CPKC and Unifor reach tentative agreement covering Canadian mechanics

Logo of Canadian union Unifor

CALGARY, Alberta – Canadian Pacific Kansas City today said it has reached a tentative four-year collective agreement with Unifor, which represents approximately 1,200 of the railway’s employees in Canada. “We are pleased to have reached a tentative collective agreement at the negotiating table with our mechanical employees in Canada,” CPKC CEO Keith Creel said in […]

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East River Tunnel work to sideline Hudson River rail excursions with former New York Central lounge cars

BOONTON, N.J. – Construction work in Amtrak’s East River Tunnels will indefinitely sideline the United Railroad Historical Society’s Hudson River Rail Excursions after trips scheduled for February and March with the group’s former New York Central lounge cars. The historical society will operate “Farewell (For Now) Excursions” from New York Penn Station to Albany-Rensselaer, N.Y., […]

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CSX debuts first responder training prop locomotive

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – CSX today unveiled an addition to its Responder Incident Training program: Training locomotive CSXT No. 911343. The SD70M has been converted into a dedicated training locomotive that can simulate scenarios that first responders might encounter at a derailment scene or other emergency, such as engine compartment fires and crew rescues. “The RIT […]

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Lionel Disney D23 Mickey Mouse boxcar

Disney model boxcar

Lionel and Disney have had a relationship since 1934 with the introduction of the No. 1100 Mickey Mouse Handcar. It’s no surprise that former still offers a number of branded products from the latter today. Lionel sent a sample of their Disney D23 Mickey Mouse boxcar (No. 2401561) for review. For anyone [like me] who […]

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Alaska museum, city combine to win auction for gold spike

Gold railroad spike engraved with message to Col. Frederick Mears

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — An Alaska museum and city, with help from donors including the Alaska Railroad, have won the auction for a 14-karat gold spike that was part of the railroad’s completion ceremony in 1923. The Anchorage Museum and city of Nenana will take turns displaying the spike, which was purchased for $201,600, according to […]

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Brightline West now expecting to launch in December 2028

Illustration of high speed train in desert

LAS VEGAS — Brightline West no longer expects to launch operations in time to capitalize on visitors to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, according to a company bond offering. KTNV-TV reports that the 1,200 pages of documents related to that bond offering indicate that passenger service is now likely to begin in December […]

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3-D printed Vanderbilt hopper car

black model hopper car

I model the Western Maryland Ry. (WM) from the 1920s to before the start of World War II. Appropriate commercial models of coal hoppers for my modeling era are limited in large scale. I was using LGB two-bay and Bachmann three-bay hoppers as stand-ins, but I wanted accurate, period-specific coal hoppers for my rolling stock […]

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An N scale carferry inspired by MR

Color photo showing N scale carferry with lights.

In 1980 and 1981, my wife and I rode round trips on the Viking and Badger, respectively, when they were still being used as railroad carferries operating between Wisconsin and Michigan. After those trips, I wanted to build an N scale version of the Viking. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the time or skills required back […]

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CN signal workers in Canada issue strike notice

Logo of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Canada

MONTREAL — Members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in Canada are set for a walkout on Tuesday, Jan. 28, after issuing a 72-hour strike notice. The Canadian Press reports the union represents about 750 signal and communications workers, who are prepared to walk out if a new agreement is not reached by the […]

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