FRA collects $15.4 million in penalties from Class I railroads under new process

Logo for Federal Railroad Administration

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration announced it has collected $15.4 million in civil penalties from Class I railroads under what it calls a new streamlined settlement negotiation process. The process involves discussions on the most significant cases while continuing to collect data to improve railroad safety, the FRA says. Class I railroads and Amtrak […]

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Rapido HO Greenbrier transverse coil car

Color photo showing B end of modern HO scale coil car painted blue with white and yellow graphics and black trucks with metal wheelsets.

Rapido HO Greenbrier transverse coil car Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Single car, $59.95; six-pack, $359.70 Manufacturer: Rapido Trains, 382 High St, Buffalo, NY 14204; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Rapido HO Greenbrier transverse coil car features: 100-ton trucks with metal wheelsets Detailed, die-cast metal underframe See-through, etched-metal walkways Metal grab irons and uncoupling levers Removable plastic hood Semi-scale […]

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New York, MTA say first year of congestion pricing is a success

Man speaking at podium

NEW YORK — New York City’s congestion pricing program has reduced vehicular traffic in lower Manhattan by 11% and increased transit ridership by 7%, officials said on Monday as they marked the first anniversary of the tolling program that helps fund Metropolitan Transportation Authority capital projects. The congestion tolling, which began on Jan. 5, 2025, […]

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Suspect arrested in locomotive fire at Catskill Mountain Railroad

KINGSTON, N.Y. — A 25-year-old Kingston man has been arrested and charged in connection with the Jan. 1 fire that damaged an out-of-service Catskill Mountain Railroad locomotive. The Kingston Police Department said in a press release that John J. Dwyer had charged with criminal mischief in the third degree, a felony, and arson in the […]

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Quebec North Shore & Labrador reopens after derailment

TRN_QNSL_map

SEPT-ÎLES, Quebec — The Quebec North Shore & Labrador Railway has reopened after a week-long shutdown because of a derailment near the town of Sept-Îles, parent company Iron Ore Co. of Canada has announced. In a Facebook post, Iron Ore Co. said the line reopened at midnight this morning (Jan. 5) with traffic initially operating […]

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News & Products for the week of January 5th 2026

A white and blue model hopper car

News & Products for the week of January 5th 2026 Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of January 5th, 2026. […]

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BNSF opens OKC terminal for Hobby Lobby

FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway has delivered the first container loads to the vest-pocket intermodal ramp it opened in Oklahoma City for retailer Hobby Lobby. The first containers from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, Calif., were delivered to the 42-acre terminal on Dec. 31. Locomotive Engineer Dane Sargent and Conductor Kolic […]

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R.J. Corman taps former BNSF executive Matt Igoe as chief operating officer

NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. — Former BNSF Railway operations chief Matt Igoe has been named president and chief operating officer for R.J. Corman Railroad Co., effective immediately, the shortline holding company announced on Monday. Igoe will assume responsibility for transportation, mechanical, engineering, and day-to-day network performance across the company’s 19 short lines. Igoe previously served as executive […]

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Atlas O 1973 Ford F-100 truck

Color photo showing front half of O scale pickup truck painted yellow with red, black, and white graphics and silver wheels on white background.

Atlas O 1973 Ford F-100 truck Scale: O (1:48) Price: $29.95 Manufacturer: Atlas Model Railroad Co., 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205; 908-687-0880; shop.atlasrr.com Atlas O 1973 Ford F-100 truck features: 1:48-proportion model Chrome plated grill and rear bumper Clear headlight lenses and window glazing Detailed interior with dashboard, bench seat, and steering wheel Molded […]

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GATX, Brookfield complete acquisition of Wells Fargo rail leasing operation

Black GATX railroad tank car

CHICAGO — GATX Corp. has completed acquisition of Wells Fargo’s rail leasing operation in a joint venture with Brookfield Infrastructure Partners. The deal closed on Jan. 1, GATX said today (Jan. 5). The $4.2 billion acquisition covers approximately 101,000 railcars. “This marks an important milestone for GATX,” GATX CEO Robert C. Lyons said in a […]

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Minnesota’s Northstar commuter rail service makes last run

Blue, yellow, red, and white locomotive leads train of bilevel commuter cars with city skyline in background

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota’s Northstar commuter rail line, launched in 2009 with service between Minneapolis and Big Lake, Minn., made its final run Sunday (Jan. 4), with a special-event round trip to the Minnesota Vikings’ season-ending home game against Green Bay. The Metro Transit service was ultimately done in by low ridership along a shorter route […]

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Weather leads to some Amtrak issues during holiday period

passenger train on track just barely above water

CHICAGO — Despite challenging weather conditions on both coasts and in the upper Great Lakes region, Amtrak trains generally reached their destinations unscathed during the holiday travel period. “Mechanical assessments,” however, did continue to impact service throughout the network during the period ending today (Sunday, Jan. 4). Starlight and Builder disruptions Amtrak’s long-distance operations generally […]

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