Siemens ACS-64 Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $459 Era: 2020s+ Manufacturer: Bachmann Trains, 1400 E. Erie Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19124; 215-533-1600; bachmanntrains.com Features: Dual-mode TCS WOWSound decoder Keep-Alive capacitor Light-emitting diode lighting, including flashing ditch lights and directional marker lights and headlights Voice-guided Audio Assist Die-cast metal frame Mappable light functions Selector switch for choice between […]
Amtrak Acela II Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Train set, $799; separate-sale cars, $139 Era: 2020s+ Manufacturer: Bachmann Trains, 1400 E. Erie Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19124; 215-533-1600; bachmanntrains.com Set features Powered (analog control with speaker) and non-powered (functioning lights) locomotives Additional locomotive features include die-cast metal chassis; working, directional light-emitting-diode (LED) headlights and marker lights; and […]
WASHINGTON — A series of Northeast Corridor efforts to replace century-old infrastructure highlights 11 passenger-rail projects receiving more than $233 million in Federal Railroad Administration grant funding. The grants announced today (Thursday, Aug. 18) by the U.S. Department of Transportation are part of the Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair Program. The projects included […]
CUMBERLAND, Md. — The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad will hold a steam-powered fundraiser Oct. 14 to benefit restoration of the Railroaders Memorial Museum’s Pennsylvania Railroad K4s-class 4-6-2 steam locomotive No. 1361, based in Altoona, Pa. An evening dinner train will be pulled by WMSR’s ex-Chesapeake & Ohio Railway 2-6-6-2 engine No. 1309 (Baldwin, 1949), temporarily […]
PORT CLINTON, Pa. — This is turning out to be the summer of steam on Pennsylvania’s Reading & Northern Railroad. Less than a week after a spectacular doubleheaded public excursion [see “News photos: Doubleheaded ‘Iron Horse Ramble’ …,” Trains News Wire, Aug. 14, 2022], the railroad’s Passenger Department has posted on social media that R&N […]
ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. – Work continues on preparing East Broad Top’s 2-8-2-type engine No. 16 (Baldwin, 1916) for a return to active service. The narrow-gauge railroad, a National Historic Landmark, last used steam power in 2011, just prior to the shutdown that put the 33-mile railroad into a deep freeze for more than eight years. […]
ALBANY, N.Y. — The mayor of Albany has ended the state of emergency surrounding the Central Warehouse, the derelict former cold-storage facility which led to a disruption of Amtrak service through the city last month. But long-term problems at the site remain. WRGB-TV reports Mayor Kathy Sheehan said emergency repairs have been made at the […]
NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y. — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul joined with Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials Monday, Aug. 15, for a ceremonial first ride and press conference marking the opening of the first section of the Long Island Rail Road’s Main Line Expansion Project, also known as the Third Track project. A 3-mile section of […]
BOSTON — Commuter rail, shuttle buses, vans for those with accessibility challenges, and free use of bicycles that are part of Boston’s bikeshare program are all part of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s plans to provide alternatives during the month-long closure of the rapid-transit Orange Line that begins this Friday, Aug. 19. The MBTA released […]
QUEENS, N.Y. — The first segment of the Long Island Rail Road’s Third Track project, a $2.6 billion effort to add 9.8 miles of third main on the heavily used route between Floral Park and Hicksville, is slated to open for the morning commuter rush today (Monday, Aug. 15). Newsday reports the 4-mile stretch between […]
NEW YORK — The last of three New York City Transit Museum-sponsored trips using vintage subway equipment drew a sellout crowd on Saturday, Aug. 13, for a trip to the Rockaways. The trip used 1930s Independent R1 through R9 equipment, along with century-old Brooklyn Rapid Transit/Brooklyn Manhattan Transit Co. (BRT/BMT) B-type/Standard equipment — a consist […]
BOSTON — The Federal Transit Administration has approved plans by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority to address two of the safety directives issued by the FTA in June, but says two others need more work. The Boston Herald reports the federal agency has approved the MBTA’s plans to deal with track maintenance and recertification of […]
