Mojave Subdivision You have heard me mention in a couple of previous stories that I’m proud to be qualified on three different mountain grades; Stampede Pass (former Northern Pacific), my home territory, Stevens Pass (Great Northern), and Tehachapi Pass (Southern Pacific/Santa Fe) on the Mojave Subdivision. How did I end up in southern California, far […]
ORINDA, Calif. — An error that sent the train onto the wrong track at an interlocking preceded Monday’s derailment of a Bay Area Rapid Transit train, according to a BART narrative of events that led to the derailment of two cars and a fire. Nine people were injured in the incident about 9 a.m. on […]
CHICAGO — Service on the Chicago Transit Authority’s Yellow Line — the 4.7-mile route colloquially known as the Skokie Swift — will resume Friday, Jan. 5, ending a 50-day suspension following a collision between a Yellow Line train and a snow-clearing machine being used for training. Service will resume at approximately 4:45 a.m. Yellow Line […]
NEW YORK — A New York City Transit subway train collided with an out-of-service train this afternoon (Thursday, Jan. 4) on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, derailing one train and injuring at least 24 people. The New York Times reports that the accident at about 3 p.m. involved a northbound No. 1 train moving at slow […]
A plethora of steam locomotives made comebacks in late 2023 after being out of service for extended periods of time. Expect these primed-and-ready locomotives to return to service for the full 2024 season. Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad No. 8419 As a reminder of the twilight of steam locomotive manufacturing in the world, No. 8419 […]
Canadian Pacific Kansas City was the only Class I railroad that was able to eke out higher volume last year. CPKC’s traffic was up a scant 0.1% in 2023, which was a down year for North American freight volume. Rail traffic in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico was down a combined 2.1% last year, according […]
WASHINGTON — National Transportation Safety Board chair Jennifer Homendy blasted the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority for its “poor safety culture” in a press briefing today (Thursday, Jan. 4) on the final report into the Oct. 12, 2021, derailment of a DC Metrorail train in Arlington, Va., saying the agency’s issues with WMATA include some […]
It’s the new year and time for many to follow through on a popular new year’s resolution—heading to the gym. Menards has got you covered with their latest structure release, JimBo’s Gym (275-9253). This modern-format building measures 10 ½” long, 5 ¾” wide, and 6 ½” tall. It’s a two-story brick and glass structure that’s […]
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A bill requiring Florida’s Department of Transportation to preserve a corridor between Orlando and Tampa for future Brightline expansion has been filed for the state legislative session that begins next week. The Brightline requirement, preserving a route along Interstate 4, is just one provision of SB1226, filed by state Sen. Nick DiCeglie […]
PORT CLINTON, Pa. — Reading & Northern saw double-digit growth in both freight and passenger traffic in 2023, the second consecutive year with such increases, the railroad said in a year-end business review. The Pennsylvania regional railroad handled more than 37,000 cars of freight, up from 33,000 in 2022. Growth was boosted in particular by […]
CHICAGO —Metra will close its remaining ticket windows in conjunction with the upcoming revision of its fare structure, the commuter operator has announced. Ticket windows at outlying stations on the BNSF line will close next Monday, Jan. 8; all other ticket windows, including at downtown stations, will close effective Feb. 1, when the new, simplified […]
MESA, Ariz. — Three people — the train’s operator and two passengers — were injured Wednesday when a Valley Metro light train collided with a garbage truck and derailed. The collision occurred about 9:30 a.m. near the intersection of Main Street and Robson in Mesa. Those injured were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, KSAZ-TV reported, citing […]
