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Operations Suspended in Summerland, B.C. Following District-Wide Wildfire Evacuation

SUMMERLAND, B.C. - Operations at our Summerland facility have been temporarily suspended following an mandatory evacuation order issued for the entire District of Summerland and neighboring regional areas due to the rapidly spreading wildfire.

The order was expanded by local authorities and emergency management agencies following rapid wildfire growth driven by aggressive fire behavior in the South Okanagan. In accordance with official safety directives, all personnel were evacuated, and local facility operations have ceased until community access is cleared by emergency officials.

Impact on Orders and Fulfillment
As a direct result of the evacuation and local operational pause:

• Fulfillment On Hold: Order processing and outgoing shipments are completely suspended until an official order clearance is issued. 
• Pending Shipments: Existing pending orders remain saved in our system and will be prioritized for processing as soon as staff can safely return to the facility.
• Timeline Uncertainty: Because emergency conditions and re-entry timelines remain dependent on containment efforts and official safety assessments, we are unable to provide a precise date for resuming normal operations at this time.

Keeping Our Community and Customers Updated

The safety and well-being of our team, their families, and our local community remain our highest priority during this crisis. We extend our sincere gratitude to the BC Wildfire Service, local emergency responders, and regional support crews working under challenging conditions.

We are committed to maintaining transparent communication with all customers and stakeholders. Regular status reports and notice of resumption will be shared via Website Notice Updates.

While response times may be slower than usual due to limited remote connectivity, messages will be answered as conditions permit.

After six years with White River Productions, Associate Editor Justin Franz will be departing the staffs of Railfan & Railroad and Railroad Model Craftsman to accept a full-time position with the Center for Railroad Photography & Art. Justin will continue serving as a contributor to our monthly news columns.

During his time with R&R and RMC, Justin has helped develop engaging feature stories, manage our news coverage and regular contributors, support our online reporting, and bring the excitement of railroading to our readers each month. His knowledge of the railroad industry, strong journalistic instincts, and enthusiasm for telling meaningful stories have made him an important and valued member of our small editorial team.

While we are sorry to see Justin go, we are also excited for him as he begins this next chapter and continues his work documenting and sharing railroad history and photography. We are grateful for everything he has contributed to our magazines and wish him every success in his new role.

—Steve Barry and Otto M. Vondrak

The post Justin Franz Departs Railfan & Railroad for New Position appeared first on Railfan & Railroad Magazine.

Marklin 'A lot of circus yesterday at Cologne Main Station. In front of the wonderful cathedral atmosphere, Roncalli proudly showed off the new locomotive. Alongside TV teams, radio stations, and a lot of audience, even an unfinished hand pattern got lost.' 

Curtain up for Circus Roncalli - The circus is coming… by rail!

To mark the 50th anniversary of the famous Circus-Theater Roncalli, a very special locomotive is rolling across Germany. Locomotive 185 537, owned by SRI (Scherer Rail Invest) and leased to RBL (Rail Bavaria Logistik), now sports an exclusive livery celebrating the Roncalli anniversary and its accompanying tour. Naturally, ZIPPO—the ring’s secret star—had to be included; the clown character portrayed by Roncalli founder Bernhard Paul lends his famous red nose to the locomotive. Circus-Theater Roncalli was reinvented in 1975 by Bernhard Paul and co-founder André Heller as a "Gesamtkunstwerk" (total work of art) interpretation of the circus. The world premiere of the program "Die größte Poesie des Universums" (The Greatest Poetry of the Universe) followed in 1976, capturing the traditional flair of a classic circus. From costumes, uniforms, and tents to the colorful circus wagons, Paul created a magnificent atmosphere. Despite the adversities and challenges of its early years, Roncalli has since evolved into a major brand for circus and variety entertainment. To this day, Roncalli remains the only circus in Europe to tour the country by rail, relying primarily on private railway operators for transport. Happy 50th anniversary!
The "Roncalli locomotive" is being christened today, August 5, 2026, at Cologne Central Station; it will henceforth transport Roncalli’s living quarters and equipment to venues across Germany and Europe.
The model of the SRI Class 185 locomotive is being released exclusively by Märklin and TRIX in 1:87 / H0 scale (Item Nos. 36659/T22469). The model features an mfx/DCC decoder and is equipped with numerous lighting and sound functions. Suitable wagons for this theme are currently still in the planning stage.

Expected delivery 4th Qtr. 2026. Reserve yours today by simply placing a preorder.