‘City of New Orleans’ returns to its namesake city

Bilevel passenger train on concrete trestle with construction crane behind it

NEW ORLEANS — After first being turned back to Chicago at Memphis, Tenn., and later at Jackson, Miss., Amtrak’s City of New Orleans will finally make its grand entrance to the Crescent City one month after Hurricane Ida slammed into Louisiana with torrential rains and strong winds. The southbound train departing Chicago today and its […]

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Model railroad locomotive, freight car, passenger equipment, electronics/controls, and DVD announcements for September 30, 2021

Penn Central 89-foot flatcar with bi-level auto rack.

Product news Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. Here are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of September 30, 2021. HO scale locomotives Alco FA-1 and FB-1 diesel locomotives. […]

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Grivno receives award

Group technical editor Cody Grivno and Jerry Holmes of Chattanooga, Tenn., were named co-winners of the National Association of S Gaugers (NASG) 2021 Perles Publication Award. The two received the award for Grivno’s article on Holmes’ S scale Chesapeake & Ohio layout featured in Great Model Railroads 2021. “The award provides recognition for the efforts […]

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In Memoriam: John Claudino

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John Claudino, owner of Aztec Manufacturing, died on March 10 in Reno, Nev. He was 82 years old. Claudino was a frequent vendor at train shows throughout the country. He produced track cleaners in multiple scales, provided a locomotive chassis milling service, and offered a line of custom-decorated N scale boxcars. […]

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In Memoriam: Charles Kalmbach

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Charles A. “Charlie” Kalmbach, son of Model Railroader founder Albert C. Kalmbach, died on August 25. He was 79 years old. Charlie was employed by Northwestern Mutual Life and later also worked in real estate. He stayed connected with his father’s company for nearly half a century. “Charlie had a deep devotion to Kalmbach Media […]

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Victims identified in ‘Empire Builder’ derailment

Three men in hard hats and safety vests in front of derailed passenger train

JOPLIN, Mont. — The passengers killed in Saturday’s deadly Empire Builder derailment have been identified as a tech engineer from Illinois and a husband and wife from Georgia. According to media reports, the three people killed when Amtrak’s westbound Empire Builder derailed Saturday afternoon in northern Montana have been identified as 28-year-old Zach Schneider, of […]

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Dwarf crape myrtle

Miniature tree next to a model church

Common name: Dwarf crape myrtle 

Latin name: Lagerstroemia indica ‘Violet Filli’ (Filigree series) Plant size: 6-24″, depending on the miniature variety Plant type: Shrubs and small trees USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-11 (or grown as an annual) Cultural needs: Well-drained, slightly acidic to acidic soil, full sun The miniature crape myrtle in the photo, one of […]

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Santa Fe 2926: A grade crossing ahead for the big 4-8-4

People admire restored steam locomotive

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The buzz at an open house for Santa Fe 4-8-4 No. 2926 wasn’t all about the locomotive last run in 1953 and moved for the first time under its own power on July 25. A grade crossing and a spur track also figured into the conversations. With the restoration of the locomotive […]

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Tickets, please

Tickets, please Passengers riding New York Central’s deluxe 20th Century Limited sleeper-observation car required two tickets, one for rail travel and one for the sleeping accommodations. Don Wood photo […]

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FRA launches separate ‘Empire Builder’ investigation

Federal Railroad Administration logo

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration is launching its own investigation into the Saturday derailment of Amtrak’s westbound Empire Builder in northern Montana. Specifically, FRA has sent a team of 18 dispatched to the scene consisting of technical experts in track, motive power & equipment, signal and train control, and operating practices. The agency has […]

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Amtrak CEO Flynn makes statement on Montana derailment

Head shot of gray-haired man in suit

WASHINGTON — Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn has issued a statement on Saturday’s fatal derailment of the Empire Builder in Montana. “We are in mourning today for the people who lost their lives due to the derailment of the Empire Builder train Saturday, near Joplin, Montana, on the BNSF Railway, as well as the many others […]

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