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Name: Art Volz’s O-27 gauge layout Dimensions: 10 x 20 feet Track and switches: Lionel (diameters range from 27 to 31 inches) Motive power: Lionel (postwar, modern) Rolling stock: Lionel (postwar, modern), Menards Controls: Lionel Nos.1033, 1034, type-ZW transformers Accessories: Lionel, MTH Structures: Atlas O, Lionel, Menards, MTH, scratchbuilt, Woodland Scenics See more in the Fall 2024 issue of Classic Toy Trains! See Art’s track […]
TRENTON, N.J. — NJ Transit will observe a “fare holiday” Aug. 26 to Sept. 2, offering free rides on all modes across its network, Gov. Phil Murphy announced today (Thursday, Aug. 15). The move is described as a “thank you” to riders for their continued patronage, particularly in light of ongoing service issues. NJ Transit […]
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority on Wednesday exercised an option to purchase 41 bilevel commuter railcars from Hyundai Rotem, adding to an earlier order for 83 of the cars. “As we continue to see a strong return of our ridership on commuter rail, investing in our rolling stock allows us to not only […]
WASHINGTON — The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association has appointed Nicole Brewin as vice president of congressional affairs. Brewin will be leading the congressional affairs team at Washington-based ASLRRA, which represents 600 short-line and regional railroads, organizing legislative support for issues facing the industry, including investment in infrastructure, and surface transportation and tax policy. […]
WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic was up 5.2% over the same week in 2023, according to the latest statistics from the Association of American Railroads. For the week ending Aug. 10, 2024, U.S. railroads moved 496,509 carloads and intermodal units. That included 222,039 carloads, down 0.9% compared to the corresponding week a year ago, and […]
A friend asked me recently what was the first locomotive I clearly remember. The answer might be surprising: it was huge (to a 4-year-old, anyway), it was rare, it was a little scary, and it was orange. And to use the accepted sound nomenclature, it “burbled.” I’m referring, of course, to Elgin, Joliet & Eastern’s […]
FORT FRANCES, Ontario — A Canadian National Railway lift bridge in Fort Frances has collapsed, the website NWOnewswatch.com reports. CN said in a statement to website operator Dougall Media on Wednesday, Aug. 14, that it was responding to “an incident” involving the bridge across the Rainy River that provides its connection to the Port of […]
TOWN OF SHERMAN, Wis. — The driver of a semi truck was killed today in a grade crossing collision that also derailed the locomotive and six cars of a Wisconsin & Southern train, the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Office reports. The collision occurred about 2:05 p.m. on Abbott Drive in the town of Sherman, about 36 […]
In memoriam: Tom McComas, one of the most influential shapers of the contemporary toy train hobby, died in Michigan City, Ind., on Aug. 8, 2024, at the age of 86. He left an indelible mark on the hobby, starting as an author in the 1980s and then proceeding to write and produce a vast number […]
CHICAGO — Amtrak officials will meet with representatives of the city of Chicago after again voicing concerns about the prospect that the area adjacent to Chicago Union Station could be asked to serve as the temporary hub for Greyhound bus service. After Amtrak President Roger Harris sent a letter on Tuesday, Aug. 13, to Mayor […]
MEXICO CITY — Pushing back against criticism from American agricultural exporters, the Mexican Railway Association insists that the country’s railroads have the capacity to handle growing cross-border trade with the United States. A coalition of American agricultural shippers told to federal regulators last month that capacity problems — not surges of migrants seeking refuge in […]
NEWINGTON, Conn. — Trains will be replaced by buses on Metro-North’s Danbury Branch Aug. 23-25 to accommodate a switch replacement project, the Connecticut Department of Transportation has announced. Buses will replace trains between Danbury and South Norwalk. They will operate earlier than the scheduled trains they replace, and will serve all stations between those two […]
