Norfolk Southern train derails near Akron, Ohio

Norfolk Southern logo

RAVENNA TOWNSHIP, Ohio — Approximately 18 cars of a Norfolk Southern train derailed Tuesday evening in northeast Ohio, WKYC-TV reports. A railroad representative told the station that no injuries were reported and no hazardous materials were involved. The Portage County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management reported on its Facebook page that the derailment […]

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Illinois Railway Museum acquires SD50

Yellow and green diesel locomotive

UNION, Ill. — Former Chicago & North Western Railway SD50 No. 7009 is headed to the Illinois Railway Museum after two benefactors provided the funds to purchase the locomotive from the dead line at National Railway Equipment in Silvis, Ill. IRM says the locomotive is the first SD50 to be preserved by a museum. The […]

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Amtrak Midwest equipment problems continue

Passenger train passing additional passenger cars in yard

CHICAGO — “A shortage of available train equipment” is being blamed for the ongoing cancellation of the Illinois-sponsored service between Chicago and St. Louis scheduled to provide a 10 a.m. arrival into Chicago and 5:15 p.m. departure out of the Windy City. Lincoln Service train Nos. 300 and 305 originally had been scheduled to resume […]

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Hiawatha logo stolen from Milwaukee Road observation car

Metallic logo of person with oval outline

ST. PAUL, MINN. — A Hiawatha “Running Indian” logo from famed Milwaukee Road Skytop lounge observation car Cedar Rapids has been stolen, car owner Friends of the 261 reported. The car was recently used on the Autumn Colors Express excursion trains in West Virginia and had been returned to its home base in St. Paul […]

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Wolverine incident leads to Amtrak policy changes (updated)

Amtrak logo.

Amtrak will change its policies in the wake of a disastrous trip of a Chicago-bound Wolverine train earlier this month, prioritizing getting passengers off trains without heating, air condition, electricity and/or toilets, the MLive.com news site reports. Passengers involved in the 19-hour trip from Pontiac, Mich., to Chicago that began at 6 a.m. on Oct. […]

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Amtrak board to meet in St. Louis

Aerial view of large, ornate former railroad station

ST. LOUIS — Amtrak’s board of directors will hold a public meeting on Dec. 1 at the Union Station Hotel in St. Louis, the company has announced, with the public invited to attend in person or on line. The meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. CST, and will review fiscal 2022 and […]

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Railroad mail service on the Burlington

Streamlined silver diesel locomotive carrying railroad mail service cars

I was able to secure part time employment with the railroad mail service on the Burlington during the mid-1950s. This occurred both in summer and during the heavy Christmas mail seasons. This was with the help of my father, who was a traveling auditor for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, which eventually brought us to […]

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Amtrak St Louis services through time

Amtrak St. Louis service train departing covered station

Amtrak St Louis services have included routes to the East, Southwest, and other Midwest points throughout its 50-plus-year history. At one time, the Gateway City was a secondary Midwest hub for Amtrak. Long-distance trains serving St. Louis through the years included the Inter-American, National Limited, and Texas Eagle. Additional short-distance trains include services to Chicago […]

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Seven injured when theme-park train derails in Missouri (updated)

Two-foot gauge steam locomotive at theme park

BRANSON, Mo. — Seven people were injured Wednesday evening when a 2-foot gauge train derailed at the Silver Dollar City amusement park in Branson. The park said on its Twitter feed that six guests and one employee were transported by ambulance for medical treatment. Stone County Emergency Management Director Tom Stone said three cars from […]

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