Trackside bed and breakfasts

There’s a certain satisfaction waking up in a comfortable bed trackside. I’ve always liked being near the railroad overnight. Growing up atop a hill in Monson, Mass, a mile and half from the Central Vermont Railway’s Palmer Subdivision, I’d listen to its freights ascending State Line Hill on the run south of Palmer, Mass., and […]

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Trails and Rails program adds Adirondack and Cardinal for 2025

Two men in National Park Service uniforms sitting at table in passenger car

WASHINGTON — The National Park Service has firmed up this year’s Trails and Rails program, which features volunteers offering commentary and one-on-one discussions with passengers aboard regional and long-distance Amtrak trains. “We’re 25 years strong, and looking forward to our upcoming season,” NPS Volunteer Partnerships Coordinator Jim Miculka tells Trains News Wire. A particularly scenic […]

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Diagnosing a stubborn diesel

Color photo showing HO scale diesel by white paper towel with streaks of dirt on it.

Q: I recently started working again on my HO scale layout, which features a Digitrax Super Chief Starter Set and Bachmann E-Z Track. I cleaned all of the track and have been testing locomotives. One of the units, an Athearn Genesis HO scale Electro-Motive Division GP38 that has not been used in some time, will […]

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FRA, Amtrak revise plans for rehabilitation of Dock Bridge

Aerial view of steel railroad lift bridge

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration and Amtrak will cut some elements from a planned rehabilitation of the Northeast Corridor’s Dock Bridge over the Passaic River in New Jersey, reducing the cost of the project by $140 million. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said in a press release that “refocusing” the project “will fast-track a […]

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Trainz acquires Lionel TMCC and Legacy parts

screenshot of website

Trainz has acquired all of the Lionel TMCC1 and modular Legacy conventional reverse and sound printed circuit boards (PCBs). These parts include Odyssey 1 motor drivers, Legacy motor drivers, R2LCs, R4LCs, and Railsounds 2, 2.5, 3.0, 4.0, 4E, 5.0, 5.5 and 6.0. Trains has also acquired conventional reverse units for AC and DC motors, as […]

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Big Steam and PTC: A Reset Stage

Steam locomotive rounds curve on a rainy day

The rumble of Canadian Pacific’s 4-6-4 Empress No. 2816 and Union Pacific’s 4-8-8-4 Big Boy No. 4014 echoed across thousands of miles in 2024. What made these journeys truly remarkable and deserving a brighter spotlight? Both locomotives were equipped with fully compliant, standalone Positive Train Control (PTC) systems. This means they can independently navigate their […]

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Three unions ratify deals with Santa Clara VTA

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority logo

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority announced three of its four unions have ratified new contracts, while negotiations continue with the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265. Agreements have been reached with Service Employees International Union Local 521, representing more than 300 workers in information technology, communications and finane; the American Federation […]

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