News & products for the week of July 22

Wascosa era VI Shimmns tarp car.

Large scale freight cars  Wascosa era VI Shimmns tarp car. Hook-and-loop couplers, simulated tarp cover molded in closed position, and plastic wheelsets. $174.99. September 2021. PIKO America, 619-280-2800, piko-america.com Large scale passenger equipment Deutsche Reichsbahn era III Reko second-class diner Mitropa. Hook-and-loop couplers, molded interior seats, and plastic wheelsets. Interior lighting can be added using […]

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Model railroad locomotive, freight car, passenger car, structure, and detail announcements for July 22, 2021

Northern Pacific 1947 North Coast Limited lightweight coach.

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 July 22, 2021. HO scale locomotives  MT-4 4-8-2 steam locomotive. Without skyline […]

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News photos: ‘Day One’ Charger en route to delivery

Black locomotive with red and blue arrow

RALSTON, Neb. — “Day One” is on trip No. 1. Siemens Charger ALC42, No. 301 the second locomotive in Amtrak’s 75-unit order for new long-distance locomotives, is en route from the Siemens plant in Sacramento, Calif, to Wilmington, Del., where Amtrak will take delivery. The locomotive, wearing the one-of-a-kind “Day One” scheme to commemorate the […]

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Creative thrift store finds for garden railroaders

Hand holding a small wood barrel

Thrift stores can hold a wealth of treasures for hobbyists, if you know where to look. I have suggestions of which departments to look for items for your garden railroad. I suggest going into a store with an open mind. For just a few dollars and a little paint, you might find something spectacular for […]

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Modeling from postcards

Image of downtown scene with buildings and vehicles

In last month’s installment, we took a look at two postcards that showed aerial views of Crookston, Minn., my hometown. This time we’ll examine two ground-level scenes, one in the city and the other in the country. The heart of downtown. The intersection of Broadway (the north-south street the photographer is standing in) and Robert […]

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Floods close rail lines in Europe for months or longer

Two trains partially submerged in flood waters

Portions of the rail network in Western Europe could be out of service for months or years after massive flooding that has left hundreds dead across a swath of western Germany and Belgium. Rail service has been suspended after the floods that saw rivers running 3 yards higher than previous records in some cases and […]

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Pennsylvania steam excursion demonstrates support for engineer

Two men in front of steam locomotive

MINERSVILLE, Pa. — An excursion to raise funds for an engineer who has been a key part of the volunteer restoration of a former Central of New Jersey 0-6-0 has raised $12,000 to help with his medical expenses. Since 2012, when the all-volunteer non-profit Railway Restoration Project 113 of Minersville, Pa., began running its former […]

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News photos: BNSF passenger special on Raton line

Passenger train led by two black and orange locomotives

BNSF Railway ran a special passenger movement between Kansas City and Albuquerque, N.M., last week, via the Raton and Glorieta subdivisions, in anticipation of the return of a weekly freight movement over part of the line. Officially an engineering special, the movement saw CEO Katie Farmer and some of her staff were on board the […]

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UP engineer wins right to take service dog to work

Union Pacific logo with Building America slogan

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A Union Pacific engineer has won the right to take his service dog to work, six years after the railroad declined to allow the dog to accompany the man to work and three years after he filed suit. After a five-day trial, a U.S. District Court jury unanimously decided Perry Hopman, […]

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Kansas City Southern locomotives reviewed

Red, yellow, and black diesel locomotives bring a freight train around a curve and between signals

Mergers or acquisitions of two or more railroads always bring a blending of motive power rosters. Kansas City Southern, like all Class I railroads today, relies on its fleet of A.C. (alternating current) traction locomotives for most of its operations, similar to both Canadian National’s and Canadian Pacific’s motive power philosophies. Kansas City Southern’s grade-intensive […]

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