GRANTHAM, Pa. — With steam-locomotive giants like Western Maryland Scenic 2-6-6-2 engine No. 1309 and Reading & Northern Class T-1 4-8-4 engine No. 2102 grabbing all the attention in the East this year, one historic steam operation in the region is flying under the radar — as it usually does. And it’s in the midst […]
A Union Pacific merchandise train derailed in El Paso, Texas, on Monday night, killing a railroad employee. Two cars derailed into a back yard on the 7700 block of Barton Street, the El Paso Fire Department reported. Fifty residents were evacuated briefly until a damaged natural gas line could be shut down. The accident occurred […]
Halloween-themed offset-side two-bay hoppers Scale: Large scale (1:24) Price: $111.99 each Manufacturer: PIKO America LLC, 4610 Alvarado Canyon Rd., Ste. 5, San Diego, CA 92120; piko-america.com Halloween hopper features: Glow-in-the-dark highlights Molded handrails and stirrup steps Plastic wheelsets Hook-and-loop couplers Minimum recommended radius, 23.6” Release date: September 2022 Paint schemes: Monster Mayhem and Tacky Tombstones No. […]
World events the past two years have kept people from doing what they enjoy. Communities have endured a near-two-year-long pandemic and are navigating the highest inflation in 40 years. Conflict overseas is rattling economies and threatening financial stability. Such events underscore the need for rail preservation groups, who rely on those to share in their […]
SAN JOSE, Calif. — One of the two major power substations for the Caltrain electrification project has been energized for the first time, a milestone that will allow testing of equipment at Caltrain’s San Jose facility and on a portion of the San Jose-San Francisco corridor. The Caltrain Traction Power Substation in San Jose was […]
KEYTESVILLE, Mo. — A Hemet, Calif., man has become at least the third Amtrak employee to file suit against the passenger carrier over the June derailment of the Southwest Chief. KMIZ-TV reports Matthew Rafferty has filed suit against Amtrak and MS Contracting, owner of the truck that was hit at a grade crossing, derailing the […]
BOSTON — Work on rapid-transit Orange Line was 37% complete nine days into its planned month-long shutdown, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority General Manager Steve Poftak said Sunday as Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker visited the site of one project. WBZ-TV reports Baker, Poftak, and other officials visited the State Street station on the Orange Line, the […]
ST. LOUIS — The final span for the rebuilding of the Terminal Railroad Association’s Merchants Bridge, the key Mississippi River crossing dating to 1889, was moved into place as scheduled on Friday, Aug. 26. The $222 million project to rebuild the 4,340-foot bridge began in 2018, and will double the capacity of the double-track structure […]
CHICAGO — Lack of serviceable equipment and qualified staff have again caused a series of Amtrak state-supported service cancellations out of Chicago. Late last week, the company announced morning eastbound Wolverine service train No. 350 to Pontiac, Mich., and its evening return counterpart, No. 355, would be cancelled today (Monday, Aug. 29) through Friday, Sept. […]
Pedestrian barriers and photographers with flash Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Pedestrian barrier 16-pack and photographer with working camera flash, $20 each Manufacturer: East Coast Circuits LLC, P.O. Box 25412 Providence, RI 02905; 401-400-0668; eastcoastcircuits.com Pedestrian barrier features: 3-D printed parts Figures and display not included Photographer features: Works on 9-12V AC or DC power On/off switch included Four […]
Railroads have reached tentative agreements with three unions as the prospect of a September strike looms. The National Carriers’ Conference Committee, which represents the freight railroads in national collective bargaining, on Monday afternoon said it has reached tentative deals with the Transportation Communications Union/IAM, Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, and International Association of Machinists and Aerospace […]
Freight building block car R/C starter set Scale: Large scale (1:24) Price: $439.99 Era: Modern Manufacturer: PIKO America LLC, 4610 Alvarado Canyon Rd., Ste. 5, San Diego, CA 92120; piko-america.com Freight building block car R/C starter set features: Includes General Electric 25-ton diesel locomotive, two flatcars with building block decks, R/C pocket remote with eight selectable […]
