Dusty descent

Norfolk & Western Pocahontas

Norfolk & Western’s Cincinnati–Norfolk Pocahontas descends Christiansburg Hill west of Roanoke in a cloud of dust on April 21, 1971. Ten days before its discontinuance upon the arrival of Amtrak, the “Pokey” still carries healthy head-end traffic and an ex-Wabash dome coach. Photo by J. David Ingles […]

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Onboard analysis: Facing Amtrak’s food and staffing challenges

A meal on a small table in a passenger car overlooking a river.

CHICAGO — Food service on Amtrak’s long-distance trains has become such an exercise in repetition that something as modest as the cold meal service on the Portland, Ore., section of the Empire Builder is both a notable and welcome respite. That’s one aspect of the current state of onboard dining, which suggests both immediate and […]

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Digest: Metro-North set to buy dual-mode locomotives from Siemens

Blue and silver-painted locomotive at a station platform surrounding by brown steel work and palm trees. Amtrak Pacific Surfliner renewable diesel.

Metro-North set to buy 27 dual-mode locomotives from Siemens The Metropolitan Transportation Authority board is scheduled to vote Wednesday on a $334.9 million contract for Siemens to build 27 dual-mode locomotives for the Metro-North Railroad. A document in the board package for Wednesday’s meeting says the purchase, an order for 19 locomotives with exercise of […]

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