Rapido HO General Electric 44-ton diesel

Color photo showing front of HO scale center-cab diesel painted red with yellow and black graphics and silver trucks on white background.

Rapido HO General Electric 44-ton diesel Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with factory-installed speakers, $199.95; with ESU LokSound V5 sound decoder and MoPower capacitor system, $309.95 Manufacturer: Rapido Trains, 382 High St, Buffalo, NY 14204; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Rapido HO General Electric 44-ton diesel features: Coreless motor with dual flywheels Direct-current models have factory-installed speakers […]

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Virginia’s ‘Long Bridge’ project to require five-hour midday work window (updated)

Passenger train arrives at station

WASHINGTON — Starting early next January, no freight or passenger trains will be scheduled to cross the Potomac River between Washington, D.C., and Alexandria, Va., during an 8:15 a.m.-to-1 p.m. window seven days a week for up to five years. This will accommodate construction on a $2.3 billion, four-track bridge being built to replace the […]

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BLET members ratify new contract on Metra UP lines

Commuter train led by cab car passes intermodal train

CHICAGO — Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen who operate on Metra’s Union Pacific lines have ratified a new contract, the BLET said on Friday (Oct. 10, 2025). The contract, which calls for a 3.5% wage increase, was ratified by a 60-1 vote. The pay increases will take effect no later than […]

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NJ Transit cautions passengers about approaching storm

Commuter train on multi-track main line

NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit has declared a state of emergency beginning at 10 p.m. ET today (Saturday, Oct. 11) in anticipation of a strong storm expected to hit its service on Sunday, Oct. 12, and Monday, Oct. 13, and is advising customers to travel during the storm only if absolutely necessary. Those who are traveling […]

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Age of Steam Roundhouse’s 2-8-2 No. 19 to receive christening in April

Steam locomotive undergoing work under steam outside of roundhouse

SUGARCREEK, Ohio — Former McCloud River Railroad and Yreka Western 2-8-2 No. 19 is slated to return to full operation in 2026, according to its owner, the Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum. The Mikado, famous from its appearance in the movie Emperor of the North, was last under steam in 2020 before undergoing its Federal […]

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Metra budget for 2026 calls for fare increases but no service cuts

Commuter train stops at platform with barn-like station in background

CHICAGO — Metra plans a fare increase as part of its proposed 2026 budget, a $1.1 million plan that includes other measures to address a projected $68 million funding shortfall but no cuts in service. The commuter rail agency’s announcement today (Oct. 10, 2025) also includes a proposed $575.3 million capital plan continuing Metra’s work […]

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CN and Congebec partner on cold storage warehouse in Calgary Logistics Park

MONTREAL — Canadian National and and Congebec, a Quebec-based logistics firm, are collaborating on a cold storage facility that will be built at CN’s Calgary Logistics Park in Alberta. The facility will be built within CN’s integrated logistics hub, which will accelerate transloading of temperature-sensitive goods between rail and the warehouse. The companies, in a […]

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Evacuation order lifted after CN derailment

Canadian National logo

NORA, Ill.  — Residents of the village of Nora were to be allowed to return to their homes at 6 a.m. today (Friday, Oct. 10) following a Thursday morning derailment of a Canadian National Railway train that led to the evacuation of about 100 people. The Warren, Ill., Fire Department posted that information, from the […]

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BNSF-CSX interline intermodal service off to fast start

BNSF Railway and CSX are seeing immediate results from the interline domestic intermodal partnership that they announced in August linking the Southwest and Southeast. Over the past six weeks, CSX intermodal volume is up 8%, according to the railroad’s weekly carload reports. Rival Norfolk Southern’s intermodal traffic has declined 6.8% over the same stretch, suggesting […]

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Bachmann HO Trinity 5161 covered hopper

Color photo showing B end of HO scale three-bay covered hopper painted Mineral Red with white, black, and yellow graphics

Bachmann HO Trinity 5161 covered hopper Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $59 Manufacturer: Bachmann Industries Inc., 1400 E. Erie Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19124; 215-533-1600; shop.bachmanntrains.com Bachmann HO Trinity 5161 covered hopper features: Based on phase 2 prototype with 10 body panels and 17 running board supports Blackened machined metal wheelsets Body-mounted plastic E-Z Mate Mark II […]

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CPKC announces schedule, performers for 2025 Holiday Train

Musician playing with CPKC logo in background

CALGARY, Alberta — Canadian Pacific Kansas City has announced the schedule and artist lineup for the 2025 CPKC Holiday Train, which will see two trainsets bringing live music performances to 196 locations collects food and raises money to support community food banks across the CPKC network. The Holiday Train will launch its 2025 Canadian schedule […]

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Illinois village evacuated after CN derailment

Canadian National logo

NORA, Ill. — About 100 residents of the village of Nora are the subjects of a precautionary evacuation following the derailment of 17 cars of a Canadian National train carrying ethanol early today (Oct. 9, 2025). The Jo Daviess County Emergency Management agency said in a press release that the Warren Fire Department and Joe […]

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