WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration issued two Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Dec. 19 which would allow railroads to change how they inspect track and train brake systems. Officials say the changes will “promote safety innovation and reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens.” “It’s time to modernize existing regulations to permit methods of inspecting, testing, […]
Metra trains meet in Western Springs, Ill., in November 2019. The commuter railroad is inviting riders to participate in a survey on possible amenities in new railcars that could replace the familiar bilevel gallery coaches. TRAINS: David Lassen CHICAGO — Metra is seeking customers’ opinions on features of new railcars it expects to order soon. […]
Host John Truckenbrod pairs with Classic Toy Trains Senior Editor Roger Carp to take a close look at vintage station platforms made by Lionel Corporation. Things get even more interesting when the two talk about some of the operating accessories found on John’s display-style O gauge layout! Even better, the guys also discuss Lionel’s 6464 boxcar […]
Host John Truckenbrod pairs with Classic Toy Trains Senior Editor Roger Carp to take a close look at vintage station platforms made by Lionel Corporation. Things get even more interesting when the two talk about some of the operating accessories found on John’s display-style O gauge layout! Even better, the guys also discuss Lionel’s 6464 boxcar […]
HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division SD75M diesel locomotive. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (red-and-silver warbonnet, four road numbers); BNSF Ry. (red-and-silver warbonnet and Heritage III schemes, three numbers each); Norfolk Southern (Thoroughbred scheme, three numbers); and Progress Rail (Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe warbonnet and BNSF Ry. Heritage II patchouts, two numbers each). Prototype-specific details, […]
Tank car design changes Illustration: Rick Johnson WASHINGTON — A third of U.S. tank cars met upgraded flammable liquids safety requirements in 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. The more than 34% of Class 3 flammable liquid tank cars at DOT-117 and DOT-117R standards were up from 20% in 2018, according to a […]
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Southern says it will require tank cars moving on its Mexican subsidiary to meet safety standards of the U.S. Department of Transportation and Transport Canada. Specifically targeted are Kansas City Southern de Mexico moves of high hazard flammable materials and substances that are toxic when inhaled, KCS officials say. […]
NEW YORK — Deliveries of new Bombardier subway equipment is almost three years behind schedule, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority failed to adequately oversee the manufacturer’s performance, New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer reports in an audit released Monday. MTA’s $600 million contract with Bombardier Transit Corp. to produce 300 R-179 subway cars was […]
HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division GP9 diesel locomotive. Canadian Pacific (maroon-and-gold passenger service scheme, four road numbers), Central Vermont (green-and-gold scheme, three numbers), Grand Trunk Western (green-and-gold scheme, three numbers), Great Northern (Empire Builder scheme, four numbers), and Southern Pacific (gray and scarlet; dual-service in two road numbers, freight service in four numbers). Prototype-specific details, […]
A welder at the LB Steel factory in Harvey, Ill., works on a tilting transom for a new Acela trainset. Bob Johnston LB Steel Vice President David Abshire shows how the tilting transom sits on top of a trailer wheelset and connects it to the frame. Bob Johnston HARVEY, Ill. — How does a 35-year-old […]
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has removed its new Orange Line transit railcars from service while engineers investigate an “uncommon noise” coming from beneath the cars. MBTA spokeswoman Lisa Battison told Streetsblog Massachusetts in an email that the cars were removed from service “with safety as a top priority and out of an […]
Bowser Trains HO scale GE U25B diesel locomotive HO scale locomotives General Electric U25B diesel locomotive. Burlington Northern (Great Northern Big Sky Blue patchout, Phases IIb and IV in one number each); Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (blue-and-yellow warbonnet, Phase IIa in three numbers); Chesapeake & Ohio (solid blue merger renumbering, Phase IIa); Chicago, Burlington […]
