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Study will consider conversion of Milwaukee Road 261 to burn oil

MINNEAPOLIS – The Friends of the 261, the non-profit organization that owns and operates Milwaukee Road S-3 class 4-8-4 No. 261, has launched a study to consider converting the locomotive from coal to oil firing. Friends of the 261 President and Chief Operating Officer Steve Sandberg said the group is conducting a feasibility study and […]
Welcome to the new home of Trains Magazine!

Welcome to Trains.com, the new home for Trains Magazine online and for all the content we publish on BIG trains. In this video, Trains.com Executive Producer David Popp talks about how to log-in to the new Trains.com website so you can get the most out of a Trains subscription AND what more Trains readers will […]
As Amtrak restores long-distance service, best prices are on ‘new’ dates

WASHINGTON — Anyone ready to lock in summer travel plans that involve long-distance trains will find lower fares on days that have had no service since last October. Amtrak wasted no time Wednesday in complying with marching orders from Congress in the just-passed economic stimulus legislation, immediately announcing when it would resume daily service on […]
Digest: Shortline derailment leads to new rules from Transport Canada

Transport Canada issues new rules as a result of Goderich, Ontario, derailment Transport Canada is issuing new rules regarding air brakes as a result of last month’s derailment of a train in Goderich, Ontario. The CBC reports the update to the Railway Safety Act announced by Transport Minister Omar Alghabra are intended to reduce the […]
Digest: Georgia excursion train set for sold-out debut

‘Azelea Sprinter’ excursion train debuts in Georgia A new Georgia excursion train will debut this weekend with sold-out trips. WALB-TV reports the Azelea Sprinter, operating by CaterParrott Railnet on the Georgia & Florida Railroad, sold out its first three trips in less than two days. The train will depart from Nashville, Ga., and offer three […]
Amtrak announces dates to restore daily service on 12 long-distance routes

Amtrak service will resume daily on 12 long-distance routes which had been cut to triweekly service in May and June, following Wednesday’s passage by Congress of the American Rescue Plan aid package, which includes funding for service restoration. Ticketing is already available for the restored service in Amtrak’s reservation system, meaning availability for seats and […]
Museum volunteers return Northern Pacific SD45 to operation

DULUTH, Minn. — Volunteers at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum have returned Northern Pacific SD45 No. 3617 to operating condition. The locomotive was started up and moved under its own power at the museum on Feb. 27, the first time it has operated in more than 14 years. The locomotive was donated to the museum […]
Rail volume up 11.4 percent in weekly statistics

WASHINGTON — With continued strength of intermodal traffic and a rare rise in carload traffic as recovery continued from February’s winter weather issues, U.S. railroads showed an 11.4% increase in total volume for the week ending March 6, 2021, compared to the same week last year. The latest statistics from the Association of American Railroads […]
Heritage rail digest: Colebrookdale Railroad to offer ‘sensory friendly’ ride

Colebrookdale Railroad to host ride for those with autism, other sensory sensitivities The Colebrookdale Railroad in Boyerstown, Pa., will host a “Sensory Friendly Saturday” train ride, specifically designed for those with autism or other sensory sensitivities, on March 27. The Sanatoga Post reports the event planned by the Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust. Features will include […]
Digest: Cleanup of CP derailment in Minnesota to last into summer

Cleanup of CP derailment will continue into summer, city officials say Cleanup of a Canadian Pacific derailment in Plymouth, Minn., will last into the summer and “cause ongoing disruption and noise for surrounding neighbors,” city officials have said. In a news release, the city said the length of the process is “due to the size […]
Digest: Developer’s agreement with Metra will allow project to be built above Electric line

Developer’s deal will allow construction above Metra tracks, lead to new station A Chicago developer says he has reached agreement with Metra to build over Metra Electric District tracks as part of a $20 billion development in the area near Soldier Field, a deal that will include the developer building a replacement for Metra’s 18th […]