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PIERRE, S.D. — The South Dakota Department of Transportation is seeking proposals for purchase or lease of 80.8 miles of state-owned rail lines in the southeastern portion of the state. The line between Napa Junction and Platte, S.D., includes 20.9 miles between Napa and Tyndall that has previously been leased by Dakota Southern Railway, as […]
NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has completed Phase one of the rebuilding of the Park Avenue Viaduct, the 132-year-old, four-track elevated structure in East Harlem carrying Metro-North trains to and from Grand Central Terminal. The first phase included 128 bridge installations and replacement of 8,240 track feet from East 115th Street to East […]
The O scale Union Station from Menards (No. 2759531) is another excellent offering from the home improvement chain, providing a readily made structure that requires minimal fuss for setup. Out of the box, with hardly any assembly needed, the structure measures 13-1/16” wide, 7-7/8″ deep, and 8-1/4″ tall. Classic Toy Trains Editor Rene Schweitzer and […]
I enjoy animating scenes on my O gauge layout, and have come across a great way to get slower, more-precise realistic action: using servos. A servomotor, or servo, is a small, inexpensive device that provides control over the position, speed, and acceleration of a mechanical system. The device is readily available, easy to program, and […]
WASHINGTON — Brightline West is seeking a $6 billion government loan to address increased construction costs for its planned route between Southern California and Las Vegas, Nev. A Department of Transportation document indicates the company behind the project, DesertXpress Enterprises, LLC, applied for the loan under the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, which dates […]
Athearn HO Athearn HO three-bay offset-side hopper Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Single car, $37.99; four-pack, $139.99 Era: 1950s+ Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Athearn HO three-bay offset-side hopper features: Body-mounted McHenry scale plastic couplers with factory-installed trip pin Factory-applied wire grab irons, stirrup steps, end braces, and brake platform […]
PHILADELPHIA — The Port of Philadelphia has acquired a 152-acre rail yard adjacent to the port from Norfolk Southern, and will activate an existing intermodal transfer facility at the site. Acquisition of the Mustin Yard property is part of development plans outlined in the port’s recently released strategic plan looking ahead to 2040. The Philadelphia […]
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation on Friday said it would withhold $2.1 billion in previously awarded for two Chicago Transit Authority infrastructure projects, citing a rule issued earlier in the week barring Disadvantaged Business Enterprise programs for federally funded projects. The move is the second this week targeting major transit projects in locations […]
BROOKFIELD, Wis. — It wasn’t the trip I wanted. Or planned. But you don’t always get to choose your experiences. And while I’m still tremendously disappointed to have missed the Trains/Special Interest Tours UK Celebration of Steam event — with its four steam excursions and visits to three notable rail museums — I’m trying to […]
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen have ratified a new five-year contract with Union Pacific by a wide margin, the union announced today. The agreement, which includes raises totaling 18.8%, compounded, over the life of the contract, covers almost 6,000 BLET members at UP. It was ratified by a […]
Cando Rail & Terminals, one of North America’s largest owners and operators of first and last mile rail infrastructure, will acquire a 900-car storage, staging, and transload terminal in Houston. The Manitoba-based Cando will acquire the Channelview Terminal from Texas Deepwater Partners, the company said today (Friday, Oct. 3, 2025). “We are very pleased to […]
WASHINGTON — Canadian Pacific Kansas City Southern’s handling of Norfolk Southern intermodal trains on the Meridian Speedway — their joint venture shortcut linking the Southeast with Texas and the Southwest — has deteriorated to the point that some customers are shifting freight to trucks, NS claims in a letter to federal regulators. CPKC disputes this, […]
