Tickets, please Passengers riding New York Central’s deluxe 20th Century Limited sleeper-observation car required two tickets, one for rail travel and one for the sleeping accommodations. Don Wood photo […]
Tickets, please
Type of Train: Passenger/Transit
FRA launches separate ‘Empire Builder’ investigation
WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration is launching its own investigation into the Saturday derailment of Amtrak’s westbound Empire Builder in northern Montana. Specifically, FRA has sent a team of 18 dispatched to the scene consisting of technical experts in track, motive power & equipment, signal and train control, and operating practices. The agency has […]
Amtrak CEO Flynn makes statement on Montana derailment
WASHINGTON — Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn has issued a statement on Saturday’s fatal derailment of the Empire Builder in Montana. “We are in mourning today for the people who lost their lives due to the derailment of the Empire Builder train Saturday, near Joplin, Montana, on the BNSF Railway, as well as the many others […]
NTSB investigators arrive on scene at Montana Amtrak derailment
GREAT FALLS, Mont. — Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board have arrived at the site of Saturday’s derailment of Amtrak’s Empire Builder passenger train near Joplin, about 50 miles west of Havre. The NTSB is the lead agency in the investigation of the derailment, which occurred at about 3:55 p.m. Saturday in a remote […]
Amtrak confirms three fatalities in Montana derailment
HAVRE, Mont. – Amtrak confirms three deaths in the Saturday derailment of the westbound Empire Builder near Joplin, about 50 miles west of Havre. The train, which originated in Chicago on Friday, had 141 passengers and 16 crew members onboard. The train consisted of two locomotives and 10 cars, with eight of those cars derailing, […]
Federal judge sides with Union Pacific in Metra commuter dispute
CHICAGO – Union Pacific has won a key legal ruling in its long-running dispute with Metra regarding operations of three commuter routes. A federal judge on Thursday ruled that UP has no common carrier obligation to provide commuter service on the UP North, UP West, and UP Northwest Lines. Metra had sought to show that UP […]
CTT’s fall 2021 special: Toy train layouts for small spaces
The latest special issue from Classic Toy Trains! If you’re looking to build your first toy train layout, or maybe just something more manageable, Toy Train Layouts for Small Spaces has you covered! It’s full of plans for layouts under 100 square feet that will fit in a spare room, including island and around the […]
Wonderful warbonnet: Lionel’s no. 11739 “The Super Chief” set
CTT’s Hal Miller has a look at Lionel’s no. 11739 Santa Fe “The Super Chief” set that was the first one in the modern era to feature an Alco locomotive. This O-27 outfit is still available and affordable on the auction and swap meet market along with its add-on cars. It’s great to run or […]
Wonderful warbonnet: Lionel’s no. 11739 “The Super Chief” set
CTT’s Hal Miller has a look at Lionel’s no. 11739 Santa Fe “The Super Chief” set that was the first one in the modern era to feature an Alco locomotive. This O-27 outfit is still available and affordable on the auction and swap meet market along with its add-on cars. It’s great to run or […]
Analysis: BNSF shows how Amtrak and freight can co-exist
The westbound Southwest Chief is 6 minutes late out of Albuquerque, N.M., as you roll toward the junction with BNSF Railway’s Southern Transcon at Dalies. From Roomette 14 you wonder: What will happen to the Chief’s timekeeping when we hit the Gallup Subdivision that carries 80 freights per day? The question is bigger than it […]
Amtrak requires mandatory employee vaccinations
WASHINGTON — Aligning its health policies with newly established federal mandates, Amtrak is eliminating the ability for employees to opt for weekly COVID-19 testing in lieu of vaccinations, effective Nov. 22. In an Employee Advisory issued this week, Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn outlined how the company will help facilitate its vaccination requirements and ways in […]
West Virginia autumn excursion postponed
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The 2021 Autumn Colors Express railroad passenger excursions in the New River Gorge have been postponed. “An overwhelming number of customers have expressed concern about this year’s event. The current surge in COVID-19 cases in West Virginia has local hospitals operating at emergency levels, making postponement our best and only option this […]
