Baltimore area takes next step in assessing transit corridors

Map of Baltimore area showing options for north-south transit routes

BALTIMORE — Three rail options are among the seven alternatives for a north-south transit corridor in the Baltimore region, for which the Maryland Department of Transportation ended public comment on Nov. 7. Comment on seven alternatives for east-west corridors concluded Aug. 1. Both sets of corridors are part of the Central Maryland Regional Transportation Plan, a […]

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Five reasons cabooses were revered

red caboose

Cabooses It’s been roughly 40 years since cabooses were a regular occurrence on the end of any mainline train. Cabooses were a critical part of railroad operations, coordination, and logistics. Since the beginning of railroads in the 1830s, train crews would routinely work from one end of the train to another via roof walks and […]

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US diesel locomotives in South Korea

red, white, and blue locomotive relic

US diesel locomotives in South Korea US diesel locomotives in South Korea: The train has been a symbol of power, progress, and practicality since it was invented just over two centuries ago. It has played a positive role in many societies by helping in constructing and reconstructing communities, aiding troops in times of armed conflict, […]

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Five mind-blowing Polar Express facts

man holding lantern in snow by train

Mind-blowing Polar Express facts In 1985, illustrator and writer Chris Van Allsburg penned what has become a classic Christmas story — The Polar Express. Then 19 years later, 2004, film director Robert Zemeckis led a team to create the feature-length, animated version of the story centered around a most magical train and testing our “persuasion […]

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Canadian Pacific’s hydrogen-powered locomotive makes first revenue run

Green and gray cowl locomotive with blue trim

NEW YORK — Canadian Pacific’s experimental hydrogen-powered locomotive made its maiden revenue run last month in Calgary, Alberta, taking the first step in determining whether the technology could one day replace diesel-electric locomotives. “I’ll tell you, the excitement around it, the potential of it, is real,” CEO Keith Creel told the RailTrends conference on Tuesday. […]

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R.J. Corman buying North Carolina branch line

RJCormanred

  NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. – R.J. Corman Railroad Co., has reached an agreement to purchase a 43-mile branch line and lease another 20-mile branch in North Carolina from Norfolk Southern. This will be the 19th railroad operated by Corman. The sale is subject to customary regulatory approvals. The newly created Raleigh & Fayetteville Railroad, LLC (RFCC) […]

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Tri-Rail moving closer to using MiamiCentral Station

Light blue locomotie with bilevel commuter cars crossing street

MIAMI – The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, which oversees commuter railroad Tri-Rail, has signed an agreement with Florida East Coast Railway and Brightline, that allows SFRTA personnel to begin training and testing on Brightline/FEC’s route into MiamiCentral Station. The agreement is part of ongoing negotiations to operate Tri-Rail trains on the eight-mile portion of […]

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Ribbon cutting marks Missouri station upgrades

Amtrak logo.

LA PLATA, Mo. – Officials from Amtrak and the La Plata-based American Passenger Rail Heritage Foundation marked the completion of a $6 million upgrade of the former Santa Fe La Plata station with a ribbon cutting ceremony Nov. 12. The station is served by Amtrak trains Nos. 3 and 4, the Southwest Chief. APRHF is […]

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Famed Texas Tower 55 being demolished

Union Pacific logo with Building America slogan

FORT WORTH, Texas – Union Pacific’s Tower 55 in Forth Worth, which once controlled the busiest railroad junction in Texas, is being demolished this week. Demolition work began Nov. 14. Originally a wood structure, it was replaced by a three-story brick structure in the 1930s. As railroads expanded in Texas, several railroads reached Forth Worth. […]

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What is the hopper car from the December 2021 issue?

Ask Trains logo

Cody addresses a covered hopper car in the December 2021 issue of Trains magazine. Are you looking to learn more about your model railroad, or do you have questions about full-size trains? Send us an email at: AskTrains@trains.com ………………………………… Ask Trains is a regular video feature of Trains.com for magazine subscribers and Trains.com members, where editors […]

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Carload Considerations: Economic slack

Locomotive with red front passes brick tower and prepares to cross two-track diamond

CHICAGO – This column intends to consider the intricacies of today’s carload business in an environment constantly influenced by what’s happening in the world. Labor unions, pandemics, the economy, equipment usage, and technology all effect how railcars move. These factors shape what type of freight goes where, the volume, the urgency, and how the service […]

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