Rail profiles through time from file: TRN-TC0513 Illustration: Rick Johnson Q: Why and when did rails get their profile? — Rozier Smith A: The basic shape, or profile, of rails that we see today: chucky head, thin web, and wide base, has its roots railroading as early as 1789, according to an illustration Trains printed […]
Cincinnati Southern Railway website Q: The city of Cincinnati owns the CNO&TP line running from Cincinnati to Chattanooga, Tenn., which Norfolk Southern leases from the city. Does the city of Cincinnati also own and lease yards along the line to NS, or does NS own these yards outright? — Doug Lathrem, Bowling Green, Ky. A: […]
Conrail C36-7 No. 6628 works an eastbound train in New York’s Southern Tier east of Lanesboro, Pa., near the Pennsylvania-New York border in 1985. This section of track has a grade, what percentage that shows up on a track chart is determined by how precise the charts are. TEH-11062-18 Michael S. Murray Q: Some […]
Various Santa Fe SF30C units are seen in storage at Argentine Yard, in Argentine, Kan., in 1983. Several of these locomotives have rotary or flashing beacons on their cab roofs for safety. TEH-14212-34 Ivan Abrams Q: Why did some railroads use flashing or rotary beacons atop their diesels? And do any railroads use them anymore? […]
EDITOR’S NOTE: Trains readers aren’t the only ones to wonder about happenings in the railroad world. Trains editors and friends recently shared an email discussion about why two Class I railroads near Trains’ headquarters removed a connection at a diamond crossover. Here’s a condensed, edited version of the best explanation we’ve seen: A: I would […]
EOTs — end-of-train device Q: In track side watching and in videos, I note that end-of-train devices only flash at night. Why is this? — William Carpenter West Chester Township, Ohio The Northeast Operating Rules Advisory Committee (NORAC) rulebook used by most northeastern railroads states that each train occupying a main track or controlled siding […]
Download this free 29-page PDF to enjoy five stories about a variety of railroad yards and engine terminals. Inside you’ll read first-hand stories about a day at the Kansas City, Brookfield, Illinois, Bolton, Vermont, North Philadelphia, and Marion, Ohio railroad yard. […]
Q: I want to submit a question and photograph to Ask Trains. How do I do that? I can’t find a way to submit a photo. — Matt Jackson, Durham, N.C. A: The best way to submit a question and a photo to Ask Trains is by email. The email address is AskTrains@TrainsMag.com. We only […]
The Rovos Rail luxury passenger train stopped at Plumtree, Zimbabwe, in July 2010 while passengers were undergoing immigration checks. This National Railways of Zimbabwe train was en route from Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, to Capetown, South Africa, a 16-day journey. The power for this train was Sheltam Corp. General Electric U30-EMP No. 3020, a 42-inch […]
Union Pacific SD70ACe No. 4141 letter for former President George H. W. Bush led Bush’s funeral train from Houston to College Station, Texas, in Dec. 2018. 18345-3 Bradley Bates Q: Painting locomotives is expensive. I’m curious to know why railroads would spend this kind of money painting heritage units? — David Berg, Minneapolis, Minn. A: […]
On West Virginia’s Cass Scenic Railroad, engine crews with three Shay locomotives signal each other with whistles for moves and stops. TRAINS: Steve Sweeney Q: When you have two steam engines together, how does the second engineer know how much throttle to give? — Dennis E. Schardt, Sr., Summerdale, Pa. A: We get asked this […]
Q: Do you know if any publications, or any web pages, blogs, or any Internet resource that maintains a U.S. map that shows frequency of train service? — Frank Norris, Santa Fe, N.M. A: Simply put, no such resource exists as railroads hold traffic data as proprietary. The best way to learn about railroad operations, […]
