DETROIT — Google is joining Ford Motor Co.’s effort to transform the landmark Michigan Central Station into a hub of technology and innovation. The news site mlive.com reports Google will be a “founding member” of the Michigan Central Innovation District, a 30-acre campus being developed by Ford at the long-neglected station. “This is not going […]
LEWISBURG, Pa. — A Pennsylvania rail authority which owns five short lines served by contract operators has acquired the operating rights to 9 miles of Norfolk Southern trackage in Snyder County, Pa. In its December meeting, the Susquehanna Economic Development Agency-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) Joint Rail Authority agreed to purchase rail assets and a freight […]
Big steam pays a visit to our HO scale Milwaukee, Racine & Troy. Broadway Limited’s feature-rich HO scale Union Pacific 4-12-2 steam locomotive includes a synchronized smoke unit, brass and die-cast metal construction, and two factory-installed and painted crew figures. […]
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation aims to round up shipper support before a Surface Transportation Board hearing this month regarding Amtrak’s controversial quest to launch passenger service on the Gulf Coast. In an email to the railroad’s customers, CEO Jim Foote asked shippers to sign a petition or to write to the STB directly regarding […]
ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. — The EBT Foundation has released the list of activities for its East Broad Top Railroad Winter Spectacular, to be held Friday and Saturday, Feb. 18-19. This is the second Spectacular to be held since the Foundation acquired the historic narrow gauge railroad, a National Historic Landmark, in 2020. Last year’s event […]
An Athearn Ready-to-Roll Chicago & North Western SD60 is in charge of a grain train on our HO scale Milwaukee, Racine & Troy. Before the six-axle diesel departs Williams Bay, Group Technical Editor Cody Grivno explains the features on this SoundTraxx Econami-equipped model. […]
CANTON, Ohio — The transit agency serving Canton has hired a consultant to study building a light-rail line between downtown Canton and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Massillon Independent reports the Stark Area Regional Transit Authority has approved a contract with consultant WSP USA and envisions a six-month time frame for the study, […]
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — The Santa Cruz County Transportation Commission took no action Thursday on a proposal to seek abandonment of a branch line that a tourist train operator said could doom its operation, instead instructing Executive Director Guy Preston to engage in further talks with Roaring Camp Railroads. Meanwhile, in a separate action Thursday, […]
ALBANY, N.Y. — The state of New York has awarded $76.4 million in grants to fund 38 freight rail infrastructure projects, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday. The awards range from $100,000 for the Ontario Midland Railroad to resurface a grade crossing to $5 million to Norfolk Southern for projects in the capital region including 15 […]
OMAHA, Neb. — Beth Whited has been named to Union Pacific’s newly created position as executive vice president-sustainability and strategy. The appointment by the UP board of directors is effective immediately. Whited has been executive vice president and chief human resource officer since 2018. The company said that in her new role, she will help […]
MOULDRIGE, Kan. — Two farm cooperatives have announced plans to build a grain shuttle loader near Sterling, Kan., to be served by Watco’s Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad. It will be the third high-speed shuttle loading facility owned by CHS Inc. and Mid Kansas Cooperative (MKC). Operations are expected to begin by late 2023, although the […]
Don Ball, a frequent contributor to Model Railroader magazine, died on January 21 at his home in Blue Springs, Mo. He was 73 years old. Most of Don’s articles focused on projects he was working on for his 37 x 40-foot HO scale Stockton & Copperopolis RR, set in 1895. The topics were wide ranging, […]
