RRHMA restores diesels to service

man working on staybolts in train

SILVIS, Ill. – Railroading Heritage of Midwest America (RRHMA) has restored two diesels to service and is continuing work on its two Union Pacific steam locomotives, 4-6-6-4 “Challenger” No. 3985 and 2-10-2 No. 5511 at its former Rock Island shop complex in Silvis. On Aug. 26 crews fired up Union Pacific “Centennial” No. 6936 for […]

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Climate-friendly train travel expands between Germany and France

high-speed trains in Germany

Climate-friendly train travel BERLIN — People venturing between countries are not only interested in comfort and convenience, but they’re choosing climate-friendly train travel to help reduce their carbon footprint. After a 9-year hiatus, a night train from Berlin to Paris will be returning to service. Deutsche Bahn (DB) and Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) are anticipating […]

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Norfolk Southern fined for 2019 Georgia spill

Norfolk Southern logo

Norfolk Southern has been fined $77,640 for violations of the Clean Water Act and other regulations stemming from an Oct. 9, 2019, derailment near Kathleen, Ga., according to a story in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The derailment, on a bridge, caused cars to accordion together with some breaking open. As a result, 50 gallons of diesel […]

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Rail traffic slump continues in August, AAR says

Association of American Railroads logo

WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic slumped 4.3% in August, with both carload and intermodal volume showing declines, according to the Association of American Railroads. “August was the third straight month in which total year-over-year U.S. rail carloads have fallen,” said AAR Senior Vice President John T. Gray. “A major reason why is that other than […]

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Amtrak IG assesses company’s spending plans

Passenger train near station among trees in fall.

WASHINGTON — Amtrak’s Office of Inspector General on Wednesday released a report detailing the steps the company says it is taking to use, account for, and report on the $22 billion it is slated to receive directly from Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funding [see “Infrastructure bill addresses Amtrak priorities, congressional requirements,” News Wire, […]

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US Sugar announces steam schedule

CLEWISTON, Fla. — U.S. Sugar has released the schedule for its Sugar Express steam-powered excursion trains for the 2023-2024 season, which runs between October 2023 and January 2024. Trains will mainly be powered by U.S. Sugar’s former Florida East Coast 4-6-2 No. 148. The Pacific was built by American Locomotive Co. in 1920 for FEC. […]

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Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad returns to operation

Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad returns to operation. Steam locomotive with passenger cars

ELBE, Wash. — Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad has begun offering a limited excursion schedule for September and October as stated on its website. The train trips come at least a year or two ahead of the railroad’s timeline for returning to operation [see “Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad scheduled to reopen by 2025,” Trains, December 2022]. […]

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