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CARSON CITY, Nev. — A bill seeking a study of possible rail transit systems for the Las Vegas and Reno areas has advanced out of a Nevada legislative committee. Assembly Bill 256 would create a Regional Rail Transit Advisory Working Group to conduct a study of rail transit in Clark County, which includes Las Vegas […]
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Brightline West is in the middle of finalizing $6 billion of bank loans and contracts with construction companies for its $12 billion, 218-mile Las Vegas-Southern California high speed rail venture after selling more than $2.5 billion in private activity bonds, according to Tracy Larkin-Thomason, Director of Nevada’s Department of Transportation. The […]
FORT WORTH, Texas — Persistent, strong winds have caused congestion on BNSF Railway’s Southern Transcon, the railroad said in a customer service advisory on Thursday, March 20. “The BNSF network is currently experiencing challenges, particularly on the Southern Transcon, due to excessive and extended winds exceeding 75 mph that have impacted service consistency, alongside unexpected […]
CHICAGO — Miles of downed trees and power lines through rural Missouri and Arkansas over the weekend resulted in half-day delays or truncations for two Texas Eagles. Meanwhile, a Los Angeles-bound Southwest Chief sat for 8 hours in New Mexico when a wind-driven brush fire blocked the right-of-way. Texas Eagle challenges A Washington Post storm […]
Built by Others is an article series showcasing layouts constructed by modelers using plans and projects from the pages of Model Railroader and its related products. Malcolm Furlow’s HOn3 San Juan Central layout first appeared in a multi-part series in the pages of Model Railroader between 1983 and 1984. Adam Palmer’s San Juan Central V2 […]
SANTA FE, N.M. — A committee of the New Mexico House of Representatives is slated to consider legislation that would require railroads to install wayside hot-bearing and dragging-equipment detectors at least every 10 miles. HB 146, introduced by Rep. Dayan Hochman-Vigil (D-Albuquerque), is one of three bills set for consideration today (Feb. 27, 2025) by […]
YUMA, Ariz. — Approximately a dozen cars of a Union Pacific intermodal train derailed Tuesday evening just north of Yuma, closing a grade crossing overnight and significantly delaying the Sunset Limited. No injuries were reported in the incident, which occurred about 6:15 p.m., UP said in a statement to TV stations KYMA and KECY. Rural […]
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — The tourism organization that owns the Las Vegas Monorail is considering spending up to $12 million to keep the 3.9-mile, seven-station transit system running for at least another decade. The monorail, which dates to 2004, was purchased by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority in 2020. Now the authority is […]
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Brightline West construction should begin within the next two months, a Nevada Department of Transportation official said today (Monday, Feb. 10, 2025). KLAS-TV reports that Eric Scheetz, Nevada DOT senior project manager, told a meeting of the NDOT board of directors that the agency must have proof that Brightline West has […]
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Agencies in California and Nevada have issued private activity bonds for the Brightline West project, a key element in funding the 218-mile high-speed rail venture between Las Vegas and Southern California. It is not clear whether the start of construction is contingent on obtaining money from the combined $2.5 billion in […]
SPARKS, Nev. — Union Pacific has begun demolition on the former Southern Pacific machine shop in Sparks, a building that predates the city, KTVN-TV reports. The railroad and city have also updated plans for when community members can claim bricks from the historic structure as a keepsake. The bricks will now be available while supplies […]
When it come to track plans, everyone has a favorite. After all, each modeler values and prioritizes different aspects of model railroading. Some prefer intricate freight switching layouts, while others prefer long, continuous passenger routes. Some like layouts with dense foliage and rolling hills, whereas other modelers may prefer flat, desert landscapes. We here at […]
