The astonishing 5-week transformation of No. 331

1800s replica steam locomotive in rail yard. The astonishing 5-week transformation of No. 331.

Horneman Enterprises, an engineering firm specializing in rail equipment restoration, has rebuilt 4-4-0 Harrisburg, Lincoln & Lancaster Railroad No. 331 — formerly No. 63 Leviathan — from a completely torn down to the boiler, to operational in 5 weeks. The rebuild completed the locomotive’s FRA 1,472 day inspection, which was accomplished over the course of […]

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Mexico begins work on passenger line to Nuevo Laredo

Map showing planned passenger rail projects in Mexico

MEXICO CITY — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Friday (Nov. 7) announced the start of the country’s latest major rail project, the Gulf of Mexico Train, a planned passenger route linking Nuevo Laredo at the U.S. border to the cities of Saltillo and Monterrey. Groundbreaking was held Friday in Nuevo Laredo for the first phase […]

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Caltrain warns of significant cuts without new funding

People on platform taking photos of new train

SAN CARLOS, Calif. — Caltrain has become the latest commuter operator to outline dire operational impacts without new funding — in this case, a regional funding measure to be on the ballot a year from now, in November 2026. As outlined at the November meeting of the Caltrain board, potential impacts without funding from the […]

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Amtrak has seats, rooms at high prices as air cancellations mount

Streamlined electrified trainn approaching station

WASHINGTON — Taking the train as an alternative to a cancelled flight is only rarely mentioned in news reports on the flight reductions ordered by the Federal Aviation Administration starting today (Nov. 7, 2025). The lack of Amtrak awareness is not surprising, given the spindly nature of its national network compared to air travel and […]

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Bill Stephens named editor of Trains Magazine

BROOKFIELD, Wis. — Firecrown Media has named veteran railroad journalist Bill Stephens as the new editor of Trains Magazine. Stephens, a longtime Trains contributor and columnist, brings more than three decades of experience covering North American freight and passenger railroads, industry trends, and regulatory developments. His byline has been a fixture on Trains News Wire, […]

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Bill Stephens named editor of Trains Magazine

BROOKFIELD, Wis. — Firecrown Media has named veteran railroad journalist Bill Stephens as the new editor of Trains Magazine. Stephens, a longtime Trains contributor and columnist, brings more than three decades of experience covering North American freight and passenger railroads, industry trends, and regulatory developments. His byline has been a fixture on Trains News Wire, […]

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Wabtec to expand facilities in Brazil

Illustration of building with Wabtec signage and logo

CONTAGEM, Brazil — Wabtec will spend R$20 million ($3.7 million U.S.) to expand operations in Brazil, mostly at its plant in Contagem, Minas Gerais, the company announced this week. At Contagem, the company will build a new Global Engineering Center, its first in Latin America, and has developed a new locomotive production line. The 9,000-square-meter […]

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OmniTRAX taps Brown for new chief strategy officer role

DENVER – Shortline holding company OmniTRAX has named Nathan Brown its chief strategy officer. In this new role reporting directly to the CEO, Brown will lead development and execution of the enterprise-wide OmniTRAX corporate strategy and strategic planning process. “OmniTRAX has experienced an unparalleled growth rate of 50% in the past five years, and network […]

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