We call dibs on the first Martian railroad. pic.twitter.com/YaGUnbpvhO — Union Pacific (@UnionPacific) September 28, 2016 MARS (the planet) — Union Pacific called “dibs” this week on building the first Martian railroad. The surprise announcement came just hours after SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk unveiled his dreams of building a fleet of spaceships to put […]
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FCC fines clandestine train tracking company NEWSWIRE

What’s in a picture? In this one, a brown-painted automatic equipment identification, or AEI, reader barely pokes out of a slope along a Conrail right-of-way in New Jersey. A company that installed this reader received a $195,000 fine from the Federal Communications Commissions for having incorrect licensing for tracking freight trains near rights-of-way. WASHINGTON D.C. […]
Trains, September 2016
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Alstom unveils hydrogen-powered train at InnoTrans

BERLIN — Touting its arrival as “a blockbuster; I think it will revolutionize the railway industry,” Alstom Chairman and CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge highlighted the company’s first train powered by hydrogen fuel-cell technology during a Tuesday press conference at InnoTrans, the world’s largest rail industry conference. As part of an overview of the state of his […]
‘Two-wheelers’ now welcome on Amtrak trains NEWSWIRE

Amtrak Assistant Conductor Tony Brey punches a bicyclist’s ticket for the eastbound Empire Builder on Monday. Amtrak will now accept bicycles without disassembling at most station stops for long-distance trains. Steve Glischinski Amtrak Assistant Conductor Paul Trossen loads a bicycle into a baggage car on the Empire Builder Monday. Steve Glischinski A bicycle loaded on […]
New Southern 4501 documentary highlights locomotive’s history, caretakers NEWSWIRE

No. 4501 leads a 14 car train through Orange, Va., on the former Southern Railway main line, in May 1985. Alex Mayes CHATANOOGA, Tenn. – Inspired by an affirmation for steam and the startup of Norfolk Southern’s 21st Century Steam program, a documentary discussing the history of Southern Railway 2-8-2 No. 4501 is now available. […]
Meet Metra’s newest locomotive NEWSWIRE

Metra’s newly re-built F40PH no. 175 arrived in early September from Progress Rail Services Metra Engineer Kyle Nanfeldt stands in front of the locomotive, which wears a paint scheme he designed. Mark Llanuza The cover of Locomotive 2016, on-sale in late September. CHICAGO — Metra, Chicago’s commuter operator, received its first rebuilt F40PH No. 175 […]
New short line railroad begins operations in North Carolina NEWSWIRE

The Kinston & Snow Hill’s first run on Sep. 1 featured a light engine move with ex- L&C SW900 No. 90 Ward C. Sutton KINSTON, N.C. — A new short line railroad is up and running in the Tarheel state. The Gulf & Ohio Railways has added the Kinston & Snow Hill Railroad to its […]
Take a look at this painted pony NEWSWIRE

Norfolk Southern AC44C6M No. 4002 in the railroad’s latest “mane” paint scheme, a “Roanoke prototype” mane with a Tuscan Red stripe. Norfolk Southern ALTOONA, Pa. — Norfolk Southern has released an image of the latest version of its prototype “mane” paint scheme: a mane with a Tuscan Red stripe behind the cab. According to a […]
Progress Rail to drop Electro-Motive from company names starting Sept. 1 NEWSWIRE

Copy of a Progress Rail letter to customers received by Trains News Wire. MILWAUKEE — On Sept. 1, Progress Rail will officially eliminate the Electro-Motive Diesel name from its business entities, according to a letter Trains News Wire received. This change only affects the business side of the companies and does not affect the locomotive […]
Amtrak, Alstom reach $2.45 billion deal (with video)
WASHINGTON — Amtrak is contracting with Alstom to produce 28 next-generation high-speed trainsets that will replace the equipment used to provide Amtrak’s premium Acela Express service. The contract is part of $2.45 billion that will be invested on the heavily traveled Northeast Corridor as part of a multifaceted modernization program to renew and expand the […]
The signs, they are a changin’ NEWSWIRE

New York’s Penn Station hosts liquid crystal display or simulated Solari-style or sign board that will soon be replaced with more advanced electronic signs. Philadelphia’s 30th Street station is among the last in the U.S. to have an electro-mechanical Solari board. Joseph M. Calisi WASHINGTON — Sorry, Bob Dylan, the signs they are a-changing. Those […]