MASON CITY, Iowa. – Union Pacific is spending $31.5 million to upgrade the former Rock Island “Spine Line” between Nevada and Mason City. The project began April 24 and is scheduled for completion in mid-July. The railroad will replace more than 57 miles of rail, repair the surfaces at 67 crossings, and replace 16 switches. […]
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The Columbia Star dinner train in Missouri. Erik Rasmussen TREGO, Wis. – The equipment set for the Columbia Star Dinner Train, is on the move to new owner Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad in Trego. The dinner train made its last run in October 2014. The train was popular among railfans for its two repainted former […]
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Left to right: J No. 600, Class A No. 1203, and Y6 No. 2123. Norfolk & Western ROANOKE, Va. – During the apex of steam on the Norfolk & Western Railway in the 1940s and 1950s, there were three classes of Roanoke-built steam locomotives that were the mainstay of operations: the Class A 2-6-6-4s, Class […]
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Camera men with the local ABC and NBC affiliates capture some B-roll footage of the scene. Brian Schmidt MILWAUKEE, Wis. — With helicopter cameras swirling above and reporters swarming on the street, Milwaukee-area media are reacting en masse to an Amtrak locomotive fire in a prominent downtown area. Local media say city fire crews reported to […]
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FLEMINGTON, N.J. – The Black River & Western Railroad will celebrate the 50th anniversary of operating tourist passenger trains this month. On May 16, a train for railroad employees and invited guests will commemorate the railroad’s inaugural run from Flemington, which occurred on May 16, 1965. New Jersey Assistant Secretary of State Carol Cronheim will […]
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CHICAGO – The board of directors of the Tom E. Dailey Foundation approved nine rail-related grants at its May 2 quarterly board meeting. Since its creation in 2013, the Foundation has awarded grants totaling $380,300. The awards included the following: Chicago & North Western Historical Society, North Riverside, Ill.: $1,500 The C&WHS collection includes some […]
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A pair of test units at Toimi, Minn., on May 6. David C. Schauer SILVER BAY, Minn. – On Wednesday, Minnesota iron ore-hauling railroad Northshore Mining ran its first taconite train with two leased CIT EMD SD9043MACs. CIT Nos. 130 and 133 are on lease to Northshore for two years. They will be used primarily […]
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‘Glenbrook’ after its multi-year restoration. Nevada State Railroad Museum CARSON CITY, Nev. – The Nevada State Railroad Museum will publicly unveil the completed restoration of its Baldwin 2-6-0, the Glenbrook, at a dedication ceremony later this month. The 1875-built narrow gauge, Mogul-type freight locomotive has been on the grounds of the Carson City museum since […]
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No. 911 in its official company portrait. Norfolk Southern ALTOONA, Pa. – Norfolk Southern has unveiled the newest addition to its honorary locomotive fleet on Wednesday. NS Altoona-built SD60E No. 911 honors the country’s hard-working emergency first responders in the law enforcement, fire, and EMS professions. The locomotive was rolled out at the Altoona shops […]
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A granite train on the Washington County Railroad at Barre. Kevin Burkholder GRANITEVILLE, Vt. – Vermont Rail System’s Washington County Railroad Granite Division will see a rebirth in May as granite is again moved from the Rock of Ages Quarry site for the Army Corps of Engineers. Trains make the trek from Graniteville to Montpelier […]
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ATLANTA – Amtrak will open an information technology office in metropolitan Atlanta later this summer. The new office will be located at Concourse Office Park in Sandy Springs, Ga. Workers there will support Amtrak operations nationwide. Amtrak officials say the railroad will employ as many as 200 more people in the office in five years. […]
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Simpson Lumber at Shelton, Wash., in September 2013. Justin Franz SHELTON, Wash. – The Pacific Northwest’s last logging railroad will shut down at the end of June. On Tuesday, the Simpson Lumber Co. announced it had sold its sawmill operations in Shelton to Sierra Pacific Industries. In a separate announcement, SPI stated it would not […]
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