New York subway Holiday Nostalgia Rides return

Vintage subway equipment on elevated line

NEW YORK — After a two-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic, New York City Transit’s Holiday Nostalgia Rides on the New York Transit Museum’s fleet of vintage subway equipment resumes for four Sundays beginning Nov. 27. The museum’s “Train of Many Colors” will operate on a new route this year — the 1 line, […]

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New propane terminal opens on Pennsylvania’s North Shore Railroad

End-cab switcher and caboose next propane tanks

NORTHUMBERLAND, Pa. — Button Oil & Propane and the North Shore Railroad have opened a rail-fed, 240,000-gallon propane terminal, described as the first of its kind in the region, to offer residential and commercial delivery of propane, as well as butane for manufacturing applications. A grand opening for the facility was held Tuesday, Nov. 22, […]

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Bob Davies’ O gauge layout

Illustration of an O gauge layout

Name: Bob Davies’ O gauge layout Dimensions: 5 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ feet Track: GarGraves (diameters range from 42 to 54 inches) Motive power: Lionel, Wiliams by Bachmann Rolling stock: Lionel, Menards Controls: Lionel GW-180 transformer Accessories: Z-Stuff for Trains Structures: Mattel, MTH Vehicles: Mattel Download the track plan for this layout. […]

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Steve Stewart, co-founder of Stewart Hobbies, dies at 79

Portrait of man with glasses

In Memoriam: Steve Stewart. Steven “Steve” John Stewart of Chalfont, Pa., passed away on November 20, 2022, after enduring life with Parkinson’s disease for many years. Originally from Ambler, Pa., Steve began his early career in Salisbury, Md.,, teaching American history in the public school system for almost 30 years. A devoted educator, he was […]

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The Lionel Legacy ES44AC is back

Lionel Legacy ES44AC on layout

The Lionel Legacy ES44AC has returned quickly the train-maker’s catalog with new road names. It seems that when tooling sells well, we’ll certainly see it again sooner rather than later. Judging by the model’s re-issue for 2022 after being last offered 2019, it can be assumed that they are popular with collectors of modern motive […]

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Electro-Motive Division GP7 from Athearn Genesis

A gray and orange locomotive against a white background.

Electro-Motive Division GP7 from Athearn Genesis Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin NEM connector, $219.99; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound decoder, $319.99. Add $10 for Primed for Grime models. Era: 1949+ (varies on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Electro-Motive Division GP7 features: Body-mounted McHenry knuckle couplers […]

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Regulators order Union Pacific to explain increased use of embargoes (updated)

Train with yellow locomotives in flat area

WASHINGTON — Federal regulators have ordered Union Pacific executives to appear at two days of hearings next month regarding the railroad’s increased use of embargoes, which have skyrocketed from 27 in 2017 to 886 as of October this year. “The Board has been closely monitoring UP’s recent use of embargoes and has observed a disturbing […]

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Amtrak, freight railroads say they have a deal on Gulf Coast service (updated)

Passenger train with theater car at rear stopped at station

WASHINGTON — The parties involved in the long-running dispute over Amtrak’s effort to launch Gulf Coast passenger service say they have reached an agreement, but at least initially are offering no details on the nature of that deal In a joint statement Tuesday, Amtrak, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, and the Alabama State Port Authority say […]

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American Z Line Pacer Stacktrain Maxi-IV

3 blue freight cars each carrying 2 blue shipping containers against a white background

American Z Line Pacer Stacktrain Maxi-IV Scale: Z (1:220) Price: Contact manufacturer Era: Modern Manufacturer: American Z Line, 6142 Northcliff Blvd., Dublin, OH 43016; 614-764-1703; americanzline.com Maxi-IV features: Each set includes six containers. 53′ containers are the first time AZL has offered corrugated type containers in this length. 40′ containers are a rerelease with new tooling. […]

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Rare New York Central electric locomotives still threatened

Drone view of two electric locomotives and one diesel sitting vandalized in woods

GLENMONT, N.Y. — Red tape, a gas pipeline utility, and a lawsuit have combined to delay and further threaten the rescue of two historic New York Central electric locomotives stranded for three decades along the Hudson River south of Albany. The Danbury Railway Museum of Danbury, Conn., has been working for nearly a year to […]

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BNSF opens new bridge at Sandpoint, Idaho

Front view of train crossing bridge with second bridge under construction at left

SANDPOINT, Idaho — BNSF has opened its second bridge over Lake Pend Oreille in Sandpoint, Idaho, providing a second track at a previously one-track bottleneck nearly a year ahead of schedule. The nearly mile-long bridge, next to a structure built by Northern Pacific in 1904, opened on Sunday, Nov. 20. “We are excited about the […]

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