KEARNY, N.J. — NJ Transit has joined the growing number of railroads and transit agencies with locomotives decorated to mark the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. ALP45DP No. 4526 was introduced today (Dec. 23) and will be in service “soon,” according to a social media post. The dual-mode Bombardier locomotive joins NJ Transit’s Stadler light […]
NORTHUMBERLAND, Pa. — The North Shore Railroad Co., operator of six Pennsylvania short lines, has introduced a new paint scheme for SW1500 No. 2238 to honor the 250th anniversary of American independence — a design it describes as “the first documented time a locomotive has been painted as a mural.” The locomotive features differing, complex […]
THOMASTON, Conn. — Three former Santa Fe Hi-Level cars are in the consist of the Railroad Museum of New England’s Naugatuck Railroad’s Santa Express train. Built by Budd for Santa Fe’s Chicago-Los Angeles El Capitan in the 1950s, the three later were acquired by Amtrak. Naugatuck’s two parlors served as “Pacific Parlour” cars on Amtrak’s […]
Atlas HO REA steel express reefer Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $46.95 Manufacturer: Atlas Model Railroad Co., 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205; 908-687-0880; shop.atlasrr.com Atlas HO REA steel express reefer features: 3/3 Improved Dreadnaught ends Arched roof Body-mounted Accumate couplers Metal wheels Separate, factory-applied ladders and grab irons Steam, air, and signal hoses Uncoupling levers […]
The list of 2025 rail preservation happenings is long. There are many organizations working on numerous fronts and making significant progress toward preserving America’s railroad heritage. The past 12 months have seen new buildings open, steam locomotives fired up, and relics discovered. Narrowing down the list, here are 10 of the most significant 2025 rail preservation […]
FRONT ROYAL, Va. — The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen has joined the list of unions opposed to the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger. In an announcement today (Dec. 22), the union cited concerns about rail safety, impacts on workers, and “the concentration of market power” the merger would create. The union urged the STB to reject […]
News & Products for the week of December 22nd 2025 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 December 22nd, 2025. […]
WASHINGTON — Amtrak could face problems in operating its NextGen Acela and Airo trainsets because some new maintenance facilities will not be completed in time, the Amtrak Office of Inspector General says in a new report issued today (Dec. 22). According to the report, if current schedules for those facilities hold, Amtrak will only be […]
CHICAGO — Railcar manufacturer FreightCar America has acquired parts distributor Carly Railcar Components, the companies announced today. Family-owned Carly Railcar Components, founded in 1995, distributes original-equipment components and operates a core-exchange program for remanufactured parts. Headquartered in Irwin, Pa., it also has a location in Orange, Texas. FreightCar America says the acquisition strengthens its aftermarket […]
DENVER — With Gov. Jared Polis on hand for the departure, Amtrak’s Winter Park Express launched its 2025-26 season on Friday, Dec. 19. It was the first of 57 scheduled trips for the ski train through March 29. The train is operating three days a week for its first three weekends — Dec. 19-21, Dec. […]
ALBANY, N.Y. — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has vetoed a bill that would have required two-person crews on New York City subway trains. Assembly Bill 4873, sponsored by state Rep. Monique Chandler-Waterman (D-Brooklyn), would mandate that all Metropolitan Transportation Authority trains of two or more cars have a conductor as well as an operator. […]
BALTIMORE — The B&O Railroad Museum will unveil the newly restored American Freedom Train No. 1 on Jan. 12, 2026. The locomotive is one of three steam engines that pulled the American Freedom Train during its 1975-76 tour celebrating the U.S. bicentennial. The event will also start a yearlong series of America 250 events at […]
