New stations, replacement of 122-year-old bridge on Metra’s 2021 capital to-do list Metra has launched its 2021 capital improvement projects, which includes work on two new stations, replacement of a 122-year-old bridge in Chicago, and continued work to close the remaining gap in the triple-track main line on the UP West line near Geneva, Ill. […]
TrucTrain terminal The Pennsylvania Railroad’s Chicago TrucTrain terminal had a concrete ramp with six tracks and access platforms between pairs of tracks. Note the storage tracks for empty flatcars at left. Photo by Pennsylvania Railroad […]
Three Siemens Venture coaches and two Charger locomotives depart Chicago on Monday, April 12, for Effingham, Ill. The cars will test through through Thursday of this week, evaluating the new equipment’s ability to effectively shunt electric current between rails on Canadian National’s former Illinois Central trackage. Since 2006, the railroad has imposed a minimum axle […]
MANITOU SPRINGS, Colo. — The Broadmoor Manitou & Pikes Peak Railway’s new rotary snow blower made its debut on Friday, April 9, clearing the rebuild cog rail line for the first time. The new snowblower, produced by Zaugg in Eggiwill, Switzerland, has the capability of cutting through drifts up to 10 feet tall and 20 […]
TREGO, Wis. — Wisconsin Great Northern continues to make progress in its effort to restore the Mark Twain Zephyr to operation. The railroad acquired the four-car articulated trainset, plus a spare car from the original Pioneer Zephyr, in 2020. Built in 1935, the train is the fourth of nine complete Zephyr trainsets built by the […]
Hoosier Valley obtains builder’s plate for 2-8-4, seeks National Register status for locomotive The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in North Judson, Ind., has acquired the builder’s plate for Chesapeake & Ohio 2-8-4 No. 2789, reuniting the plate with the locomotive decades after the two were separated. The acquisition comes as the museum launches an effort […]
Produce to the people Chicago and other large cities had produce yards and team tracks where dozens or hundreds of cars would arrive each day for auction and sale to local buyers. Photo by Chicago & North Western […]
Stainless savior Northern Pacific began replacing trains on its secondary routes with RDCs in 1955, and eventually had a fleet of six of the Budd-built cars. This Fargo-Winnipeg train takes on passengers at Hawley, Minn., in 1966. The NP’s last RDCs ran in 1969. Steve Glischinski collection […]
Western Maryland Scenic says No. 1309 is being prepared for FRA inspection Western Maryland Scenic Railroad officials say C&O 2-6-6-2 No. 1309 is “100% operational” and believe the locomotive will be operating this summer, although it awaits a few parts and must address “a few leaks” before receiving its Federal Railroad Administration inspection. The Cumberland […]
BONSAL, N.C. — The North Carolina Railway Museum is seeking funds to rescue 10 railcars from a disconnected siding at a nuclear power plant near New Hill, N.C., for eventual use on the museum’s New Hope Valley Railway. Nearly $100,000 must be raised to save the cars, which include two cabooses being donated by Duke […]
MTA says contractor failed to follow safety rules at site of LIRR construction accident The contractor performing work that led to the severe electrical-shock injury of an ironworker at a Long Island Rail Road station last weekend failed to follow some safety protocols, Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials said. Newsday reports the accident at the LIRR […]
Minnesota state senator introduces bill to fund rail improvements for second daily Amtrak train The president of the Minnesota state Senate has introduced a bipartisan bill to fund rail infrastructure improvements needed for the addition of a second daily Chicago-Twin Cities passenger train. The bill introduced by Sen. Jeremy Miller (R-Winona) would provide the state […]
