Windy City excursion

Diesel locomotives with passenger train at brick station in snow

Windy City excursion A Michigan Railroad Club special from Detroit to Chicago pauses for a crew change at Battle Creek, Mich., in February 1967, following a 28-inch snowfall. The two locomotives, Nos. 4900 and 4901, were the GTW’s first passenger diesels, acquired as Nos. 1750-1751 in 1954. Photo by J. David Ingles […]

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Metra seeks to convert three diesels to battery power

Illustration of Metra locomotive in green versioin of paint scheme

CHICAGO — The Metra board of directors has approved a Request for Proposals to convert three of Metra’s F40PH-3 diesels into battery-powered, zero-emission diesels, with the aim of awarding a contract this fall and having the first locomotive delivered 30 months later. “This proposal could be game-changing,” Metra Executive Director/CEO Jim Derwinski said in a […]

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Digest: BNSF train derails in Southern California desert

Damaged intermodal cars and containers

No injuries as BNSF intermodal train derails near Barstow About 15 cars of a BNSF Railway intermodal train derailed Thursday at Jimgray, Calif., about 24 miles northwest of Barstow on the railroad’s Mojave Subdivision. The San Bernardino County Fire Department reports on Twitter that it responded to the accident about 6 a.m., but there were […]

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Digest: CTA begins in-service testing of new CRRC railcars

Rapid transit cars

Chicago Transit Authority begins testing in-service of new railcars on Blue Line The Chicago Transit Authority announced Wednesday it has begun in-service testing for its newest railcars, the 7000-series cars being built by CRRC Sifang, an affiliate of Chinese rail equipment giant CRRC, at its Hegewisch plant on Chicago’s Far South Side. The cars are […]

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Digest: Capitol Corridor memo expresses concern about Oakland ballpark plan

Artist's rendering of ballpark and large buildings along railroad tracks

Oakland ballpark plan creates grade crossing issues, memo says The head of the agency operating California’s Capitol Corridor Amtrak service has voiced concerns about grade-crossing issues new a proposed new ballpark for the Oakland Athletics. The Waterfront District Ballpark adjacent to Jack London Square will require stadium visitors to cross a busy Union Pacific line […]

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Steam superlative

Steam locomotive smoking with freight train

Steam superlative The Rock Island had a fleet of 85 4-8-4s, largest in the United States. Here, No. 5058 leads a westbound freight near Lawrence, Kans., in January 1952. Photo by Robert Olmsted […]

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Duplainville, Wis.: Milwaukee’s hot spot

Duplainville, Wis.: Milwaukee's hot spot

Located just 20 miles west of Milwaukee in an easy to reach location, Duplainville offers up big-time railroading on two major Class I railroads, the Canadian National and the Canadian Pacific (plus Amtrak), a corner tavern with a great burger, and plenty of parking and other fans to mingle with. Join us for  a preview […]

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Duplainville, Wis.: Milwaukee’s hot spot

Duplainville, Wis.: Milwaukee's hot spot

Located just 20 miles west of Milwaukee in an easy to reach location, Duplainville offers up big-time railroading on two major Class I railroads, the Canadian National and the Canadian Pacific (plus Amtrak), a corner tavern with a great burger, and plenty of parking and other fans to mingle with. Join us for  a preview […]

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