Digest: California, Illinois rail museums reopen

California State Railroad Museum logo

California State Railroad Museum reopens The California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento has reopened after being closed for most of the last year, with new measures in place to address the COVID-19 pandemic. KCRA-TV reports the museum is allowed to reopen at 25% of its usual capacity, meaning attendance is currently capped at 125. And […]

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Super Power premier

Steam locomotive produces smoke on fast train

Super Power premier The era of modern steam power dates to Lima’s development of Super Power and the Boston & Albany Berkshire (2-8-4), which hauled freight through its namesake mountains. But the B&A locomotive’s small (63-inch-diameter) drivers failed to take advantage of its boiler to generate steam fast enough for high-speed service. Number 1421 is […]

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CSX files new regulatory review schedule for Pan Am acquisition

CSX logo

WASHINGTON — CSX Transportation today proposed a new merger review schedule that would cover its acquisition of New England regional Pan Am Railways. The Surface Transportation Board last week said the transaction should be considered a “significant” deal, not the “minor” transaction CSX had sought, and ordered CSX to submit a new schedule and merger […]

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Several parties ask regulators to judge CP-KCS merger under current rules

Logos for Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern

WASHINGTON — Several trade associations, a major agricultural shipper, and Norfolk Southern today asked the Surface Transportation Board to review Canadian Pacific’s proposed acquisition of Kansas City Southern under the more stringent 2001 merger rules. CP and KCS have said they would seek to have the merger reviewed under the old rules, although executives contend […]

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Ask MR: Tips on building a layout from a wheelchair

A man sitting in a wheelchair operates his HO scale model railroad

Q: I’ve searched all over the internet for information on how to build a model railroad when you’re in a wheelchair, but I’ve found nothing. Nada! Zilch! Can you help, please? I’m desperate! – Joe Kienlen, Conshohocken, Pa. A: Though we haven’t run an article specifically about how to build a layout while using a […]

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What makes a turnout “DCC friendly?”

Model Railroader placeholder image

Q: Are Atlas turnouts “DCC friendly” in the way Walthers turnouts are advertised? Do I need to do anything special to make Snap-Switches and other track products operate properly on a Digitrax DCC powered layout? – Edward Gardineer, East Berne, N.Y. A: Before I answer your question, I have to give you two caveats. First, […]

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Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway: A History

Road-switcher diesel locomotive in foreground, articulated steam locomotive in background

No. 231, one of Missabe’s famous 2-8-8-4s, passes two brand-new successor SD9s at Proctor Yard in May 1959. Marvin Nielsen History of the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range From 1938 until it was purchased by Canadian National in 2004, the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway was “King of the Iron-Ore Haulers.” Its job was […]

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Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern deal gains early support

Logos for Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern

CALGARY, Alberta — Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern have rounded up broad support for their proposed merger, which would create the first railroad to operate in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The railways announced yesterday that they have received support statements from 259 shippers, other railroads, economic development authorities, and ports. Shipper sentiment will […]

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Biden infrastructure plan may hasten decline of coal

Two rows of coal hoppers

The Biden administration’s proposal to eliminate carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2035, if approved by Congress, would add to railroads’ coal traffic blues. President Joe Biden on Wednesday unveiled his $2 trillion infrastructure plan, which includes the proposal to wean electricity producers from fossil fuels as a way to fight climate change. About 92% […]

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