Atlas Model Railroad Company, Inc., and Wm. K. Walthers, Inc. have reached an agreement under which Atlas will purchase all N-scale locomotive and rolling stock tooling owned by Walthers, including the Walthers and Life-Like lines.

Atlas will incorporate the tooling into its Atlas Master, Atlas Classic, and Trainman N scale lines, the company said in a statement today. Walthers will continue to offer N-scale items in its Cornerstone, SceneMaster, and Walthers Controls brands, including new items as well as items currently in those lines.

“We feel that this tooling has found a great home with Atlas,” Wm. K. Walthers President Phil Walthers said. “They have a strong N-scale offering and these tools will help them bring some exceptional products back to the market.”

Tom Haedrich, Executive Chairman at Atlas said the tooling fits right in with the company’s existing N-scale lines. “We are committed to producing them with the latest technology, prototypical accuracy, and high quality you’ve come to expect from Atlas,” he said.

Model railroaders can brush up on their skills and learn about prototype rails at the Rocky Mountain Train Show March 3-4 in Denver.

More than 30 clinics, headlined by Union Pacific’s steam operations update, are scheduled over both days of the show, which will cover nearly 130,000 square feet at the Denver Mart. Manufacturers, dealers, layouts and representatives from museums and historical societies will also be on hand.

UP’s widely popular session forced show officials to move the presentation to a larger room in the Forum area. Last year, a standing room only crowd of more than 100 heard Ed Dickens Jr., senior manager of UP’s Heritage Operations, update the restoration of Big Boy No. 4014 and offer insight on Northern-class steam locomotive No. 844.

Dickens will do it again at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

The Texas Bullet Train made a big push forward before Christmas when federal regulators outlined a preferred route between North Texas and Houston, including identifying passenger station locations.

The Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) analysis, completed after nearly four years of work, provides a path for the high-speed train’s planning, design and pre-construction phases with the intent to ensure the safety and environmental well-being of all along the 240-mile route, according to Texas Central Railway, which is building the investor-owned high-speed passenger line.

The report does not grant any approvals to build the line, but transportation officials say construction could start as early as 2019. Officials have accelerated that timeline from 2021, the date pinpointed in 2014 when the line began heating up.

The next step, according to TCR, is release of the Final Environmental Impact Statement, followed by Record of Decision. In the meantime, the FRA is hosting public hearings in 10 counties affected by the line beginning at the end of January.

KANSAS CITY, MO — Kansas City Southern’s 17th annual Holiday Express train kicks off its charitable run Nov. 24 in Victoria, TX. The train will stop in 22 communities in six states on 26 dates running through Dec. 19.

At each stop, visitors can board the train, visit with Santa and his elves, and tour the inside of three cars of the festive six-car train. The event is free.

The Holiday Express has raised well over $1 million to purchase gift cards, which are donated to the Salvation Army at each stop. The gift cards are then used to buy warm clothing and other necessities for children in need in the local community.

KCS is working with the Salvation Army this year to specially assist communities along the route most impacted by Hurricane Harvey, including Victoria, El Campo, Kendleton and Beaumont. The KCS Charitable Fund will make a supplemental donation at these communities.KCS and its employees have previously given over $100,000 to the American Red Cross for Hurricane Harvey relief.