Rapido HO Trains EMD GP40 Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Single unit — direct current, $239.95; with ESU LokSound V5 sound decoder, $349.95. Locomotive with slug — direct current, $449.95; with ESU LokSound V5 decoder, $669.95 Manufacturer: Rapido Trains, 382 High St, Buffalo, NY 14204; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Rapido Trains HO EMD GP40 diesel locomotive features: Ditch […]
FORT WORTH, Texas — A shelter-in-place order has been lifted for Fort Worth residents living near the site of a Union Pacific derailment today (Aug., 31, 2025), according to the Fort Worth Fire Department. The Fire Department responded to the derailment at UP’s Davidson Yard southwest of downtown Fort Worth in about 10:40 a.m., and […]
PHILADELPHIA — A federal appeals court has upheld dismissal of a lawsuit over a rail worker killed in a yard accident on the Port Authority Transit Corp’s PATCO Speed Line, saying the commuter operation does not meet the legal standard as a railroad. The Aug. 26 decision from the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, written […]
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — A planned extension of Metrolink commuter rail service to provide an option for commuters between Ventura and Santa Barbara counties will be delayed until at least January 2026, the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments was told at its most recent meeting. The SBCAG, Ventura County Transportation Authority, and Metrolink agreed […]
PHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia judge has issued a temporary injunction preventing the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority from raising fares on Sept. 1 and making cuts to its Regional Rail service on Sept. 2. The order today (Aug. 29, 2025) by Judge Sierra Thomas-Street of the Court of Common Pleas also blocks layoffs, furloughs, and “all […]
OTTAWA, Ontario — Canada’s Minister of Transport and Internal Trade, Chrystia Freeland, will hold a summit on Canadian manufacture of rail and ferry equipment on Sept. 2, 2025, Transport Canada has announced. The event, “Made in Canada: Ferries and Rail Summit” will be held in Hamilton, Ont., and will bring together industry and government officials […]
Retired Model Railroader Managing Editor Jim Kelly remains active in honing his N scale skills and craftsmanship. The result has been the fourth incarnation of his Tehachapi Pass layout. Set in 1985, both the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe and Southern Pacific traverse the 2% grade between Bakersfield and Tehachapi, Calif., with the famous Tehachapi […]
CLEVELAND — The American Steam Railroad Preservation Association plans to honor Cleveland’s railroad history and American Freedom Train steam locomotive No. 250’s 80th birthday with an open house on Saturday, Oct. 11. The event will take place at the Midwest Railway Preservation Society’s roundhouse — 2800 W. 3rd St., Cleveland. Proceeds will benefit the ongoing […]
WASHINGTON — Federal regulators today gave the green light to Watco’s acquisition of the 420-mile Michigan regional Great Lakes Central Railroad. Watco has been an equity investor in the GLC since 2013 and in March sought to have its acquisition of the railroad exempt from Surface Transportation Board review, which is common in straightforward shortline […]
What a week this was for unexpected twists and turns in the Class I railroad merger landscape. First, on Monday Berkshire Hathaway Chairman Warren Buffett said the company would not bid on CSX or Norfolk Southern, which had been viewed as potential merger partners for the Berkshire-owned BNSF Railway. A BNSF-CSX combination, in particular, had […]
Trainz has purchased the inventory and electronic property of Trainsetsonly.com from Paul and Lisa Christel. Based in New Lenox, IL, Trainsetsonly.com was an ecommerce model train store offering a wide variety of model railroading merchandise. This inventory has been shipped to Trainz’s warehouse in Flowery Branch, Ga. Look for these products to become available on […]
HAGERSTOWN, Md. — After an engaged community discussion, the city council voted Aug. 26, to retain Western Maryland 4-6-2 No. 202, rejecting a proposal to donate the locomotive to the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. The debate drew lines in the Western Maryland community over the cost of restoration and responsibility for care versus seeing the […]
