Mount Washington Cog Railway delays 2025 steam season

steam train going down on steep tracks

MOUNT WASHINGTON, N.H. — The iconic coal-fired steam locomotives of the Mount Washington Cog Railway will see a temporary delay in their 2025 debuts.  A May 12 post on the tourist railroad’s Facebook page states: “Recent pre-season preparations revealed the need for reduced steam pressure in locomotives MW2 and MW9, conditions that would result in […]

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Flying Yankee recognized in state register of historic places

Streamlined passenger train in snow

CONCORD, N.H. — The Flying Yankee has been officially listed in the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places, presented by the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources (DHR).  In a press release sent to News Wire by the Flying Yankee Association (FYA), the recognition is seen as an honor to the articulated trainset’s historical […]

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Amtrak and Texas commuter line seek to lease idle Northstar equipment

Blue, yellow, red, and white locomotive leads train of bilevel commuter cars with city skyline in background

MINNEAPOLIS – Amtrak and Trinity Railway Express want to lease spare locomotives and coaches from Minnesota’s beleaguered Northstar commuter operation. Amtrak would like to use a Northstar MP36PH-3C locomotive, three coaches, and a cab car in Chicago-Milwaukee Hiawatha service. The equipment would help replace capacity lost when Amtrak sidelined its Horizon fleet due to safety […]

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House subcommittee considers federal rail funding reform

Freight train against a background of trees

A House subcommittee hearing on May 6 focused on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of federal rail grants as U.S. Department of Transportation officials grapple with thousands of awarded-but-unobligated grants. Industry experts testified that reliable funding and faster regulatory processes are critical to infrastructure development. “We need reliable, predictable funding to plan decades’ worth of […]

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News photo: Western Maryland Scenic No. 1309 returns to service

Crew photo in front of steam locomotive

CUMBERLAND, Md. — Western Maryland Scenic Railroad (WMSR) recently announced that 2-6-6-2 No. 1309 is ready to return to excursion service, beginning May 9. The locomotive was sidelined during the 2024 season for extensive work on the pistons, cylinders, and running gear [see “Western Maryland Scenic No. 1309 nears reassembly,” News Wire, Jan. 22, 2025]. […]

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Layoffs hit BNSF technology services staff amid restructuring

Freight train at a grade crossing

FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway has laid off a portion of its technology services staff as part of a departmental restructuring effort, per the Forth Worth Star Telegram. While BNSF did not disclose specific numbers, the cuts are believed to have affected between 140 and 175 workers. The Fort Worth-based carrier is creating a […]

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