The layout at a glance Name: Midwest Lines Layout owner: Rolf Plachter Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 33 x 52 feet Prototype: freelanced, inspired by Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Rock Island; and Union Pacific Locale: Denver to Milwaukee Era: mid-1960s Style: around-the-walls Mainline run: 400 feet Minimum radius: 36″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: 2 […]
ANTONITO, Colo. — The Durango Railroad Historical Society and Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad will perform the Federal Railroad Administration-required 15-year inspection on D&RGW C-18 locomotive No. 18, the 2-8-0 built by Baldwin for the Florence & Cripple Creek. The work will be performed in the Cumbres & Toltec’s Antonito shops, with historical society volunteers […]
Even relatively pro-passenger roads like the Burlington could get ugly about train-offs. Immediately upon receiving permission to drop Omaha–Billings train 41 (pictured near Osage, Wyo., on May 28, 1969), the road halted it mid-run and bused its riders onward. Photo by Bob Johnston […]
Utah’s FrontRunner may be in line for double tracking, other improvements Utah’s budget situation looks better than expected for 2021, which may make room for a long-sought double-track project for FrontRunner commuter rail service. The Salt Lake Tribune reports improvements for the commuter operation include double-track segments between Ogden and Provo, which would allow trains […]
DENVER — The initial version of a passenger rail operation along Colorado’s Front Range could see two to six round trips a day between Fort Collins and Colorado Springs, mostly on existing lines, and cost $1.5 billion to $2.5 billion. Colorado Public Radio reports that concept was presented by consultant HDR to the Front Range Passenger […]
Top executives from Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, CSX Transportation, and Norfolk Southern last week touted the industry’s growth prospects and the ways they are working to make railroads better able to compete against trucks. Their remarks, made at the RailTrends 2020 conference, came a day after consulting firm Oliver Wyman released a survey that showed […]
DENVER — Canadian rail tour operator Rocky Mountaineer will utilize its glass-topped single-level coaches and introduce a lounge car as part of a new SilverLeaf Plus class when it begins operation from Denver to Moab, Utah, next August. The “Rockies to Red Rocks” cruise operation announced last week [see “Digest: Rocky Mountaineer to launch Colorado-Utah […]
MANITOU, Colo. — New railroad snowfighting equipment is relatively rare, but there’s a new snow clearing tool on its way to Colorado. The Broadmoor Manitou & Pikes Peak Railway has ordered a new snow blower as part of its $100 million renovation project. The new snow blower, produced by Zaugg in Eggiwil, Switzerland, will […]
Still more Monday morning rail news: Utah to consider cog railway to serve recreational area A cog railway has been added to the list of options under consideration by the Utah Department of Transportation to address traffic congestion in Little Cottonwood Canyon, a popular recreation area which includes the Snowbird and Alta ski areas. The […]
Still more Thursday morning rail news: Rocky Mountaineer to launch Colorado-Utah route in 2021 Canadian luxury train operator Rocky Mountaineer will launch a U.S. train in 2021. The “Rockies to the Red Rocks” service will be a two-day trip between Denver and Moab, Utah, with an overnight stay in Glenwood Springs, Colo. The company plans […]
Monday morning tourist railroad and preservation news: Trial seeking fire damages from Durango & Silverton to be held in Denver The trial in which the U.S. government will seek to recover $25 million from the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad for the cost of fighting a 2018 wildfire will take place in Denver, a […]
CHAMA, N.M. — John Bush, president and general manager of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, is retiring after eight years overseeing the narrow gauge railroad. “John has been an incredible asset to the Cumbres & Toltec and has poured his heart and soul into the organization,” Dan Love, chairman of the Cumbres & Toltec […]
