News Photo: Metra bike car debuts

Bike_Car_1_Lassen

CHICAGO — Metra’s first bike car — a Pullman-Standard coach with seating removed on half of the lower level, creating space for 16 bicycles — made its debut Saturday, a biking-friendly day of unseasonable temperatures in the 70s. Metra unveiled the car on Thursday, saying its debut had been delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic […]

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New model trains for the week of November 12, 2020

Green diesel locomotive

HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division GP38-2 diesel locomotive. Burlington Northern (as-delivered scheme in three numbers, Pacific Pride II in one road number, and 1990s scheme in one number); Conrail (as-delivered scheme in three numbers, with white sill in two numbers, and “Quality” and Operation Lifesaver schemes in one number each); Elgin, Joliet & Eastern (post-delivery […]

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Norfolk Southern slims down to six divisions

NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk Southern has reduced its number of operating divisions to six from nine, continuing an industry trend toward larger divisional territories. The move was effective Nov. 1, Chief Operating Officer Cindy Sanborn wrote in a memo to employees. The Southern Region, which previously included the Alabama, Georgia, and Piedmont divisions, is now […]

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New model trains for the week of November 5, 2020

Accurail HO scale Milwaukee Road 40-foot ribbed-side double-door boxcar

HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Diesel/Progress Rail SD70ACU diesel locomotive. Canadian Pacific (red with monochrome beaver herald and maroon-and-gray heritage scheme with script lettering in two road numbers each; Army Arid Regions and Navy schemes in one number each) and Norfolk Southern (Thoroughbred scheme, four numbers). Prototype-specific details, light-emitting-diode headlights, and wire grab irons. Direct-current model […]

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New model trains for the week of October 29, 2020

Wm. K. Walthers HO scale Electro-Motive Division GP7 diesel locomotive

HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division GP7 diesel locomotive. Great Northern (Empire Builder scheme); Belt Ry. of Chicago (1950s to 1970s scheme); Chessie System (Chesapeake & Ohio reporting marks); Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (black-and-gray scheme); Erie Lackawanna (gray, maroon, and yellow scheme); and Reading Co. (yellow-and-green scheme). Four road numbers per scheme (two each in direct […]

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Walthers buys Chooch Enterprises

An announcement from Chooch

Sale follows Chooch founder’s retirement earlier in 2020 MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Walthers now owns the well-known Chooch Enterprises model railroading company. In an announcement earlier on Friday, Mike O’Connell, founder of Chooch Enterprises, says he sold his company to Milwaukee-based Wm. K. Walthers Inc. O’Connell had announced his retirement earlier in 2020, along with his […]

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