Milwaukee Road 261 returns to action (with video)

People gather around steam locomotive and train

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Milwaukee Road locomotive No. 261 is back on the road after a two-year absence from mainline operation. The S-3 Class Northern 4-8-4, built in 1944 by the American Locomotive Co. at Schenectady, N.Y., was in action Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 2-3, on the Twin Cities & Western Railroad between Chanhassen and Bongards, […]

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TSB finds more evidence Ottawa light rail train operated while derailed

Damaged side of light rail car

OTTAWA, Ontario — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has documented track and ballast damage resulting from the derailment of an O-Train Confederation Line light rail train on Sept. 19, providing additional indications that the train had derailed prior to leaving the Tremblay Station. The derailment has led to closure of the Confederation Line, while […]

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Shooter in fatal Sunset Limited incident identified

TUCSON, Ariz. — The shooter in the incident aboard the Sunset Limited that killed a Drug Enforcement Administration agent and injured two other law officers has been identified. The Arizona Republic reports the Pima County Medical Office has identified the man as Darrion Taylor, 26. Taylor, who exchanged gunfire with officers while the train was […]

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Cincinnati anachronism

Octagonal watchman shanty and wooden crossing gates in front of wooden station

Cincinnati anachronism The manually controlled crossing-gate arms at Winton Place stand watch at Clifton Avenue in Cincinnati. The suburban station was a favorite hangout for area railfans. W. Mike Weber, Denny Hamilton collection […]

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How to sell toy trains

A listing for toy trains on Craigslist.

Where can I sell my trains? How to sell toy trains might be one of the most-asked questions we get at Classic Toy Trains. I first refer people who want to know how to sell Lionel, MTH, Marx, and American Flyer trains to the advertisers in Classic Toy Trains and even Model Railroader. There are […]

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Reading Company: A railroad history

Color photo of side-by-side noses of two road-switcher diesel locomotives

Reading Company, as a railroad, disappeared into Conrail more than 40 years ago. But it is still possible to “take a ride on the Reading.” This can be done when playing the board game Monopoly, or (more literally) by boarding a Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority commuter train in the Philadelphia area. Today, the Reading (pronounced […]

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Iowa Pacific Railroad equipment in late 2021

A maroon and yellow-stripped cab unit under clear, sunny skies.

ALAMOSA, Colorado — Iowa Pacific Railroad equipment rolled out of Alamosa in the San Luis Valley bound for days of fun, music, and beer in the Colorado mountains until just a few years ago. The Illinois Central colors of Iowa Pacific Holdings and the trains of the San Luis & Rio Grande added to the […]

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Mark Twain Zephyr work continues with dining-car project (with video)

Kitchen in railroad car, with new equipment on one side and original equipment on the other

TREGO, Wis. — The interior of another car has been completed as the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad continues its work to return one of the first diesel-powered streamlined passenger trains to operation. Trains News Wire’s latest visit to northwest Wisconsin to check on restoration of the Mark Twain Zephyr, the articulated trainset built by Philadelphia’s […]

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MBTA light rail operator arraigned on charges from July crash

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority logo

BOSTON — The operator of a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority light rail train that rear-ended another train in July, injuring more than 20 people, has been arraigned on two charges of gross negligence in connection with the accident. WCVB-TV reports Owen Turner, 50, faces charges of gross negligence of a person in control of a […]

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Rail operators to face new cybersecurity requirements

Trains Washington Watch logo

WASHINGTON — Major railroads and rail transit operators, along with airports and airlines, will be required to improve cybersecurity under a new directive from the Transportation Security Administration. Reuters reports that Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Wednesday that the companies and agencies will be required to name a chief cyber official, disclose hacks to […]

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