Cult of the Operating Ratio may be loosening its grip

Man with shaved head wearing eyeglasses and blue open-collared shirt.

If you believe that railroads have sacrificed volume growth on the altar of the Cult of the Operating Ratio, then here’s some good news: A Wall Street analyst says major investors are growing weary of cost-cutting and want to see railroads attract more traffic.   Credit Suisse analyst Allison Landry says some institutional investors are […]

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Weathering with powdered pastels

Simulating faded lettering with pastels and sponge.

Powdered pastels have long been a popular choice for weathering locomotives, freight cars, and buildings. Several firms offer ready-to-use weathering powders, or you can make your own by scraping pastel sticks with a hobby knife. I started work on this N scale Micro-Trains boxcar by spraying the entire car with Model Master Lusterless Flat. The […]

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Don Janes’ HO scale Boston & Maine Green Mountain Division background images

A green diesel locomotive leading a string of freight cars crosses a stone arch bridge over a creek

A Rutland freight led by Alco RS-3 no. 201 crosses a stone arch bridge on its way toward North Bennington, Vt. Don Janes of Sarnia, Ont., photographed the scene on his HO scale Boston & Maine Green Mountain Division layout. The RS-3 is a DCC-equipped Atlas model Don superdetailed and custom painted. The stone arch […]

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Wabtec seeks federal funding to help develop zero-emissions locomotives

Wabtec's FLXdrive locomotive

WASHINGTON — Wabtec CEO Rafael Santana asked Congress today to help fund a Freight Rail Innovation Institute that will develop zero-emissions locomotive technology to replace the diesel by 2030. “Wabtec’s goal is to develop the next generation of zero-emission locomotives. Wabtec has a clear path to power new locomotives – and repower existing locomotives – […]

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U.S. railroads see increase in carload and intermodal traffic for second straight week

Chart showing weekly U.S. rail traffic statistics

WASHINGTON — For the second week in a row, U.S. railroads saw in increase in both carload and intermodal traffic compared with the same week a year earlier, according to the latest figures from the Association of American Railroads. Statistics for the week ending March 13 show U.S. railroads moving 230,684 total carloads, a 2.1% […]

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Digest: MBTA sidelines new CRRC cars after derailment

Rapid transit trainset in factory

MBTA takes new cars out of service, will run bus bridge for three weeks after derailment The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has taken its new Orange Line and Red Line subway cars out of service as it investigates Tuesday’s low-speed derailment of a train with 100 passengers aboard. The Boston Herald also reports a bus […]

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B&O freight under wire

Road-switcher diesel locomotives with freight train

Two GP38s and a GP40 lead a Baltimore & Ohio freight out of Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac’s Potomac Yard in Arlington, Va., in April 1971. The train will soon enter Washington, D.C., via the “Long Bridge” over the Potomac River. The catenary is for Penn Central freight trains, which also use “Pot Yard.” David Ingles […]

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