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The article discusses the way railroads hauled grain that went through a radical change in the 1960s. It explores specific covered hoppers that dominated grain traffic to know how to make trains, operations, and scenes more realistic. The abandon of boxcars by the 1980s and the shift to covered hoppers by the end of that decade are also tackled.

The article presents information about rail-marine operations and maritime models. From a model railroader's perspective, the point where the tracks end and the water begins offers many intriguing modeling opportunities. Realistic waterfront scenes and model boats have the potential to be scenic standouts. Additionally, ships and harbor craft offer varied traffic-generating opportunities. Nearly everything that moves by rail can be moved by boat. In effect, a vessel represents an all-purpose industry for your layout. The article also includes a list ship model kits of various scales. INSET: MARITIME models in HO scale.

The article focuses on the need for the U.S. West Coast ports to make rail connectivity more efficient. It mentions that the beneficial cargo owners (BCOs) incur around 400 to 600 dollars in additional cost at West Coast ports compared to shipping through Vancouver or Prince Rupert ports in Canada. It is also noted that the West Coast share of containers entering and leaving the U.S. has declined in 2017.

The article reports on the July 2013 train derailment in Lac-Megantic, Quebec which resulted in the death of five people and 40 missing and its impact on the growth of shipping crude oil by rail. A train carrying 73 tank cars of North Dakota crude oil rolled down into the town center where it exploded. It is projected that with the increase in shale oil output, oil by rail will continue to grow. The rail disaster reportedly draw attention to the environmental risk of transporting oil.

The article focuses on improving rail fluidity at the port of New York and New Jersey to prevent congestion during an increase in cargo volumes. It is noted that a committee of the Council on Port Performance is evaluating the need for longer trains and wider space to store empty cars. According to Port officials, the objective is to have 20 percent of port volume carried by rail.

The article examines the outlook for intermodal rail transport in the U.S. for 2016. Topics discussed include data from the Intermodal Association of North America on intermodal rail growth year-over-year in 2014-15, and the impact of drop in diesel fuel prices and loosening of truck capacity to domestic intermodal conversion. Also mentioned are insights from Integrated Distribution Services president Rick LaGore on prospects for the international and domestic intermodal markets. INSET: LIVING ON THE EDGE.

Discusses the development of Whitehall Rowing & Sail's Boat Slider Trax, which comprised of slippery skids forming a track to transport a boat over the beach. Challenge of dragging a boat over a rocky beach; Advantage of high-density polyethylene plastic; Composition of Whitehall's first Beach Hauler tracks.

Focuses on the proposed on-dock rail service which aims to extend the Florida East Coast Railroad in the port of Miami to ease truck traffic. Benefits of the proposal to rail shipments; Challenges to be faced in carrying out the project; Other proposals made to ease the flow of intermodal cargo.

Offers information on the measures taken by Pacific Northwest ports to increase intermodal rail capacity and accommodate growing cargo volumes at the Port of Tacoma in Washington in February 2006. Information on a contract to add another rail track at the Bullfrog and Chilcote junction at the port; Impact of the move on the port's rail capacity.

The article presents information about pulling the float which means sorting and assembling railcars arriving and departing a yard via car float. Pulling the float can be categorized into two fundamental types of operation. First, there is the case where the water barrier interposes between two main lines and car floats carry entire trains intact. The other type of operation is the harbor transfer. In this case a railroad that reaches the tidewater has a large yard where cars are rearranged into groups destined for various smaller yards.

Offers observations on Canadian National's (CN) purchase of railway assets from Great Lakes Transportation, which included a fleet of eight ships. View that the deal should boots the company's annual revenue; The company's debt rating; Rail links; Background on CN; Why the company may have to sell the ships.