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Diesel Era 3Q2022 Trans-Global Solutions/Econo-Rail Locomotive Lessor and Third-Party Contractor • by Randy Keller A 50th anniversary look at the unkept Illinois Central Gulf • by Tony Cook — Photos by Terry E. Cook and the Kevin EuDaly collection Santa Fe SD45-2B: 5500 Class (5510–5517) including BNSF 7500/6500-series • by Tony Cook — Photos from the Kevin EuDaly collection and Paul Wester 4Q2022 Trans-Global Solutions/Econo-Rail Locomotive Lessor and Third-Party Contractor, Part 2 • by Randy Keller A History of Santa Fe’s SD45-2s • by Peter Limas — Photos from the Kevin EuDaly collection, Paul Wester, and others

Not that I'm aware of.

Roka Prototype Models - NEW Manufacturer Safe-Pak Autoracks - SF, CPAA, NW, SBD, NW, WP, FEC, UP, CSXT https://rokamodels.com/collections/safe-pac 3 more models coming in 2023

Rapido - Christmas 2022 2nd Run - Dash 8-40CM - CN (stripes / Large noodle / website / north america), BC Rail https://rapidotrains.com/n-scale/diesel-locomotive-47/dash-8-40cm.html PDF - https://files.constantcontact.com/b02e8bb6001/21ddc615-5fdb-4143-a948-8d1d22594fcb.pdf

Rapido - Christmas 2022 Updated Tooling with FULL DETAIL - Dash 8-40CM - CN (Stripes / Large Noodle / North America / Website), BC Rail, Quebec North Shore & Labrador - Otter Valley has 2 exclusive BC Rail schemes (faded out BC Rail 4604 and 4620) Website - https://rapidotrains.com/ho-scale/diesel-locomotives/dash-8-40cm.html PDF - https://files.constantcontact.com/b02e8bb6001/1d7d791e-90e8-48a3-b915-2be403294e3b.pdf 2nd run - PA-1 and PB-1 and the famously unique Santa Fe set, #51L-A-C - EL, MP, MKT, GM&O, NH, UP, Alco-GE Demonstrator, CN Demonstrator https://rapidotrains.com/ho-scale/diesel-locomotives/pa-1-second-run.html PDF - https://files.constantcontact.com/b02e8bb6001/fdc2c446-a2b0-4d63-bace-4e843bf389a5.pdf PDF (SF) - https://files.constantcontact.com/b02e8bb6001/121dfd1d-2e71-4778-8128-54c36826e528.pdf Executive E-units - Illinois Central and CN https://rapidotrains.com/ho-scale/diesel-locomotives/e8-w-hep.html PDF - https://files.constantcontact.com/b02e8bb6001/9d38ab5a-7e71-4607-8ff4-e3910fb42e5e.pdf

They are brass which is reflected in the price. But they are also a way for Tangent to try and judge the interest in O models - specifically 2-rail and P48 - without the risk of expensive tooling.

Tangent Scale Models - December 2022 - Available now new run - General American 1917-Design 10,000 Gallon Radial Course Tank Car https://www.tangentscalemodels.com/general-american-10000-gallon-1917-design-radial-course-tank-car/

NEW - Tangent Scale Models - first O Scale freight car - available now THESE ARE BRASS THESE ARE ONLY AVAILABLE DIRECT FROM TANGENT THEY ARE ONLY AVAILABLE IN 2-Rail O and Proto-48 General American 1928 Design 6000 gallon tank car https://www.tangentscalemodels.com/o-general-american-1928-design-6000-gallon-3-compartment-tank-car/

The Talgo Series VI cars did not adequately protect the passengers during the 2017 crash leading the NTSB request their removal from service - see 30 to 37 in the Findings section of this document - https://www.ntsb.gov/news/events/Documents/Dupont-Abstract.pdf

Yep, though not owned by Amtrak - the trains are operated by Amtrak but the equipment purchased by Illinois as part of a multi-state equipment purchase. (for anyone not aware some of the services Amtrak operates are at least partially funded by the relevant State and in some cases the State also provides the equipment). My understanding is Amtrak would like to but it all comes down to available capital funding - and replacing the Amfleets is the current priority.

I'm guessing they were forced to by various reasons but if nothing else the issues VIA is having with their 50+ year old equipment would be a warning - and it may also be VIA told the government if they wanted VIA to service the trains it would have to be new Siemens stuff. There is no business case, it is simple politics.

Correct. Just Amtrak revealing the branding for the various trains ordered 18 months ago.

Amtrak is branding their new Siemens trains as Airo https://www.amtrak.com/amtrak-airo https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/intercity/first-look-amtrak-airo/

Yet again we are asked to "think of the children" as a justification for the complaints about the price of new items. The key points about this (that are the same today as all the previous times this topic has come up) are: if there was a market for cheaper models someone would be filling it(*), the fact that no one is tooling up new models at the "affordable" end is a pretty good indication there is no market for it to be done profitably - the fact that tooling and other costs may be less if you can't sell enough models. this has been a constant complaint in this hobby for 60+ years and yet the hobby is still thriving. kids aren't always as poor as some people think - everything they are interested in whether it be sports, electronics, etc. is expensive. If they are into trains they will find a way whether it be keeping a cell phone for an extra year or using the used market or some of the more affordable old-tooling items * - yes, not the UK, but over in the US one company (ScaleTrains) does for many of their models offer and affordable version (Operator) and detailed version (Rivet Counter) - in online Q&A sessions that have stated that the "affordable" version is 10% to 15% of the total sales vs 85% to 90% for the detailed versions. The market has spoken and they have indicated that some models in the future won't be offered with an Operator version because the potential sales don't justify the expense.

My recollection from looking years ago was that the passenger numbers started on the way up just prior to privatisation and thus likely it was more driven by external issues.

The inherent problem in that though is the assumption that the area around the bridge and society remains static for the next x decades of service for the bridge - or given the comments about moving bridges that the next potential site also doesn't require DDA compliance. Whether it be new housing in 20+ years or new designs of wheelchairs it seems to be poor forward thinking to design what is supposed to be a "standard" bridge in 2022+ that doesn't respect disabilities.

Rapido - these were pre-announced earlier, official announcement now made NEW - HEP E-units - BN, Amtrak, Metro North NEW - E-units - Conrail Office Car Special https://rapidotrains.com/ho-scale/diesel-locomotives/e8-w-hep.html https://files.constantcontact.com/b02e8bb6001/755f28a5-295e-43ec-b1c0-b0ec01cb0498.pdf NEW - Budd Gallery Cars - BN, Metra https://rapidotrains.com/ho-scale/passenger-car/gallery-commuter-cars.html https://files.constantcontact.com/b02e8bb6001/756341c2-3434-476f-8c8f-fb7da3ff3e9b.pdf NEW - Budd coaches with HEP2 details and NEW HEP2 underframe details https://rapidotrains.com/ho-scale/passenger-car/budd-coach.html https://files.constantcontact.com/b02e8bb6001/0fe193d1-9ce1-4db1-a8aa-8aac08e7759f.pdf

Kadee - December 2022 - available now 50 ton AAR 2 bay open hopper - Milwaukee Road - new 6-48 https://www.kadee.com/shop-by-category/freight-cars/ho-scale-rtr-cars/7525-ho-scale-milwaukee-milw-96863-rtr-50-ton-aar-standard-2-bay-open-hopper

Blog post with the text of the report regarding the issues with the Budd fleet https://tracksidetreasure.blogspot.com/2022/11/the-report-that-hatched-buffer-cars.html

Kato USA sent out the official announcement yesterday (Saturday). Note that the due date of May is for the DC version, per Kato USA always has DCC and DCC/Sound versions arriving about 2 months later.

Kato NEW - UP Big Boy - Preorders due December 28th - eta May 2023 (DC) - July 2023 (DCC DCC/Sound) https://katousa.com/n-bigboy/

The potential rail strike would have happened sometime on/after December 9th with the US Government moving to prevent the strike from even starting. Sadly the imposed settlement didn't include paid sick days as that amendment was blocked https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-63829123

Hindsight 20/20 14.0 has been announced, held December 10th all times are EST RMweb member Trevor Marshall @tpm1ca has a presentation on his new project at 5:30 11:30 - 12:00 More than good enough: A history of Allen McClelland and the V&O 12:15 - 12:45 South Ryegate VT on the Montpelier & Wells River: Modeling bridge abutments poured in pre-plywood forms 1:00 - 1:30 Five railroads, one city, one layout: Using Layout Design Elements to model Michigan City Indiana circa 1960 1:45 - 2:15 The Delaware and Hudson's Seley Hoppers, 1905-1966 prototype history of these iconic and long-liived cars, with just a brief discussion of modeling options 2:30 - 3:15 Break 3:15 - 3:45 Operating the Valley Local: modeling the New Haven Railroad's Operations in the lower Connecticut River valley 4:00 - 4:30 Air brush tips, tricks, and techniques with a focus on time proven methods of obtaining a professional factory like finish for our models 4:45 - 5:15 Weathering as layers 5:30 - 6:00 Niagara Electrics: Modeling a CNR subsidiary under wire Free registration - http://speedwitchmedia.com/product/hindsight-20-20-14-0-registration/ PDF of schedule - http://speedwitchmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/hindsight2020-flier-14.0.pdf

In the small prairie discussion in the Rapido area of RMweb