LOS ANGELES — The LA Metro board has submitted a package seeking $1.9 billion in funding from the state of California for three light rail projects, Metro announced today (Wednesday, Dec. 7). The funds would come from the state’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program. Funding from that program is expected to be awarded on […]
Handy tools for DCC wiring projects: I talked about soldering irons, solder, heat sinks, tip cleaners and other handy tools for DCC wiring in the August 2017 DCC Corner column. I’m not going to repeat that, but I want to provide an update. Some soldering irons can leak current through their tips if they’re not […]
WASHINGTON — Almost $2.3 billion in funding is now available for intercity passenger rail capital projects through a Federal Railroad Administration grant program now accepting applications for fiscal 2022. The Notice of Funding Opportunity issued today (Wednesday, Dec. 7) is for the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program. The program has previously funded […]
WASHINGTON — Trade groups representing chemical manufacturers, mining companies, energy producers, and agricultural interests, plus several individual shippers, and railroad labor unions all plan to participate in next week’s Surface Transportation Board hearing on Union Pacific’s increased use of embargoes as a way to manage congestion. Trade groups including the American Chemistry Council, The Fertilizer […]
Name: Ray Wheeler Railroad Name: Jericho & Mt Zion Railway Location: Lynnwood, WA Scale: G scale Theme: Tourist railroad with freight operations in the modern era.Description: “November Plow Patrol” – Ride along on J&MtZ plow car #628 with Engine # 20 and Caboose 02 make a snow patrol run on the main track. Music from […]
KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. — Short line owner and operator Regional Rail LLC will add three railroads to its holdings, having agreed to acquire three Midwestern operations from Agracel Rail Holdings. The new additions are the Effingham Railroad Co., located in the Effingham (Ill.) Industrial Park, which offers interchange with Canadian National and CSX Transportation; the […]
SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — The community of Spokane Valley has gained the last of the funding it needs for a $38 million grade crossing project with the announcement the Washington State Department of Transportation will contribute $5 million toward an underpass for Pines Road at its intersection with the BNSF main line. The Spokane Spokesman-Review […]
WASHINGTON — The DC Metrorail system will seek to return to automated train operation, discontinued after a fatal train collision in 2009, according to a presentation to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority board on Monday. The website DCist reports the presentation calls for the Red Line to be returned to Automatic Train Operation in […]
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Southern California’s Arrow commuter rail service, the 9-mile line connecting Redlands to the existing Metrolink network at San Bernardino, will expand its schedule as of this Friday, Dec. 9, with the completion of Quiet Zones along the full route. With Quiet Zones in place, weekday operation will begin more than an […]
PITTSBURGH — A Wabtec brake technology for transit systems, designed to address wheel slide in low-adhesion situations such as can occur on wet or leaf-covered rails, has received European certification, allowing its use on new equipment as well as retrofitting onto existing mainline trains. The DistanceMaster Adaptive Wheel Slide Protection technology received certification from international […]
BOSTON — Steve Shaw has been named as chief operating officer for Keolis North America, the first person to hold that position for the company’s transit operations in the region. Shaw previously served as president and CEO of Keolis Transit America, overseeing bus operations across the U.S. “Steve’s experience in our industry and at Keolis […]
Many hobbyists strive to model freight cars accurately. Selecting the right doors, installing the correct hatch covers, and using the proper ladders and stirrup steps are just some of the things freight car enthusiasts focus on. Those re-creating earlier eras may even add chalk marks to the car sides. How to graffiti a freight car […]
