In every issue News, p. 6 Norfolk Southern’s executive team wins proxy battle, and Amtrak’s Borealis debuts Bill Stephens, p. 10 BNSF and J.B. Hunt try a Quantum leap Great Railfan Railroads, p. 44 Follow the Norfolk Southern across Virginia Brian Solomon, p. 47 Railroad museums are windows to the past Great Railfan Roads, p. […]
Despite its small size, grand scale railroading – well-known for miniature train rides at parks – can be full of uniqueness, character, and history that is as big as the 1:1 scale. The Milwaukee County Zoo’s North Shore Bank Safari Train is a grand example of this as I’ve come to learn of this 15-inch […]
Allentown kaleidoscope When I was a young boy in the 1960s, my family lived within earshot of the Lehigh Valley’s West End industrial branch that traversed the north side of Allentown, Pa. Weekday summer entertainment included a run to my backyard whenever I heard an approaching diesel switcher. As the local passed, I faithfully counted […]
Consultants have been hired this week to develop plans for two lines — Chicago-Fort Wayne-Pittsburgh and the former North Coast Hiawatha route — that are candidates for future passenger service under the Federal Railroad Administration’s Corridor Identification and Development Program. The City of Fort Wayne, Ind., working with the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission and the […]
WASHINGTON — Amtrak has applied for almost $300 million in federal grants to address infrastructure needs on the Northeast Corridor, including problems with the catenary system that have led to significant delays in recent months, NJ.com reports. The passenger company is seeking $299.7 million through four Federal Railroad Administration CRISI (Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety […]
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Fourteen cars of a Union Pacific train derailed and overturned this morning (Thursday, Aug. 1) in North Little Rock, KATV-TV reports. No injuries were reported in the incident that occurred about 7:45 a.m.; all of the cars involved were empty, a UP representative told the station. The incident occurred on […]
Learning the route Because trains have a maximum speed, most people assume they move at that speed constantly. Not so. You can’t simply set the cruise control at 79 mph and forget it. With the exception of very flat, sparsely populated terrain, you’re constantly applying or releasing the brakes and manipulating the throttle. There are […]
CHICAGO — Manufacturer FreightCar America will enter the tank car conversion market, having entered into an agreement to upgrade more than 1,000 DOT-111 cars to DOT-117R cars over the next two years, the company announced today. The cars will receive new exterior valve jackets, thermal protection, full-height head shields, top fittings protection, and upgraded bottom-outlet […]
WASHINGTON — Weekly U.S. rail volume showed a solid increase for the seven days ending July 27, with overall traffic up 5.3% over the same period a year earlier. Statistics from the Association of American Railroads show railroads moved 508,496 carloads and intermodal units for the week. That includes 228,845 carloads, down 0.5% from the […]
Railroad History Railroading exists everywhere we look, and in our travels we often get a glimpse into railroad history in places we least expect — like the half-dozen U-turns I’ve performed in ranch country where rust boxcars have been repurposed for storage. It’s an encounter with railroad history beyond the right-of-way. Drier climates in the […]
As a teacher in Oklahoma, the sharing and showcasing of history is nonstop for 25-year-old David Weston. This includes serving as a seasonal conductor for the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad during the summer break, while also documenting the life and times along the narrow gauge line through Instagram with approximately 45,000 followers digitally going […]
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s latest extended maintenance shutdown led to the elimination of nine speed restrictions — two more than originally planned — on the rapid-transit Red Line, the MBTA said on Tuesday. The work was conducted between Alewife and Kendall/MIT July 12 and 15-26; from Alewife to JFK/UMass July 13-14 and […]
