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CHICAGO — Although the majority of Amtrak’s regional and Northeast Corridor service has been operating close to schedules despite recent torrid temperatures, June has been a rough month so far for several inter-regional trains. The Southwest Chief has been particularly hard hit, with a freight derailment west of Ft. Madison, Iowa, returning westbound passengers “to […]
Michigan was and still is no stranger to railroads small yet unique enough to attract a following. The former Ann Arbor Railroad, not to be confused with today’s incarnation under Watco, certainly fit the bill with these 5 traits of the Ann Arbor Railroad that range from quirky to charming. More car ferry […]
CHICAGO — The current heat wave in the Midwest and East is bringing operational impacts for Amtrak and commuter rail systems. Amtrak last week issued a “fact sheet” on how it responds to high heat, noting that restrictions are issued when ambient temperatures exceed 95 degrees or track temperatures reach 128 degrees. Temperatures have reached […]
BREWSTER, Ohio — The Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway has unveiled a red, white, and blue locomotive to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026. In a social media post, the railroad says the design was inspired by Norfolk & Western’s bicentennial locomotive in 1976, but with “a bold Wheeling twist, including chevron […]
WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court has turned down a suit by a group of Chicago suburbs seeking review of the Surface Transportation Board decision approving the Canadian Pacific Kansas City merger. In a decision announced today (June 20, 2025), the U.S. Appeals Court for the District of Columbia District denied the request by the […]
CHICAGO — The Chicago area’s three transit operators have unveiled a new Regional Day Pass, good for unlimited rides in a single day on Metra, the Chicago Transit Authority, and Pace buses. The new pass is available only on the newest version of the Ventra smartphone app, beginning today (June 20, 2025). The pass is […]
WASHINGTON — The National Institutes of Health has launched a five-year, $10 million program to study and address long-term health impacts of the East Palestine, Ohio, derailment in 2023. The NIH said the study was being undertaken at the urging of Vice President JD Vance, an Ohio senator at the time of the incident. “This […]
MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. — The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District on Wednesday (June 18) held the official grand opening for the South Shore Line’s new 11th Street Station in Michigan City, part of a larger development project at the downtown site. Platforms at the station opened early last year, but Wednesday’s event marked the opening […]
CHICAGO — Metra will receive more than $104 million in grants for station projects and the purchase of three electric switching locomotives, the commuter rail operator has announced. The funding will come from the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement program of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning. The money will include $80 million for […]
NORTH FREEDOM, Wis. — The move to return Chicago & North Western 4-6-0 No. 1385 to the Mid-Continent Railway Museum is back on. A June 11 social media post by Mid-Continent announced that the locomotive is scheduled to arrive at the museum on July 12. The public is invited to attend what will be a […]
EAST TROY, Wis. — The East Troy Railroad Museum’s Milwaukee Day, scheduled for June 28, will feature rare displays and trolley rides with equipment directly tied to the Brew City’s past. Three rarely-seen pieces in the museum’s collection are planned to be brought out of storage for display at the East Troy depot. Chicago North […]
REMEMBER the ads for Uniroyal’s “Tiger Paw” tires? When I was with the Southern Railway, some of us there referred to SR’s U-boats as “Whisperjets” (for the turbocharger noise) and to its SD40s as “Sport Models” (for the platforms). Now, I suggest tagging the Dash-2 SD40s “Tiger Paws.” Those HT-C trucks look as though they’re […]
