Aurora Miniatures N Greenbrier 7550 boxcar

Side view of N scale boxcar painted yellow and black on white background

The Greenbrier 7,550-cubic-foot capacity double-plug-door boxcar is the first N scale freight car from Aurora Miniatures North America Inc. The injection-molded plastic model features many separate, factory-applied parts; metal wheelsets; and body-mounted plastic AuroraJanney plastic knuckle couplers. Prototype history The Aurora Miniatures N Greenbrier 7550 boxcar is based on the 2016 to present version of […]

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German hydrogen trains experience problems

White and blue hydrogen-powered multiple-unit passenger train runs on double-track main

Germany has more hydrogen-powered trains in use than any other country, but regular operation has been hit by snags leading to the temporary replacement of the largest fleet by older diesel trains. In mid-December 2024, train manufacturer Alstom —first to build hydrogen-powered passenger trains with its iLINT design, launched in 2014 at the InnoTrans trade […]

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Lawsuit blames seven deaths on East Palestine derailment

Black cloud of smoke above town

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — A new lawsuit blames the East Palestine derailment and toxic-chemical release for seven deaths, including that of a week-old infant. The suit was announced Monday — two years after the Feb. 3, 2023, Norfolk Southern derailment — by a trio of law firms on behalf of some 744 plaintiffs. It names […]

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News & Products for the week of February 3rd 2025

A blue, red and white model locomotive on model rail track

News & Products for the week of February 3rd 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 February 3rd, […]

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Owner of failed rolling stock rebuilder owes province of New Brunswick $5 million, court rules

Passenger train on multi-track main line

MONCTON, New Brunswick — A Moncton developer and former owner of a rail equipment company owes the province of New Brunswick almost Ca$5 million as a result of a failed effort to refurbish rolling stock for VIA Rail Canada, the CBC reports. Court of King’s Bench Justice Thomas Christie ruled earlier this month that developer […]

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Atlanta’s MARTA unveils first new trainset

Rapid-transit train at station with large crowd on platform

ATLANTA — The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority on Thursday offered the first public look at its new Stadler-built MARTA trainsets, part of a $646 million order to replace the agency’s entire rail fleet. The first CQ400 trainset is one of 56 trainsets ordered in November 2019. The first of the 224 cars were delivered […]

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Athearn HO FMC 5347 boxcar

Photo of HO scale boxcar in blue and gray paint on white background.

A newly tooled FMC 5,347-cubic-foot capacity 50-foot boxcar has joined the Athearn HO scale freight car lineup. The injection-molded plastic model has railroad-specific doors; many separate, factory-applied details; and body-mounted McHenry scale couplers. Prototype history FMC Corp. produced the 5,347-cubic-foot capacity boxcar at its plant in Portland, Ore., from the late 1970s to the early […]

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Rail shipments for an oyster cannery

Color photo of N scale freight car painted blue with silver and gray details.

Q: I was wondering if you could provide me with information on what kind of loads an oyster cannery sends and receives? — Markus Russ A: I cast the net wide (pun fully intended) to help answer your question. I started internally. Trains magazine Associate Editor Bob Lettenberger wrote “Five mind-blowing facts — Stilwell Oyster […]

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GATX profits rise in fourth quarter

Logo of rail equipment leasing firm GATX

Railcar and locomotive lessor GATX reported 2024 fourth-quarter net income of $76.5 million or $2.10 per diluted share, compared to net income of $66 million or $1.81 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2023. Chicago-based GATX said utilization of its Rail North America unit’s wholly owned fleet, comprising approximately 111,400 cars, excluding 8,400 […]

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News & Products for the week of January 27th 2025

A set of three model freight cars

News & Products for the week of January 27th 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 January 27th, […]

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Naugatuck Railroad acquires former Santa Fe Hi-Level cars

Interior of Hi-Level lounge car

THOMASTON, Conn. — The Naugatuck Railroad has purchased three former Santa Fe Hi-Level railcars for its excursion operations, the short line has announced. The cars, two lounges and one coach, were acquired from the Steam Railroading Institute of Owosso, Mich., operator of Pere Marquette 2-8-4 No. 1225. The Institute acquired the cars in 2019 and […]

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