Cement-products firm opens new facility on Oregon short line

Logo of Eco Material Technologies

LAKEVIEW, Ore. — Eco Material Technologies, producer of green cement products and supplementary cementitious materials, opened a new plant in southern Oregon today (July 29, 2025). It is the companyy’s first facility in the Pacific Northwest. The Lakeview Plant is located on the Goose Lake Railway, operator of the county-owned former Southern Pacific line connecting […]

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Portland, Ore., transit agency announces plans for service cuts

White light rail train at station

PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland’s TriMet has become the latest U.S. transit agency to announce plans for significant service cuts to address a funding shortfall, announcing plans to reduce frequency on some bus lines this November in the first phase of a process that would eventually include an 18% reduction in MAX light rail service. The […]

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Oregon museum receives TriMet light rail vehicle

White articulated light rail vehicle with blue and yellow trim

BROOKS, Ore. — The Oregon Electric Railway Museum has added one of the first MAX light rail vehicles to its collection, a donation from Portland-area transit agency TriMet. MAX LRV No. 101 was part of the original set of equipment used to launch TriMet’s light rail service on Sept. 5, 1986, reviving a form of […]

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Jaguar Transport aims to buy two Washington State short lines

Map of railroad in central Washington state

WASHINGTON — Jaguar Transport Holdings, which owns or controls 11 other short lines, is seeking to buy two railroads in Washington state, the company said this week in filings with the Surface Transportation Board. The transaction would include the Columbia Basin Railroad (reporting marks CBRW) and the Central Washington Railroad (reporting marks CWAR). The Columbia […]

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Olympia & Sand Creek, Episode 26 | Ballasting the rails

In this episode, David shares a proven technique for adding and shaping a rustic course of ballast along the rails of the Olympia & Sand Creek On30 logging layout. But first he works to complete several scenery details, including realistic fencing, water effects, muddy cow paths, and more along the terrain and trackwork too! View […]

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Mt. Rainier Scenic soldiers on after devastating fire

Remnants of wooden railroad bridge destroyed by fire

ELBE, Wash. — The last few weeks have been devastating for the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad. And yet, the heritage line about 45 miles south of Tacoma, Wash., is not only continuing to operate, but finding reasons to be positive. On the evening of April 30, the railroad’s largest wooden bridge — a 400-foot-long, 70-high […]

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Steam and superstition

steam locomotive

When Trains Magazine author Lou Maxon was invited by the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad and Museum in Mineral, Wash. to experience steam railroading from the cab, he knew he was in for a special treat, a peek into a world few non-railroaders will see. He watched as the crew went through their pre-departure routine for […]

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