Friday morning rail industry news: Progressive Rail seeks to end 10-year deal to operate line in Santa Cruz, Calif. Minnesota-based shortline company Progressive Rail wants out of its 10-year contract to operate a 32-mile line serving Santa Cruz, Calif., after just two years, according to the government agency that owns the line. The Aptos Times […]
More Friday morning rail news: South Shore aims for October start to West Lake extension work Construction on the South Shore Line’s West Lake Corridor extension, an 8-mile commuter rail branch between Hammond and Dyer, Ind., could begin in October. The Times of Northwest Indiana reports. That date reflects an expectation that the Northern Indiana […]
Cass Scenic Railroad reopened in June 2020 with a splash of geared steam. Climax No. 9 kicked off things with a photo charter, then lead a pack of Shays for side-by-side running and a five-chime whistle to let everyone know that steam is alive and kickin’ in the Mountain State! […]
The phenomenal narrow gauge of the Northeast, the East Broad Top, is coming back. Nine years after it was closed and almost six decades since it shut down in the 1950s as a coal hauling railroad, the EBT has reopened and is on track to reopen in steam in 2021. Here’s a report from our […]
More Thursday rail news in brief: NJ Transit board approves purchase of eight Bombardier locomotives NJ Transit’s board of directors has approved the purchase of eight Bombardier ALP-45A dual-mode locomotives, adding to a purchase of 17 of the locomotives that was approved in 2017. The new order will cost approximately $70.5 million, with delivery expected […]
Thursday morning rail news in brief: Durango & Silverton mitigation, repair projects still stalled after judge declines to intervene A federal judge has denied the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad’s request to resume fire-mitigation efforts along its right of way, as well as its repairs on a bridge washed out during heavy rains earlier […]
Still more Thursday morning rail news: Age of Steam acquires Camelback 0-4-0 The Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum in Sugar Creek, Ohio, has acquired a rare Camelback steam locomotive in a sealed-bid auction held Wednesday at the Strasburg Rail Road in Pennsylvania. Former Philadelphia & Reading 0-4-0 No. 1187 was built in 1903 to burn […]
MARIETTA, Ohio — Short line Belpre Industrial Parkersburg Railroad is off to a good start since the 48-mile route in the Ohio Valley was spun off from CSX Transportation in May. Traffic could double over the line’s historical averages in the next 12 to 18 months, says Casey Cathcart, founder and president of Ohio-based Cathcart […]
Tuesday morning rail news in brief: New Jersey governor lifts 50% capacity limit for NJ Transit New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has lifted the 50% capacity limit on NJ Transit trains, light rail, and buses as of Wednesday evening. New Jersey Business magazine reports Murphy said the decision was “in anticipation of the fact that […]
Crews from Hulcher and Diversified Rail Services worked to place Western Maryland Scenic 2-6-6-2 No. 1309 on its wheels on June 10, 2020. It was a major milestone in the restoration of the last Baldwin locomotive built for domestic service in 1949. This video shows the highlights. […]
More Monday morning rail news: New Mexico Rail Runner running five times a day — with no passengers While the New Mexico Rail Runner commuter train continues to run five times a day — to maintain crew proficiency and test positive train control — there are still no plans for allowing riders to return to […]
Monday morning rail news in brief: Equipment update reports 51 cars for Amtrak regional service built or under construction; first Charger due in early 2021 Fifty-one Siemens cars in the order for Amtrak state-supported service in California and the Midwest have either been completed or are under construction, according to the end-of-June report by the […]
