BNSF main line shut down by North Dakota derailment

BNSF Railway logo

MINOT, N.D. — BNSF’s northern transcontinental main line is currently blocked after an early-morning derailment of an intermodal train near Des Lacs, N.D., approximately 14 miles west of Minot. A customer advisory on the BNSF website says the derailment occurred about 3:36 a.m. CDT today (Friday, Feb. 24). The Dakotan website quotes Karter Lesmann, chief […]

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Major 2020s steam locomotive restorations (so far!)

View from inside roundhouse of locomotive sitting outside

Major 2020s steam locomotive restorations (so far!) will take a look at five locomotives that returned to service in the early part of the decade. Even in these challenging times, the restoration efforts show no signs of slowing down. Check out our list: U.S. Sugar No. 148 Restoration completed in 2020: Built in April 1920 […]

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Major 2010s steam locomotive restorations

4014inshop

Major 2010s steam locomotive restorations will take a look at five revived locomotives you have to know about. While preserved rail equipment is tweaked and repaired all the time, it is a rare event when a steam locomotive is overhauled and returned to service. Check out our list: Southern Railway No. 4501 Restoration completed in […]

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Car Swap Project part 5: Printing decals with an ALPS printer

Black printer and tan computer, featuring a tower, keyboard, mouse, and display screen

Car Swap Project part 5: Printing decals with an ALPS printer: As the three friends endeavor to make custom boxcars for each other’s layouts, Gerry Leone, Seth Puffer, and David Popp embark on printing custom decals. There are several easy ways to print your own decals, just as long as you don’t want white lettering. […]

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SEPTA awards contract to Alstom for 130 new trolleys

Illustration of articulated light rail vehicle crossing bridge

PHILADELPHIA — The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority will purchase 130 new light rail vehicles from Alstom under its Trolley Modernization program under a contract approved Thursday by SEPTA’s board. The $714.2 million contract also includes an option for an additional 30 of the low-floor, ADA-compliant vehicles, intended to replace the entire current SEPTA trolley fleet. […]

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New DC Metrorail cars could feature open-gangway design

Interior of subway car with open space, instead of a wall, between cars

WASHINGTON — The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is considering a redesign of its planned 8000-series cars for DC Metrorail service to include an open-gangway design that would allow passengers to walk from car to car, the Washington Post reports. General Manager Randy Clarke told a WMATA board meeting that the open-gangway design has “significant […]

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Minnesota museum to repaint Great Northern diesel

Green and white diesel

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Transportation Museum will repaint its former Great Northern Railway SDP40 No. 325 into GN’s simplified orange and green color scheme, the museum announced to members. A museum member has agreed to fund the over $60,000 cost to have the engine repainted. MTM also has a large collection of GN […]

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Lehigh Valley passenger trains remembered

A black and white photo of a conductor posing next to a locomotive

Lehigh Valley passenger trains remembered: All through February 2023, Classic Trains editors are celebrating the history and heritage of the Lehigh Valley Railroad in upstate New York. The LV was a smaller Class I railroads in its day, but still had interesting passenger trains as you can see from this photo gallery selected from the […]

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