ORLANDO — One year after Brightline initiated hourly service from South Florida to Orlando International Airport on Sept. 22, 2023, five new “Smart” coaches are beginning the cross-country journey from their birthplace at Siemens’ Sacramento, Calif., factory. They are the first batch of another 30 cars, 20 “Smart” and 10 “Premium” coaches, that will help […]
Getting started in model railroading can be a daunting task, even for those with experience and knowledge regarding prototype (i.e. real-life) railroading. We’ve been asked in the past what we at Model Railroader consider the “essential” locomotives and rolling stock for beginner model railroaders. Well, that’s a loaded question, one which opens more questions than […]
COLESVILLE, Md. — A unique predecessor to the renowned hi-rail vehicle has recently hit the road for a renewal in its preservation odyssey. The National Capital Trolley Museum announced in a Sept. 17 post on Facebook and Instagram the acquisition of Evans Auto-Railer No. 109. The 1936-built vehicle was transported on Sept. 9 on a […]
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Funding is secured for municipally owned Columbia Terminal to upgrade track following the securement of a $3.2 million federal grant, KOMU-TV reports. The city will also contribute $800,000 to bring the project total up to $4 million. “We’re replacing some of the track into a heavier grade track that can carry […]
JASPER, Alberta — Canadian National plans to move operations from Jasper 60 miles east to Hinton, Canada’s Global News reports. A wildfire burned through Jasper in July 2024, burning about one-third of the city and displacing thousands of residents. Caught in the fire was CN’s crew bunkhouse, which the railroad has since rebuilt. On Monday, […]
DETROIT – The Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan will acquire ownership and control of the Detroit QLine streetcar, Detroit Free Press reports. The deal was approved on Sept. 19 and will be effective Oct. 1. The QLine began as M-1 RAIL, a non-profit organization formed in 2007 to lead the design, construction, and […]
MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. — The Federal Railroad Administration has approved the pending South Shore Line Michigan City quiet zone. Horns in the city will cease on Oct. 21. “We are pleased to finally have the approval for the Quiet Zone,” Michigan City Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch says. “This is something I helped champion for our […]
An International Car Co. (ICC) wide-cupola caboose is the latest model to join the ScaleTrains S-Helper Service product range. The S scale model features an injection-molded plastic body and features wire handrails and grab irons, factory-installed and painted crew figures, and illuminated light-emitting-diode marker lights. Prototype history The sample we received is decorated as Reading […]
DALLAS – As BNSF Railway, CSX, and Norfolk Southern continue to sign tentative contract agreements with their labor unions well in advance of the start of national negotiations, one U.S. Class I railroad has been conspicuously absent: Union Pacific. UP executives explained today that – unlike the other railroads – they’re seeking to modernize work […]
DALLAS – Union Pacific executives today outlined a three-year growth plan that hinges on regaining market share in intermodal, carload, and bulk traffic in order to offset the continued steep decline of coal. Wall Street analysts have been skeptical of UP’s volume growth forecasts because the railroad has struggled to meet them in recent years. […]
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Railroads have 720 minutes from when an engineer or conductor reports on-duty until his or her hours of service reach 12. This is a finite amount of time to perform safety checks, gather paperwork, and prepare locomotives and the train for departure. Line-of-road presents all kinds of opportunities for more delays. Assuming […]
Exploring the Canadian prairie railroads by Provincial highway 14 between Edmonton, Alberta and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, one parallels the densest part of the Canadian National main line, hosts VIA Rail’s iconic Canadian streamliner as well as history, photo props, and even a sampling of CPKC’s former Canadian Pacific. The twist? Highway 14 is actually two separate […]
