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CHICAGO — Two key documents released by Amtrak last week — the schedule for triweekly operation of long-distance trains to take effect in October, and the benchmarks for restoration of those trains to daily operation — can, taken together, show how difficult it will be for trains to achieve the measurements necessary to increase service. […]
WASHINGTON — A coalition of unions and passenger groups has filed a statement with the Surface Transportation Board supporting Metra’s request for a preliminary injunction to require Union Pacific to continue operating commuter service on three Chicago-area routes. The statement filed Tuesday notes that the STB has said it will hold ruling on Metra’s quest […]
Locomotive news in brief: Metra C&NW heritage unit debuts Chicago commuter railroad Metra has unveiled its latest heritage locomotive. Metra F59PHI No. 90 was released Monday from the company’s paint booth in a Chicago & North Western-inspired scheme. The design incorporates elements of C&NW’s paint scheme worn on early passenger diesel locomotives such as EMD’s […]
Monday morning preservation and tourist railroad news: Diesel engine from GE test locomotive declared a mechanical engineering landmark A prototype diesel engine built for use in a General Electric test locomotive has been declared an Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers’ National History & Heritage Committee. The 1,200-hp Cooper-Bessemer FVAL8T […]
Monday morning rail news: CN workers suffer serious injuries when hit by vehicle at grade crossing Two Canadian National Railway employees were hospitalized with serious injuries when they were struck by a vehicle while doing repairs at a grade crossing in Alberta late Friday night. Global News reports the accident occurred about 11:30 p.m. when […]
More Monday morning rail news: Amtrak seeks to close troublesome Newark lift bridge Amtrak is seeking to permanently close an 85-year-old New Jersey lift bridge adjacent to Newark Penn Station that sometimes fails to close properly, delaying its trains as well as those of NJ Transit and PATH. NJ.com reports the railroad has applied to […]
WASHINGTON — Amtrak’s top managers contend cutting long-distance operation to triweekly is a valid short-term money saving solution in the reduced ridership environment created by the COVID-19 pandemic, but also admit the company does not have specific plans to maintain daily operation if directed to do so by Congress. In an Aug. 6 Trains News […]
What’s the easiest way to get going in outdoor railroading? Why, with a starter set, of course. And what’s the easiest way to get someone young interested in the hobby? Also with an entry level package, but it has to be the right one. LGB may have just cracked the code with its Construction Site […]
TIDE FACTORY BY MENARDS Price: $99.99 Stock no.: 279-5518 Features: Fully assembled and decorated. Worker figures, grass-covered base, and illuminated signage. Website: menards/trains I continue to be amazed at the variety (and quantity) of new building designs coming from Menards headquarters in Eau Claire, Wis. They’ve made residential structures (farm houses, ranch houses, […]
The Eastern Division of the Train Collectors Association has cancelled the October York, Pa. meet due to COVID-19. The organization’s board voted to extend the spring meet, now scheduled for April 22-24, 2021. Registration fees for the April and October 2020 shows have been carried over to next year’s spring meet. More information is available […]
Saturday morning rail news: Durango & Silverton won’t reach Silverton in 2020 The Durango & Silverton has given up hopes of operating to Silverton this summer, and will continue operating excursions between Rockwood and Cascade for the remainder of the 2020 season. The Durango Herald reports the railroad will offer a minimum of five daily […]
A trio of experts discussed the pros, cons, and reality of Precision Scheduled Railroading this week during the Midwest Virtual Rail Conference. C. Tyler Dick, a lecturer and principal research engineer at the Railtec program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, says the late E. Hunter Harrison’s operating model aims to combine the best […]
