First rebuilt Amtrak train wash facilities ready soon: report

WASHINGTON — The Rail Passengers Association has learned from Amtrak that construction of four new or refurbished facilities to wash trains at originating terminals will finally become operational this summer and fall. The building at New Orleans will be activated before the end of July, and the facility at Boston’s Southampton Street yard is set […]

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FTA orders SEPTA to address safety issues

WASHINGTON — The Southeastern Pennyslvania Transportation Authority faces a series of deadlines to address issues regarding its “deteriorating safety record” after the Federal Transit Administration on Monday released its report on a six-month safety assessment of SEPTA practices, and issued a series of directives to both SEPTA and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. The assessment […]

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Amtrak awards contract for East River Tunnel repairs

NEW YORK — Amtrak has awarded a construction contract for major rehabilitation of the East River Tunnel, the connection between Manhattan and Queens that sustained major damage from floodwaters during 2012’s Hurricane Sandy. The East River Tunnel Rehabilitation Project will demolish all existing tunnel system down to the liner before completely restoring the two tubes […]

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Brian Sheron’s Long Island Rail Road

Brian Sheron’s Long Island Rail Road is a 27 x 48-foot HO scale model railroad that depicts Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the north shore of Long Island. He built the layout, featured in the August 2024 issue of Model Railroader, in three phases. Brian started work on the model railroad in 1988 with the Port […]

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Brian Sheron’s Long Island Rail Road

Brian Sheron’s Long Island Rail Road is a 27 x 48-foot HO scale model railroad that depicts Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the north shore of Long Island. He built the layout, featured in the August 2024 issue of Model Railroader, in three phases. Brian started work on the model railroad in 1988 with the Port […]

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Taylor named as president of New York & Atlantic

CHICAGO — Marlon Taylor has been named as the new president of the New York & Atlantic Railway, parent company Anacostia Rail Holdings has announced. Taylor, currenly the railroad’s vice president, will succeed James Bonner, NY&A president since 2016. Bonner is becoming president of the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway [see “NYS&W names short […]

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SEPTA receives $317 million grant for new railcars

PHILADELPHIA — The Southeastern Pennyslvania Transportation Authority has received a $317 million federal grant to replace the railcar fleet on its Market-Frankford Line, which will help fund an $800 million order for 200 new cars, the news site Philly Voice reports. On Friday, members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation, led by U.S. Sens. Bob Casey and […]

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Railroad reporting marks 101

Railroad reporting marks Railroad cars are identified by two, three, or four letters and by a number of up to six digits. The letters, known as reporting marks, indicate the owner of the car, while the number places it in the owner’s fleet. Reporting marks ending in X indicate ownership by a private concern as […]

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Amtrak long-distance equipment shortage, mechanical challenges continue

CHICAGO —  “Unforeseen mechanical issues” resulted in the cancellation of Amtrak’s westbound Cardinal out of New York on Wednesday, Aug. 23, despite the fact that the triweekly train’s equipment had arrived at the Big Apple’s Sunnyside Yard late Sunday. As has been recent custom, this resulted in the cancellation of its eastbound counterpart from Chicago […]

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