Host David Popp departs from the On30 layout construction to tackle something he’s never done before. In the railroad town of Sand Creek, David works to build, paint, and install proper horses and horse drawn wagons that folks use to haul goods to and fro. Saddle up for the ride through the entire process…and Trains.com […]
For Snow Week 2024, let’s head west to view operations at two tourist railroads running 2-8-2 Mikado-type steam locomotives during the winter. We’ll begin at the Sumpter Valley Railroad in McEwen, Oregon, before jumping to Nevada to chase the Virginia and Truckee Railroad. Want to see and learn more about this class of steam locomotive? […]
SEATTLE — For the second consecutive weekend, Amtrak Cascades service has been disrupted between Portland and Seattle because of a landslide. According to an Amtrak service advisory, all Cascade trains are cancelled today (Saturday, Jan. 27) and Sunday, Jan. 28, between Seattle and Portland with alternate transportation (buses) provided. Coast Starlight trains with originate or […]
PORTLAND, Ore. — The latest in Amtrak’s series of weather-related operating cancellations in the Pacific Northwest and Midwest — caused by a mudslide, cold, and snow — will extend until at least Tuesday morning, based on information available as of Sunday evening, Jan. 21. A mudslide south of Kelso, Wash., on BNSF Railway’s Amtrak Cascades […]
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio – On Jan. 11, members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen ratified a new agreement with the Portland & Western Railroad. A tentative agreement was reached in December 2023. The five-year contract governs rates of pay, benefits and work rules for approximately 55 operating employees. A Genesee & Wyoming subsidiary, Portland […]
Facts & features Name: Pacific Railway & Navigation Co.Scale: Proto:48 (O fine scale)Size: 4 x 38 feet (Palouse), 40 x 60 feet (entire layout) Prototype: Great Northern; Northern Pacific; PR&N; and Spokane, Portland & Seattle (elsewhere on layout)Era: mid-1950sLocale: Pacific NorthwestStyle: walk-in multi-deckMainline run: approx. 1,200 feetMinimum radius: 84″Minimum turnout: No. 7 (spurs), No. 8 […]
CHICAGO — Amtrak continues to assess efforts to operate in subzero Midwest temperatures and make cancellation decisions less than 24 hours before departures. In a remarkably candid email addressed this morning to “Supporter of Passenger Rail” and obtained by Trains News Wire, Amtrak’s veteran Chicago-based government affairs director, Derrick James, outlined the latest cancellations through […]
PORTLAND, Ore. — MAX light rail service remains suspended throughout the Portland area as of this morning (Monday, Jan. 15) as a result of winter weather that hit the area on Saturday — with more on the way. Transit agency Tri-Met says in an advisory on its website the light rail service is suspended “until […]
SEATTLE — The Sound Transit board has approved the one-year appointment of Goran Sparrman, a former Seattle Department of Transportation official, as its interim CEO. The board voted to approve Sparrman’s appointment at a special meeting on Thursday. The appointment is effective on Saturday, Jan. 13; today (Friday, Jan. 12) is the final day for CEO […]
WASHINGTON — As the next mix of high winds, rain, and snow moved up the East Coast, Amtrak cancelled frequencies for trains departing late today (Tuesday, Jan. 9) and early Wednesday but managed to preserve some service on all Northeast routes. This was the same scenario the company used earlier in the week when some […]
SEATTLE — Sound Transit’s board will consider appointment of Goran Sparrman as interim CEO of the agency at a special meeting this Thursday, Jan. 11, the agency has announced. Sparrman, who would be appointed for one year, currently works for infrastructure consultant HNTB and has twice served as acting director of the Seattle Department of […]
SEATTLE — Sound Transit CEO Julie Timm will receive her full salary for 2024 after departing on Jan. 12 and has agreed to provide “on-call services” as a consultant next year, the Seattle Times reports, but the transit agency has not released the full agreement covering her departure. The Sound Transit board’s motion setting the […]
