Three Alco RS3s lead a Boston & Maine freight near White River Junction, Vt. The railroad had 26 such units, Nos. 1505-1519 and 1535-1545, numbered around a series of similar RS2s. Jerry A. Pinkepank photo […]
New England Alcos
Zone & Region: Northeast
News photo: Amtrak “Hippos” near return as cab cars
Amtrak’s retired HHP8 electric locomotives — nicknamed “Hippos” during their relatively short operating life — are nearing their return to service as cab cars. The company operated crew-familiarization specials between New York and Wilmington, Del., on April 7-8, and will reportedly operate more this week. On April 8, cab cars Nos. 9751 and 9750 sandwiched […]
NJ Transit looks to address growing overtime figure
NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit spent more than $237 million on overtime in 2024, a figure CEO Kris Kolluri wants to cut to help meet savings called for by the agency’s fiscal 2026 budget. NJ.com reports that the $237.4 million in overtime last year was a 9% increase from the $216.3 million the year before. […]
Turmoil continues at Wilmington & Western
WILMINGTON, Del. — The Wilmington & Western Railroad, which announced an indefinite halt to operations earlier this year, has experienced more turmoil, with unhappy volunteers picketing the railroad, potential legal action, and the operation briefly posting then removing an announcement that excursions would return this fall. On Thursday, about 20 volunteers mounted a protest outside […]
SEPTA prepares for major service cuts
PHILADELPHIA — The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority has become the latest transit agency to unveil plans for draconian service cuts because of a funding shortage. Five Regional Rail lines and 50 bus lines would be eliminated, rail service would end at 9 p.m., and 66 stations would be closed under the budget for fiscal 2026, […]
MTA announces plan to address climate vulnerability of Metro-North Hudson Line
NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has launched an initiative to protect Metro-North’s Hudson Line from climate change with work to address stormwater runoff, tidal flooding, and other issues. The Metro-North Hudson Line Climate Resilience Blueprint will focus on a 20-mile stretch of the 74-mile route between Croton-Harmon and Riverdale, rebuilding infrastructure such as […]
DC Metrorail blocked from expanded use of ATO system
WASHINGTON — DC Metrorail will not be allowed to expand use of Automatic Train Operation, the automated system currently in use on its Red Line, because trains are overshooting station stops too frequently. That was the decision Tuesday at a meeting of the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission, the independent agency overseeing rail operations of the […]
Reading & Northern No. 2102 set for September excursion
PORT CLINTON, Pa. — Reading & Northern T-1 4-8-4 No. 2102 will power a Sept. 13, 2025, steam excursion through Lehigh Gorge sponsored by the Rotary Club of Mountain Top, the railroad has announced. Tickets for the excursion from the R&N’s Penobscot (Mountain Top) station to Jim Thorpe, Pa., and return will go on sale […]
Western Maryland Scenic No. 1309 set to return to operation in May
CUMBERLAND, Md. — Western Maryland Scenic Railroad 2-6-6-2 No. 1309 is slated to return to operation beginning May 3, powering “Frostburg Flyer” excursions on Saturday and Sundays, the railroad said in an email to customers on Tuesday (April 8, 2025). Plans also call for the locomotive, built by Baldwin in 1949 for the Chesapeake & […]
Rinaldi, former Metro-North president, joins Gateway Development Commission
NEW YORK — Catherine Rinaldi, who retired at the end of March as president of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Metro-North Railroad, did not take long to return to a position in public transportation. Rinaldi was named Monday (April 7, 2025) as the first executive vice president for the Gateway Development Commission, the agency overseeing the […]
Groundbreaking marks start of construction of new East Broad Top station at Saltillo (updated)
SALTILLO, Pa. — The Friends of the East Broad Top and EBT Foundation broke ground today (April 5, 2025) for a new station at Saltillo, which will be virtually identical to the structure built in 1892 and torn down in 2004 after nearly 50 years of disuse. The project is part of the two organizations’ […]
Truck driver cited in collision that derailed CSX train
FRIEDENS, Pa. — A truck driver whose vehicle struck and derailed a CSX train at a grade crossing has been cited by Pennsylvania state police for his role in March 10 accident. Bradley Mahan, 43, of Johnstown, Pa., was charged with driving at an unsafe speed, the Somerset Daily American reports. The accident report says […]
