Class I officials say traffic shows early signs of recovery

Railroad volumes are beginning to show signs of early recovery after the sharp downturn that accompanied the coronavirus pandemic, executives from four Class I railroads told an investor conference on Tuesday. Officials from Canadian National, CSX Transportation, Kansas City Southern, and Union Pacific all said the resumption of North American auto production and its impact […]

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Survey finds support for expanded Metra North Central Service

More Tuesday morning rail news in brief: Survey finds support for increased service on Metra’s North Central line A new survey says riders and businesses on Metra’s North Central Service, between Chicago Union Station and Antioch, Ill., would like to see weekend service and increased weekday frequencies — but the survey was conducted before the […]

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Illinois trip on ‘Texas Eagle’ provides look at passenger travel during pandemic, illustrates challenges of reduced consists

passenger train conductor scanning tickets

NORMAL, Ill. — “It’s definitely getting better,” Amtrak conductor Keith Inglesby says, considering ridership during a recent trip aboard the Texas Eagle. “A month ago, if we had, say, 50 people scheduled, maybe 37 would actually make it,” he says. In contrast, Inglesby counted only five no-shows in addition to the 90 ticketed passengers booked […]

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MTH Trains’ Wolf sets 2021 end date for company

Model Railroader

M.T.H. Trains President Mike Wolf has announced his May 2021 retirement and the subsequent closure of the company after 40 years in business. “It is, therefore, with mixed emotions that I tell you I have decided to retire in 2021 and close the business,” he said in a June 8, 2020 letter to the industry. […]

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Hartland Locomotive Works halts train production

Model Railroader placeholder image

Large-scale model railroad equipment manufacturer Hartland Locomotive Works has ceased production, possibly for good. The Laporte, Ind. company posted a letter May 28 on its website stating it has ceased train production due to difficulties in its overall business and the Covid-19 virus. It has been part of the hobby for more than 25 years. […]

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New model trains for the week of June 11, 2020

Red fowler boxcar

See the latest model railroad products in HO, N, and O scales! HO scale locomotives General Electric P42 diesel locomotive. Amtrak (phase 2 heritage scheme in two road numbers, phase 3 scheme in four numbers, phase 4 heritage scheme in one number, and phase 5 scheme in four numbers) and VIA Rail Canada (Renaissance paint […]

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CN says conductor was killed when hit by ‘kicked’ car

More Friday morning rail news: CN employee killed by ‘kicked’ car, railroad says The Canadian National conductor killed at the railroad’s Surrey, British Columbia, yard earlier this week was hit by a car the conductor’s train had “kicked” a few minutes earlier, according to a CN “safety flash” issued to employees. In the June 1 […]

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Changes coming to NS yard in Bellevue, Ohio

NORFOLK, Va. — Changes are afoot at Norfolk Southern’s Moorman Yard in Bellevue, Ohio, the largest hump yard in the East. In a letter to customers this week, Chief Marketing Officer Alan Shaw said the railroad will modify service at Bellevue this month. “We are now in the process of reviewing individual yards to enable […]

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