MARTA railcar joins Trolley Museum of New York collection

Brill car moves MARTA car across roadway

KINGSTON, N.Y. — A railcar from the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority has joined the collection of the Trolley Museum of New York, arriving at the museum on Tuesday, April 25. Car No. 510, built in 1981 by Société Franco-Belge, will be on display when the museum opens for the 2023 season on Saturday, May […]

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North Carolina bill targets broad range of rail issues

The state seal of North Carolina

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina has joined the list of states introducing new railroad safety legislation in the wake of the East Palestine derailment and toxic chemical release, with a bill addressing train lengths, crew size, wayside detectors, and blocked crossings, among other features. The Railroad Safety Omnibus Act, HB639, was introduced earlier this month […]

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New and old on the Atlantic & East Carolina

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The newness of green-and-yellow F2 No. 401 contrasts with the antiquity of the wooden cars as the Atlantic & Eastern Carolina’s daily passenger train crosses the Trent River at New Bern, N.C., in 1946. The 96-mile A&EC had two F units, both F2s. A&EC photo […]

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Miami exploring effort to expand commuter rail service

Map of rail lines in Miami area

MIAMI — Miami-Dade County officials are attempting to revive a long-dormant proposal for commuter rail service west and south of downtown using existing CSX Transportation tracks, the Miami Herald reports. The western line would run from Miami International Airport — the current terminus of Tri-Rail service north to West Palm Beach — to the Doral […]

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Florida’s Tri-Rail to adopt new look

TriRail_logo

MIAMI – The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) has approved a new look for Tri-Rail trains, changing the “blue skies, white clouds and palm trees” design for the first time since its unveiling on Tri-Rail trains in 2001. “I am excited to announce that Tri-Rail trains will be refreshed with a new design that will […]

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FEC begins drawbridge rehabilitation for Brightline trains

Train crossing bridge

STUART, Fla. — Starting this week, crews are beginning rehabilitation of the St. Lucie River drawbridge at Stuart, 38 miles north of West Palm Beach, that will result in periodic closures to oversize boats through May 29. It will remain the only single-track segment on Florida East Coast Railway’s main line south of Cocoa, Fla., […]

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Railroads that live ‘forever’ … on paper

Steam locomotive with train on bridge approaching tunnel

Like trilobites and brachiopods, the paper carcasses of 19th-century railroads seem forever locked away in the sediments of corporate archives and government files. They fill the pages of old Official Guides and Poor’s Manual of the Railroads by the hundreds. Nearly all of them are dormant — but some are not.   Consider the case […]

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The N scale Florida Northern Railroad layout

Facts & features Name: Florida Northern RR Scale: N (1:160) Size: 11 x 16 feet Prototypes: Florida Northern RR Locale: Central Florida Era: 2004 Style: Double-decked walkaround Mainline run: 88 feet Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: No. 6 Maximum grade: None Download a PDF of this track plan! Buy the May 2023 issue of Model […]

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Colebrookdale Trust will acquire locomotive from Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum

4-6-2 steam locomotive on outdoor display

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum will transfer ownership of former Canadian National 4-6-2 No. 5288 to the Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust in Boyertown, Pa., the two organizations announced Friday, with Colebrookdale planning to eventually restore the locomotive to operation. The engine will move to Pennsylvania as soon as possible. Built by Montreal […]

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Two Norfolk Southern crew members injured in Alabama derailment

Norfolk Southern logo

JASPER, Ala. — Two crew members were injured Saturday night when a locomotive and 11 cars of a Norfolk Southern train derailed Saturday night, AL.com reports. Also on Saturday, an NS train was involved in a minor derailment in Pittsburgh. In the Alabama incident, the railroad said the locomotive rolled onto its side, spilling some […]

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Charlotte transit agency told to fully staff light rail control center or suspend service

Light rail train at station

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In the latest issue for Charlotte’s increasingly troubled light rail system, the North Carolina Department of Transportation has said the Charlotte Area Transit System must fully staff its control center or suspend service. The Charlotte Observer reports that an unannounced inspection found that CATS was sometimes operating its Rail Operating Control Center, […]

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