Summertime era-swapping on the White River Division

A blue model diesel engine and train in rural New England

It’s been more than a decade since Lou Sassi photographed my HO scale White River Division for a feature in the March 2009 Model Railroader. A lot has changed since then. The track plan has been altered to better view and photograph scenes. I also eliminated the duckunder. Now a point-to-point layout, there’s a yard […]

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Former Kansas City Southern CEO David Starling dies

Former Kansas City Southern CEO David Starling, who returned to the railway as its independent trustee as part of its proposed merger with Canadian Pacific, died on Feb. 24. Starling was 73. “On behalf of the entire Kansas City Southern family, we feel shock and profound sadness for the sudden loss of our former leader […]

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Rail leaders defend industry’s commitment to safety as DOT proposes new regulations

Aerial view of derailment cleanup

Regulators should not impose new safety regulations until the National Transportation Safety Board determines what caused the fiery derailment of a Norfolk Southern train that was carrying hazardous materials through East Palestine, Ohio, rail industry leaders said today. Their remarks came just hours after Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the Department of Transportation would adopt […]

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Class I railroads 101

Class I railroads Class I railroads: If you’re in your car watching a long 100-car freight train roll over a grade crossing, chances are good that the train belongs to one of the Class I systems. The Class Is operate 70% of the total track miles in the U.S., employ 73% of the labor force, […]

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Following referendum, Quebec town plans to fight bypass

Fire-damaged town and derailed train

FRONTENAC, Quebec — The results of a Sunday referendum showing strong opposition to the proposed Lac-Mégantic bypass mean the municipality of Frontenac will do everything it can to fight the rail-line relocation, Frontenac’s mayor said Monday. Mayor Gaby Gendron told the Canadian Press “it’s absolutely certain the municipal council will oppose the project by all […]

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Quebec town votes against Lac-Mégantic bypass

Map of Lac-Megantic Bypass

FRONTENAC, Quebec — The town of Frontenac has voted in resounding fashion against the planned bypass to remove Canadian Pacific’s rail line from Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, but the results of the referendum apparently will not change the plans for the project. The CBC reports 92% of those in the community of 1,600 who cast ballots in […]

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Unifor workers ratify new contract with Canadian Pacific

Logo of Canadian union Unifor

MONTREAL — Canadian Pacific mechanical workers represented by Canadian union Unifor have ratified a two-year contract with CP, the union announced Thursday. The agreement, which runs through Dec. 31, 2024, covers approximately 1,200 workers who maintain and inspect locomotives and freight cars, and produce components for rolling stock and track. The union said the agreement […]

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Canadian government begins process to acquire land for Lac-Mégantic bypass

Map of Lac-Megantic Bypass

LAC-MÉGANTIC, Quebec — The Canadian government has begun the process of expropriating land for the planned Lac-Mégantic rail bypass after being unable to negotiate land purchases, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra announced Monday. “I understand that some of the landowners are angry, saddened or anxious about this decision,” Alghabra said in a statement. “Believe me, it […]

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