Baltimore councilwoman calls for CSX coal facility to be shut down

Smoke rising from coal facility

BALTIMORE — A member of Baltimore’s city council has questioned the failure of Maryland’s environmental agency to monitor methane levels at CSX Transportation’s Curtis Bay Coal Piers, and is calling for the immediate suspension of operations at the facility. WJZ-TV reports the comments of Councilwoman Phylicia Porter came Wednesday during a council hearing on the […]

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MBTA to again launch commuter rail service to Foxboro station

Portion of MBTA map showing location of Foxboro station

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — For the second time, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will launch a pilot program offering extensive weekday commuter rail service to the Foxboro station, which generally has only seen service for events at the adjacent Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots. The one-year pilot will offer 11 inbound trips and […]

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Work to resume shortly on Maryland’s Purple Line project

Schematic diagram showing route of Maryland's purple line and connections with DC Metrorail and MARC commuter trains

BETHESDA, Md. — Work on Maryland’s long-delayed Purple Line light rail project should resume in earnest after Labor Day, WTOP radio reports. Laborers’ International Union of North America has signed a collective bargaining agreement with Maryland Transit Solutions, the new contractor set to finish the line, with the union’s business manager, Steve Lanning, telling the […]

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The Lionel Acela exposed

The Lionel Acela exposed

  “The Lionel Acela exposed” was originally published in the May 2013 Classic Toy Trains. Noted Kalmbach illustrator Rick Johnson produced numerous cutaway illustrations for various brands during his career, but few were this detailed. Along with text by toy train mechanical expert Matt Troester and based on photography by Bill Zuback, this is a […]

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Agency pursuing Reading-Philadelphia passenger service picks consultant

Portion of map showing existing and proposed rail routes in the Northeast

READING, Pa. — The recently created agency to revive passenger rail service between Reading and Philadelphia has selected a consultant for the project. Patch.com reports the Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority voted to employ Washington, D.C., based Transportation for America as consultant, subject to review of the contract by the authority’s solicitor. Transportation Economics & […]

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SEPTA opens new station, introduces new Regional Rail schedules

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority logo

MIDDLETON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority has begun service to its newest Regional Rail Station, at the same time it has introduced new schedules. The new Wawa Station at 1490 W. Baltimore Pike in Media, Pa., is the southwestern endpoint of what is now the Media/Wawa line (formerly Media/Elwyn), and carries the […]

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Thomas T. Taber III, author and historian, dies at 93

Black and white photo of man in white shirt and tie

Thomas T. “Tom” Taber III, 93, of Muncy, Pa., author of numerous railroad books, died Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, at Hillside Senior Living Center in Montoursville, Pa. A Life Member of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society, he had been active in the organization since his childhood when he accompanied his father, Thomas T. Taber, […]

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News photos: Reading & Northern 4-8-4 sees freight action

Steam locomotive passing "North Reading Junction" sign with freight train

READING, Pa. — As promised, Reading & Northern’s restored Reading Co. T-1 4-8-4, No. 2102, saw action in freight service on Friday, Aug. 19, hauling a 28-car train (plus caboose) from Tamaqua to Reading after a light-engine move from Port Clinton, Pa., to Tamaqua. Photographer Gary Pancavage provides two shots of the action. […]

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Boston braces for ‘chaos’ as Orange Line shutdown begins

Man in high-visibility vest placing sign at rapid-transit station

BOSTON — With the 30-day closure of a primary rail rapid transit line set to begin this evening, the mayor of Boston has warned it will be “impossible to avoid chaos altogether.” The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Orange Line will close Friday at 9 p.m., leaving commuters to use a patchwork of commuter rail, other […]

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Pennsylvania RR class K4 4-6-2 from Bachmann

Screen capture from HO scale 4-6-2 video

Pennsylvania RR class K4 4-6-2 from Bachmann Senior Editor Cody Grivno hosts this Product Review video featuring the Pennsylvania RR (PRR) class K4 Pacific steam locomotive from Bachmann Trains. The 4-6-2 paid a visit to our Milwaukee, Racine & Troy staff layout, where it led a short train of heavyweight passenger cars. Details on the […]

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Pennsylvania RR class K4 4-6-2 from Bachmann

Screen capture from HO scale 4-6-2 video

Pennsylvania RR class K4 4-6-2 from Bachmann Senior Editor Cody Grivno hosts this Product Review video featuring the Pennsylvania RR (PRR) class K4 Pacific steam locomotive from Bachmann Trains. The 4-6-2 paid a visit to our Milwaukee, Racine & Troy staff layout, where it led a short train of heavyweight passenger cars. Details on the […]

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