FRA announces availability of funds for rail projects in Alaska, South Dakota, Wyoming

Logo for Federal Railroad Administration

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration will offer $139 million in funding for rail infrastructure projects in Alaska, South Dakota, and Wyoming, the FRA has announced. The funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is for the Special Transportation Circumstances grant program, and provides funds for states that lack intercity passenger service or are not connected […]

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Additional Surfliner, Coaster trains cancelled because of tropical storm

Locomotive pushing passenger train stops at station

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner and the North County Transit District Coaster commuter rail service both have further reduced service beyond the plans announced previously as a result of Tropical Storm Hilary, now moving through Southern California. The latest Surfliner update has two southbound and five northbound trains cancelled in their entirety; three […]

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The thrill of train travel

old picture of TurboTrain

Train travel I’ve made thousands of train rides, but I’ve never lost the exhilaration that one gives me. Every time I board a train, I relive my youthful wanderlust of finding my seat, gliding along on steel rails, and watching the unfolding rolling panorama pass by my window. The thrill of a train ride is […]

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BNSF train derails near Oklahoma City

BNSF Railway logo

MOORE, Okla. — Twenty-two cars of a BNSF Railway train derailed today (Friday, Aug. 18)  in suburban Oklahoma City, blocking a grade crossing that could remain closed for several days. The derailment kept Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer from reaching its Oklahoma City terminus. The Oklahoman newspaper reports the derailment involving carloads of plastic pellets occurred about […]

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Federal court strikes down approval of Uinta Basin Railway project

Logo of Uinta Basin Railway

WASHINGTON — A federal court has struck down the Surface Transportation Board’s approval of the Uinta Basin Railway project, calling the decision allowing its construction “arbitrary and caprious.” The court also vacated the Environmental Impact Statement and a related document underlying that decision and sent the matter back to the STB. In granting the exemption […]

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Young Guns in Preservation: Andrew Nawn

Young volunteer working on a trolley car.

The importance of a quality guest experience when visiting public rail preservation sites – such as a railroad museum – can sometimes be overlooked by those in the industry, but certainly not for Andrew Nawn, who serves as the founder and leader of the Baltimore Streetcar Museum’s Beautification Committee. With a dedicated team of fellow […]

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Tourist railroads in the Southwestern United States

Two steam locomotives pulling passenger trains

Southwest tourist railroads you must visit include a museum dedicated to the history of Harvey Houses, an excursion that takes you to one of the worldwide scenic wonders, and everything in between. From Trains Magazine’s Tourist Trains Guidebook, here’s our list of tourist railroads, museums, and displays to experience in the region. Southwest Tourist Railroads […]

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