by the clashing views of longtime competitors Pennsylvania and New York […]

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CN train derails in Manitoba

LA BROQUERIE, Manitoba — Twenty-seven cars of a Canadian Nation train derailed Thursday, Jan. 11, in rural Manitoba, CTV News reports. The derailment occurred about 7:15 p.m. No injuries were reported; CN told the network that there were no leaks or fires and the derailment posed no risk to the public. Cause of the incident […]

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