Freight building block car R/C starter set from PIKO America

Small orange locomotive and two flat cars on track with building blocks in foreground and white background

Freight building block car R/C starter set Scale: Large scale (1:24) Price: $439.99 Era: Modern Manufacturer: PIKO America LLC, 4610 Alvarado Canyon Rd., Ste. 5, San Diego, CA 92120; piko-america.com Freight building block car R/C starter set features: Includes General Electric 25-ton diesel locomotive, two flatcars with building block decks, R/C pocket remote with eight selectable […]

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Norfolk Southern train derails in Georgia

Norfolk Southern logo

MIDVILLE, Ga. — About 35 cars of a 76-car Norfolk Southern train derailed early Monday morning in Midville, Ga., WJBF-TV reports. The accident occurred about 3 a.m. No hazardous materials were reported to be involved and no injuries were reported. A railroad representative said an investigation to the cause was under way. Midville is about […]

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Railfan photographer with working camera flash from East Coast Circuits

Railroad crossing scene with railfan photographers taking pictures

Railfan photographer with flash Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $20 Manufacturer: East Coast Circuits LLC, P.O. Box 25412 Providence, RI 02905; 401-400-0668; eastcoastcircuits.com Photographer features: Works on 9-12V AC or DC power Track sensor included Barriers and display not included Release date: October 2022 News & Products is a regular feature of Trains.com for model railroad operators and builders to […]

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ScaleTrains TTX class F68AH bulkhead flatcar

Drawing of brown bulkhead flatcar with white background

Class F68AH bulkhead flatcar Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $49.99 Era: 1969 to present (depending on scheme) Manufacturer: ScaleTrains, 7598 Highway 411, Benton, TN 37307; 844-987-2467; scaletrains.com Features: Road-number-specific details Factory-applied laser-cut wood deck Transverse deck risers and recessed deck tie-down details Photo-etched stainless steel crossover platforms Factory-applied metal grab irons, uncoupling levers, and trainline hoses Early […]

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Dates set for Minnesota steam locomotive’s return to operation

Steam locomotive with vintage freight cars under huge plume of black smoke

DULUTH, Minn. — After a two-year hiatus, the Lake Superior Railroad Museum’s North Shore Scenic Railroad will return Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 2-8-0 No. 332 to service in September The locomotive will pull trains between Duluth and Two Harbors, Minn. Sept. 10-11 and 24-25. Trains will depart Duluth at 10:00 a.m. each day. No. 332 […]

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Unions, railroads hold three meetings; no agreement reached

Logos for BLET, SMART-TD unions

CLEVELAND — On-line and in-person meetings last week did not result in an agreement between railroads and unions over a new contract, the heads of two unions said in a joint statement issued Saturday. Jeremy Ferguson, president of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division (SMART-TD), and Dennis Pierce, president of […]

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STB grants request for more mediation time in Gulf Coast dispute

Surface Transportation Board logo

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has granted a request by the parties in the Amtrak Gulf Coast dispute to extend board-sponsored mediation for an additional 30 days. Amtrak, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, and the Alabama State Port Authority and Terminal Railway Alabama State Docks had filed the request on Aug. 24, saying they agreed […]

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LA Metro, SMART-TD ratify new contract

LA Metro light rail train on curving bridge

LOS ANGELES — Transit agency LA Metro has approved a new five-year agreement with the union representing Metro rail and bus operators and scheduling analysts. The agreement with more than 4,600 members of International Assoication of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division (SMART-TD) local GO-875 includes an average annual raise of 3.4% compounded […]

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Eight injured when Tri-Rail train hits vehicle and derails

TriRail_logo

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Six passengers required hospitalization and two others were treated at the scene after a Tri-Rail commuter train struck an abandoned vehicle and derailed during the Friday morning commute. All of the injuries were described as minor. WSVN-TV reports 63 people were on board the northbound train when the collision occurred about […]

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Beyond the byline with Kevin P. Keefe

man with glasses and red shirt

What was your first byline in Trains? Kevin Keefe: My first published piece in Trains was in the October 1975 issue, a two-page story in what was called the “Frontispiece” format, basically a single photo with some commentary. My story was called “Anonymity on the Pere Marquette,” a brief tribute to the Pere Marquette Railway’s […]

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CSX rekindles its relationship with venerable Dash-8 locomotives

Blue standard-cab locomotive operating as second of two units on freight trainFre

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — After selling or retiring its roster of more than 100 General Electric C40-8 locomotives, CSX Transportation once again owns the late-1980s era Dash-8 standard cab locomotive through its June 1 acquisition of Pan Am Railways. The Class I railroad began divesting the 4,000-horsepower six-axle GE several years ago, retiring and selling most […]

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