Forget your prewar Standard gauge electric-outline locomotives. I don’t care how large or flashy or colorful those slab-sided toasters are, they can’t hold a candle to the King Salami of big trains – the No. 400E 4-4-4. The size, look, and color of this model set a standard in its day for power and authority. […]
Anyone who thinks that S gauge starts and ends with American Flyer should take a look at the S-Helper Service line. For years the crew at S-Helper Service has been in the vanguard of manufacturers rising above postwar levels of detail, regardless of train gauge. Out are the cast-in handrails and roofwalks; in are add-on […]
New ‘Railroad History’ editor Dan Cupper Railway & Locomotive Historical Society A Friday afternoon rail news update: — The agency which oversees Amtrak’s Downeaster has voted to suspend operation of the train between Boston and Brunswick, Maine, effective Monday. The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority says the suspension will be in effect through at […]
More Friday morning rail news: — Bay Area Rapid Transit staff members have told BART’s board that service to the Berryessa and Milpitas stations in San Jose is now targeted to begin in June. SFGate.com reports that the June start will depend on a number of factors, including certification from the California Public Utilities Commission […]
A BNSF Railway oil train passes through Lisle, Ill. Railroads are resisting requests to use tank cars to store crude oil during the oil price downturn. TRAINS: David Lassen Still more Friday morning rail news: — Railroads are resisting efforts from oil companies to store crude oil in tank cars during the current drop in […]
LA Metro passengers board a train at Los Angeles Union Station in January 2017. Metro is further reducing rail and bus service. TRAINS: David Lassen COVID-19 related rail news for Friday morning: — LA Metro will further reduce bus and rail service, moving to a modified Sunday schedule seven days a week. On Weekdays, Metro […]
Due to the current COVID-19 Pandemic, the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) has canceled the 2020 National Convention and National Train Show, which had been scheduled for July in St. Louis, Mo. As of yet there are no plans to reschedule. For more information, please see this announcement at the NMRA web site. […]
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, event organizer Menard’s has made the decision to cancel the International Toy Train Expo, which was to be held in July in Eau Claire, Wis. For more information see the official announcement on the Menards website. […]
WASHINGTON — The Association of American Railroads today reported U.S. rail traffic this week for the week ending March 28, 2020, as well as volumes for March 2020. U.S. railroads originated 899,673 carloads in March 2020, down 6%, or 57,148 carloads, from March 2019. U.S. railroads also originated 935,380 containers and trailers in March 2020, […]
CHICAGO — The North American Rail Shippers Association today announced the cancellation of its 2020 Annual Meeting planned on May 12-14, 2020 in Kansas City, Mo. Every year, the NARS organization looks forward to connecting with the rail shipping community at the NARS Annual Meeting and sharing insight from industry leaders. Given the growing concerns […]
Thursday afternoon rail news: — In the latest in a series of efforts to stop construction of a high speed rail line between Dallas and Houton, a group of Texas state legislators have written the U.S. Department of Transportation, asking it to halt work on the Texas Central Railway project. The Bryan-College Station Eagle reports […]
More Thursday morning rail news: — The operator of the Ottawa, Ontario, light rail Confederation Line has outlined a plan to fix a length list of problems with the 7-month-old transit operation, but he city’s director of rail operations says the plan doesn’t meet the city requirements and does not include a timeline for fixing […]
