FRA issues safety advisory in wake of Union Pacific collision in Texas

Two aerial photos of collision of two trains in Texas

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration issued a safety advisory this week in the aftermath of an April collision and derailment on Union Pacific that involved a misaligned hand-throw switch. The FRA continues to investigate the April 16 collision in Texas that occurred in dark territory with no positive train control overlay. The National Transportation […]

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Problems at Portal Bridge disrupt Amtrak, NJ Transit service

Two-track rail bridge as seen from on train

NEW YORK — Amtrak and NJ Transit are experiencing major service issues today as a result of problems that began Thursday at the infamous Portal Bridge in Kearney, N.J. An Amtrak advisory issued Thursday afternoon says all trains traveling between New York and Newark are experiencing delays because of signal issues at the bridge. All […]

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ChatGPT and the model railroad: an exploration

An image of anAI generated model railroad layout

One of the hottest topics of the moment is the conversation around artificial intelligence (AI.) If you’ve been paying attention to this conversation, you likely know that Artificial Intelligence programs have made enormous strides forward in just the past few years. These advances have caused disruption and innovation in equal measure in many fields. These […]

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Tricks with N scale track

Tricks with N scale track

Tricks with N scale track: You bought ’em, you can modify ’em Some four decades ago I was looking at a John Allen photo taken on his fabulous HO scale Gorre & Daphetid. The subject was rail activity at his city of Port, and I was especially struck by how compact his trackwork was. In […]

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Chicago suburbs sue over CPKC merger

People walk across railroad tracks as trains meet in background

CHICAGO — A group of western Chicago suburbs opposed to the union of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern is asking that regulators reconsider the CPKC merger. In a federal lawsuit filed Thursday with the U.S. Seventh Circuit, the eight communities and one county that make up the Coalition to Stop CPKC called the Surface […]

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Former Charlotte transit employee sues, saying he was fired for reporting light-rail derailment

Light rail train at station

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A rail traffic controller fired by the Charlotte Area Transit System is suing the city of Charlotte, saying he was terminated for reporting a light-rail derailment that remained unknown to city officials for almost a year. Meanwhile, Queen City News, the website of WJZY-TV, reports another CATS light rail train derailed at […]

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Jackson, Mich., station to receive historical markers

Brick two-story passenger station

JACKSON, Mich. — Jackson’s Amtrak station, said to be the oldest continuously operating rail passenger station in the United States, is about to receive additional historical recognition. The news site Mlive.com reports ceremonies this Saturday, May 13, will place two sets Michigan historical markers at the building to note its role in the Underground Railroad, […]

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Paul Barnes becomes CEO of Canton Development, two rail operations

A map of the Canton Railroad in Baltimore

BALTIMORE — The board of directors for the Canton Development Co., which provides switching and logistics services in Baltimore and Cecil County, Md., has named Paul A. Barnes as president and CEO. The appointment, effective May 1, follows the decision by John C. Magness to retire as of June 30 after 27 years at the […]

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Baltimore & Ohio heritage locomotive debuts on CSX Transportation

Logo of Baltimore & Ohio Railroad — circular emblem with Capitol dome

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – CSX Transportation has painted an ES44AH in a Baltimore & Ohio heritage livery. The locomotive, previously CSX No. 3059, now is CSX No. 1827 in honor of the year B&O was founded. The locomotive made its debut yesterday on the point of Waycross, Ga.-Birmingham, Ala., manifest train M646-10. Repainting of the unit […]

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Help stop my Walthers troop sleeper car derailing

A military-green HO scale troop sleeper car on a white background

Q: A fellow club member and I just started running the Walthers troop cars on the club layout. We are having problems with the troop sleeper cars derailing on the 36″ curves. Can you suggest a solution to this problem? – Alan Cox A: If those are the only cars having derailing problems on those […]

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Keep N scale track clean

Keep N scale track really clean

Keep N scale track clean: Last summer I finished an extensive scenery project on my N scale layout, cleaned up, went carefully over the track with a Bright Boy rail-cleaning block, did a few more small layout chores, and at last was ready to run a train. For me there’s nothing in this hobby as […]

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