SEPTA gives ‘toasters’ tasteful send-off NEWSWIRE

FULL SCREEN Patrick Yough An image of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s last run of an AEM-7 locomotive, affectionately known by railfans as “toasters.” FULL SCREEN Patrick Yough An image of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s last run of an AEM-7 locomotive, affectionately known by railfans as “toasters.” FULL SCREEN Patrick Yough An image of […]

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New model trains for the week of December 6, 2018

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Athearn HO scale Electro-Motive Division GP7u diesel locomotive HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division GP7u diesel locomotive. Wisconsin & Southern (two road numbers) and BNSF Ry. (Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe patchout, three numbers). Road-number-specific details, wire grab irons, and detailed cab interior. Direct-current model with 21-pin NEM connector, $199.98; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound decoder, […]

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Chicago Union Station is awash in new light NEWSWIRE

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An elevated interior image of Chicago Union Station’s Great Hall after reconstruction. The suspended work deck is shown beneath the vaulted skylight. Mike Clarahan, Berglund Construction/Amtrak CHICAGO — The historic Great Hall at Chicago’s Union Station is awash in new light with renovation all but complete on the iconic skylight, installation of improved lighting, and […]

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Earthquakes shut down Alaska Railroad NEWSWIRE

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ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Alaska Railroad has been shutdown following two earthquakes north of Anchorage on Friday morning. The back-to-back quakes measuring in 7 and 5.8 on the Richter scale shook buildings and damaged roads across the southern part of the state. The Associated Press reports that there were no immediate reports of death or […]

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Ex-Pan Am GP9s arrive at Heber Valley in Utah NEWSWIRE

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Crews hoist former Pan Am Railways GP9 No. 52 into the air. The locomotive will soon serve the Heber Valley Railroad in regular service. Mike Manwiller HEBER CITY, Utah — After a 3,000-mile journey from Maine, the Heber Valley Railroad’s new GP9s are ready for service in Utah. Earlier this month, ex-Pan Am Railway GP9s […]

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Go home, California Heisler, go home NEWSWIRE

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This California Heisler is returning to the area where it first worked. Mill Valley Historical Society MILL VALLEY, Calif. — The only remaining original equipment from the fabled Mount Tamalpais & Muir Woods Railroad in Marin County is on its way to a new home. No. 9, a 30-ton two-truck Heisler built in 1920, was […]

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GoFundMe campaign wants to replace Portal Bridge

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SECAUCUS, N.J. — NJ Transit commuters and Amtrak passengers tired of dealing with frequent issues with Amtrak’s Portal Bridge can now do something about it: Pay for a replacement themselves. It’s not buying the Brooklyn Bridge, but it’s close. A GoFundMe campaign to replace the 108-year-old bridge over the Hackensack River — presumably tongue in cheek […]

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Iowa Interstate to steam in 2019 NEWSWIRE

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Iowa Interstate QJ 2-10-2s Nos. 6988 and 7081 doublehead in Iowa in 2011. Trains: Jim Wrinn MENLO, Iowa — In the first announcement of a scheduled big steam locomotive running on a regional railroad in 2019, Iowa Interstate officials Friday said that steam will operate to benefit a volunteer fire department in this community located […]

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MBTA to begin Foxborough service on trial basis NEWSWIRE

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An F40PH-2C leads a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority commuter train across the Charles River in Boston on April 21, 2016.The MBTA will begin offering service between Boston and Foxborough, Mass., under a pilot program. Scott A. Hartley FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will begin an 11-month pilot program of commuter rail service […]

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Pikes Peak railroad to reopen in 2021 NEWSWIRE

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Swiss-built diesel-powered rack rail cars pause at the top of Colorado’s Pike’s Peak during a Trains Magazine tour of Colorado in June 2015. Trains: Steve Sweeney MANITOU SPRINGS, Colo. — One of the highest rack railroads in the world will re-open in 2021, say Colorado media outlets. Denver’s Fox 31 reports that the Pikes Peak Cog […]

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