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Section: News & Reviews
New products from the March 2019 issue of Classic Toy Trains magazine
PRAIRIE SKYSCRAPERS: Woodland Scenics is offering a pair of O scale windmills to complete your farm scene. The no. BR5868 Windmill depicts a well-maintained windmill with shiny metal turbine and includes a separate round stock watering tank and hayrack. The no. BR5867 Old Windmill (shown), with its rusty turbine and weathered wood tower, is ideal […]
After big opening weekend, TEXRail considers expansion NEWSWIRE
A TEXRail train passes equipment of the Grapevine Vintage Railroad in Grapevine, Texas. After a big opening weekend, TEXRail has begun considering expansion. Lance Lassen FORT WORTH, Texas — The TEXRail commuter line carried more than 11,000 riders in its first weekend, prompting officials at its parent organization, Trinity Metro, to start talking about expanding […]
Amtrak cancels trains, modifies schedules in advance of storm NEWSWIRE
NEW YORK — In keeping with recent practice, Amtrak has cancelled some trains and modified schedules for others this Saturday and Sunday because of a forecast for a major winter storm. Service has been cancelled on Saturday and Sunday for three trains: the Chicago-Washington Capitol Limited; the Chicago-New York/Boston Lake Shore Limited, and the Indianapolis-New […]
Connecticut begins restoring rail service on Shore Line East route NEWSWIRE
An aging ex-Amtrak P40, minimally relettered for Shore Line East commuter service, leads a westbound train through Brook Interlocking in Old Saybrook, Conn., in September 2017. Some rail service on the route has been replaced by buses since April 2018, but restoration of those trains will begin Jan. 22. Scott A. Hartley HARTFORD, Conn. — […]
Kansas City Southern reports record financial results but laments lost opportunities NEWSWIRE
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Southern reported record results for the fourth quarter and full year, although executives said they were disappointed that the railroad’s service fell short of expectations in 2018. “We did not meet the expectations of our customers or shareowners, particularly in the areas of customer service and growth,” CEO Patrick […]
Kansas City Southern says shift to PSR will help improve service, reduce costs NEWSWIRE
Pat Ottensmeyer, Kansas City Southern CEO TRAINS: David Lassen KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Southern has hired a veteran Canadian National executive as a consultant who will help lead its gradual shift to Precision Scheduled Railroading during the next two years. Sameh Famhy, who was senior vice president of engineering, mechanical and supply management […]
News Wire Round-Up for Jan. 18, 2019 NEWSWIRE
Trains editors discuss all the rail news that is fit to publish. This week, Digital Editor Steve Sweeney and Columnist Brian Solomon discuss BNSF Railway’s Matt Rose, Amtrak food, and topics for future columns and podcasts. Only from Trains! […]
AAR: Nearly every commodity goes ‘green’ for the week of Jan. 12 NEWSWIRE
Association of American Railroads Association of American Railroads WASHINGTON — The Association of American Railroads on Wednesday reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Jan. 12. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 555,127 carloads and intermodal units, up 8.4 percent compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the […]
CSX Transportation sets US operating ratio record NEWSWIRE
James Foote, CSX Transportation CEO CSX Corp. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation set a record for the lowest U.S. Class I railroad operating ratio in 2018 and expects the key measure of efficiency to drop below 60 percent this year, a year ahead of schedule. “What an incredible year,” CEO Jim Foote said on the […]
CSX’s Wallace: Railroad has gone from ‘worst to first’ NEWSWIRE
Mark Wallace, CSX executive vice president of sales and marketing TRAINS: David Lassen LOMBARD, Ill. — Proclaiming that his railroad has gone “from worst to first” in just 20 months, CSX Transportation’s Mark Wallace offered a strongly positive view of Precision Scheduled Railroading Thursday at the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers conference. Wallace made his […]
‘Lake Shore’, ‘Capitol’ get hot entrees; coach passengers left in the cold
Amtrak’s “Beef short rib” meal Bob Johnston WASHINGTON — Characterizing the change as an “evolution,” Amtrak says sleeping car passengers will have new meal options on the Chicago-New York/Boston Lake Shore Limited and Chicago-Washington, D. C., Capitol Limited starting this week. On June 1, 2018, Amtrak reduced dining car staffs on those trains from a […]
