First of many battery trains enter service in Germany

Blue multiple-unit passenger train at simple shelter station and platform

KIEL, Germany —  The first of what will be multiple fleets of new battery-electric multiple-unit, or BEMU, trainsets have entered passenger service in northern Germany. The Stadler-built, two-car FLIRT trains debuted two weeks ago. They are designed to replace diesel multiple units and operate as regular electric trains when running on electrified lines. Each of […]

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Cleveland-area short line introduces battery-electric locomotive

Green and yellow locomotive with six people standing in front.

CLEVELAND —Newburgh & South Shore Railroad, an OmniTRAX short line serving the Cleveland area, has introduced its first battery-electric locomotive, the first electric locomotive operated by an Ohio short line. The locomotive, an AMPS Traction G9, is intended to reduce fuel consumption by half and NOx emission and particulate matter by 77%. The locomotive was […]

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News photo: New York Central electric locomotives moved

Aerial photo of flatbed trucks with electric locomotive bodies and running ear

GLENMONT, N.Y. — Two historic New York Central electric locomotives, saved last year after long facing a threat of scrapping, have been moved from their site on an Island in the Hudson River after more than three decades, the Danbury Railway Museum has announced. The museum released a photo today of the locomotives on flatbed […]

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U.S. Steel introduces battery locomotives at Pittsburgh-area plants

Blue and green switching locomotive with U.S. Steel logo

PITTSBURGH — U.S. Steel has begun using two battery-electric locomotives, converted from diesel-electric switchers, at its Mon Valley Works, the company has announced. The conversions were performed by Innovative Rail Technologies, a Washington, D.C.-based company that provides lithium-ion power systems for the locomotive market, and are working at two of the four facilities that make […]

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Wabtec unveils first production FLXdrive battery heavy-haul locomotive

ERIE, Pa. —Wabtec and Australian mining firm Roy Hill have unveiled world’s first 100% battery-powered, heavy-haul locomotive for mainline service in ceremonies today (Oct. 31, 2023) at Wabtec’s Erie manufacturing facility. The FLXdrive locomotive contains 72 lithium-ion modular battery packs with a total of 36,288 cells, giving the locomotive an energy capacity of 7 megawatt-hours. […]

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Amtrak Acela adventure along the Northeast Corridor

Join Trains.com staffers Kent Johnson and Ben Lake, as they explore Business Class and First Class experience aboard Amtrak’s Acela high-speed passenger service! From South Station (BOS) to Union Station (NHV), follow the duo as they take the train to work between Boston, Mass. to New Haven, Conn. in Business Class. Then watch as their […]

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Pacific Southern Railway in HO scale

With a mainline run of more than 1,000 feet, this freelanced HO scale (1:87.1) club layout is quite impressive! But the fact that the established Pacific Southern Railway Club 501(c)(3) nonprofit raises funds for a local emergency services definitely makes this model railroad a stand-out/stand-up amongst some of the finest in the hobby! To learn […]

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Progress Rail delivers hybrid locomotives for freight use in Brazil

Blue and white locomotives exit building

PINHAIS, Brazil — Progress Rail has delivered two hybrid EMD GT38H locomotives to Rumo, Brazil’s largest railway operator, which will become the first hybrids in revenue freight service. The locomotives include both a diesel-electric system and battery packs, drawing energy to power the traction motors from the diesel generator and the bank of batteries. Rumo […]

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Pacific Southern Railway in HO scale

With a mainline run of more than 1,000 feet, this freelanced HO scale (1:87.1) club layout is quite impressive! But the fact that the established Pacific Southern Railway Club 501(c)(3) nonprofit raises funds for a local emergency services definitely makes this model railroad a stand-out/stand-up amongst some of the finest in the hobby! To learn […]

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Does my postwar Lionel GG1 have a reverse unit?

dark green electric locomotive model

There’s a switch on top of my Lionel No. 2332 Pennsylvania GG1. I’ve heard it controls how the engine reverses. I’ve run the locomotive on a test track, and without my touching it the locomotive reversed following the transformer direction switch. Is everything working right? – Jim Rohrbach, San Mateo, Calif. The switch on the […]

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Connecticut orders six dual-mode locomotives from Siemens

Blue and silver locomotive with red trim in urban setting

NEW YORK — The Connecticut Department of Transportation is ordering six dual-mode locomotives from Siemens Mobility for use on the MTA Metro-North Railroad, adding to an earlier Metro-North order for 27 such units placed in 2020. The newly ordered locomotives will be delivered through 2027. Overall, the contract includes options for up to 171 locomotives […]

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