NEW YORK — Completion of an order of new electric multiple unit railcars for the Long Island Rail Road, already 18 months behind schedule, has been pushed back another 17 months, WSHU radio reports. Completion is now projected by September 2023. The order of 202 M9 railcars from Kawasaki reflects “workmanship issues,” as well as […]
RICHMOND, Va., and ATLANTA — The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority and Norfolk Southern have completed financing on the agreement which will expand passenger service to Roanoke, Va., and extend service southwest into the New River Valley. The Western Rail Initiative Agreement sets the stage for the launch of a second daily Amtrak round trip between […]
WASHINGTON — The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association has recognized a record number of railroads with its annual Jake Safety Awards, announced last week. A total of 364 railroads received awards for performing at or above the industry average for Federal Railroad Administration-reportable injuries, including 332 honored “with distinction” for having no reportable […]
MR&T heritage fleet diesel locomotive roster MR&T heritage fleet diesel locomotives: The Milwaukee, Racine & Troy, Model Railroader’s staff layout, has been around for more than 45 years. Similar to many full-size railroads, the freelanced MR&T has changed paint schemes on its diesel locomotives over the years. Following the lead of two Class 1 railroads, […]
Amtrak California passenger cars Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Single car with NCE decoder with lighting functions, $149.99; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami SoundCar, $199.99. Four-pack with NCE decoder with lighting functions, $579.99; dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami SoundCar, $649.99 Era: mid-2000s+ Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822, 800-338-4639, athearn.com Amtrak California passenger car features: All-wheel electrical pickup Cab coaches […]
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation is offering more than $573 million in grant funding this fiscal year to address grade-crossing issues as part of its Railroad Crossing Elimination Program, created as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed and signed in November 2021. The competitive discretionary grant program, administered by the Federal Railroad […]
BENNET, Neb. — A BNSF Railway spur line is expected to be out of service for three weeks after a bridge collapsed as a result of a coal-train derailment Thursday evening. The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office said 18 cars were involved in the derailment, which occurred about 5 p.m. BNSF spokesman Ben Wilemon told the […]
Amtrak California II (Surfliner) passenger cars Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: With dual-mode NCE decoder with lighting functions, $149.99; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami SoundCar, $199.99 Era: mid-2000s+ Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822, 800-338-4639, athearn.com Amtrak California II (Surfliner) passenger car features: All-wheel electrical pickup Business class cars feature upper and lower service areas Cafe cars have […]
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The planned Pacific Northwest tour of Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 is off for 2022, the railroad announced in a Thursday afternoon email to members of its Steam Club. But the locomotive will make an outing to Denver later this month to pull an excursion benefitting the Union Pacific Museum. The […]
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Amtrak and BNSF Railway have filed suit against the company that owns the dump truck involved in Monday’s fatal collision and derailment of the Southwest Chief — and the widow of the truck driver has sued a BNSF employee and the county where the accident occurred. KCTV reports Amtrak and BNSF […]
Overlooked Lionel postwar accessories? Yes, these stalwarts are well known but aren’t always top of mind when someone is asked to list the company’s greatest gems. Click here to see the 7 Lionel accessories that usually garner the spotlight. Read on to find out what the “Rodney Dangerfields” of postwar Lionel are. ZW transformer 1948-66 The […]
CHICAGO — The Southwest Chief that departed Los Angeles Tuesday evening and its westbound counterpart leaving Chicago today (Thursday, June 30) are the first Chiefs to operate over the train’s full route, passing the scene of the fatal derailment in Mendon, Mo., since that accident on Monday. Monday’s westbound Southwest Chief was cancelled, and the […]
