Indiana Rail Road upgrades transload facility

Drone photo of centerbeam flatcar on siding near warehouse

ODON, Ind. — The Indiana Rail Road has completed an upgrade to its Odon Transload Facility, adding a 10-inch concrete floor, food-grade railcar dock, and two truck docks. The improvements support handling and storage of weather-sensitive products such as particleboard, oriented strand board, plywood, and Southern yellow pine lumber at the facility with 9,600 square […]

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STB approves Watco purchase of Wisconsin, Michigan lines from CN

Map of Watco linces purchased from CN

WASHINGTON — After a lengthy delay sparked by filings in opposition to the deal, the Surface Transportation Board has approved Watco’s purchase of about 650 miles of branch lines in Wisconsin and Michigan from Canadian National-owned Wisconsin Central. “After careful consideration of all comments received, the board finds that the issues raised do not demonstrate […]

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Chicago Great Western Railway freight trains

Red diesel locomotives lead freight train on straight track

Classic Trains editors are celebrating the history and heritage of the Chicago Great Western Railway all through December 2021. Please enjoy this photo gallery selected from the archives of Kalmbach Media’s David P. Morgan Library. The Chicago Great Western was an agriculturally oriented Granger road linking Chicago, Kansas City, Omaha, and St. Paul. Those cities, […]

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UP train derails in Missouri

Union Pacific logo with Building America slogan

NAPTON, Mo. — About 40 cars of a Union Pacific manifest train derailed Sunday at the grade crossing with County Road E in Napton, the railroad reports. The accident occurred about 4 a.m.; the train crew was not injured. The cars involved carried a mix of commodities, with at least one carrying wheat. UP crews […]

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Severna Park Model Railroad Club’s HO scale Chesapeake & Allegheny

Track plan overview

The layout at a glance Name: Chesapeake & Allegheny RR Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 13 x 36 feet Prototype: freelanced Locale: mid-Atlantic Era: 1950-60s Style: around the walls Mainline run: 201 feet Maximum grade: 3 percent Minimum curve radius: 36″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Benchwork: open grid and L-girder Height: 55″-70″ Roadbed: Homasote Track: handlaid […]

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7 Operating session tips

Group of adults on a patio

Seven operating session tips will help model railroaders step back from, or maybe step into, their layout by sharing the experience with others. For starters, operation gives a model railroad purpose. A layout compares with a theater’s stage, its props the scenery and rolling stock. In an operating session, this stage springs to life, re-creating […]

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Jim Vena withdraws as Canadian National CEO candidate

Man in coat and tie

MONTREAL — Jim Vena, the former Canadian National chief operating officer who was touted as the railway’s next CEO, told CN Sunday night that he was no longer interested in the job. “The Search Committee conducted multiple rounds of interviews with former CN employee Jim Vena and the Board engaged in appropriate due diligence with respect […]

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Last train marks closure of Orangeville-Brampton Railway

Blue and black locomotive leads freight cars along line surrounded by trees

ORANGEVILLE, Ontario — GIO Rail operated the final train on the 34-mile Orangeville-Brampton Railway on Dec. 17, 2021, ending service on a line dating to 1879. The final train departed Orangeville for Streetsville, Ont., at about 9:15 a.m., with about 100 people on hand, following a brief ceremony and photo opportunity including GIO President Gerry […]

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