AAR urges DOT to drop two-person crew rule, streamline other regulations

Crew member riding on locomotive steps

WASHINGTON – The Association of American Railroads has asked the Department of Transportation to scuttle the Federal Railroad Administration’s two-person train crew rule. “For too long, outdated, arbitrary regulations have stood in the way of implementing data-backed solutions that can further strengthen railroads’ already remarkable safety record,” AAR CEO Ian Jefferies said in a statement. […]

Read More…

Bill to slash Dallas-Fort Worth transit funding advances in Texas House

Light-rail train at end-of-line station with a departing train in the distance

DALLAS – A bill advancing through the Texas legislature threatens to dismantle the public transportation system in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Dallas Area Rapid Transit said yesterday. “This bill isn’t a tweak to funding. It’s a full-on dismantling of the DART system,” said DART’s chief communications officer, Jeamy Molina. “The people of North Texas voted […]

Read More…

Amtrak delays East River Tunnel project by two weeks

Interior of railroad tunnel

Amtrak will delay the start of the construction on the East River Tunnel Rehabilitation project by two weeks after learning the Long Island Rail Road’s (LIRR) East-Bound reroute project is delayed. The three-year project calls for repairing two of the tunnel’s four tubes, which were damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, with one tube removed […]

Read More…

Proposed legislation would ease California environmental regulations

Three red and yellow diesel locomotives exit a tunnel and round a curve in hilly country

On May 5, Congressmen John Moolenaar (R-MI), Jay Obernolte (R-CA) and Craig Goldman (R-TX) introduced the Lifting Overburdensome Commerce Obstructions and Motives Act (LOCOMOTIVES Act), which aims to limit California’s ability to place “unsustainable” regulations on trains crossing into the state.  The legislation would revise Section 209 of the Clean Air Act to close a […]

Read More…

Railroad Day on the Hill under way

US Capitol building

Today, 327 representatives from Class Is, short lines, and railroad suppliers, contractors and associations will meet with more than 300 congressional offices during the annual Railroad Day on Capitol Hill.   The annual event has continued for more than 25 years. This year, lobbyists will call on Congress to:  Maintain and extend tax policies that incentivize […]

Read More…

Trump to axe California high-speed rail funding

Computer rendering of California high speed rail train at dusk

Citing cost overruns, the federal government will no longer provide funding for California’s planned Los Angeles-to-San Francisco high-speed rail project, according to a news report from Reuters.  President Donald Trump made the comment to reporters yesterday during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.  In February, the Federal Railroad Administration announced it was conducting […]

Read More…

Freight car basics: Roller bearings

1950 magazine ad for roller bearings

This full-page ad from roller bearing manufacturer Timken appeared 75 years ago in the May 1950 issue of Trains Magazine. It’s a reminder that roller bearings represented a huge advancement over the earlier friction, or plain, bearing design. Axle-mounted roller bearings are a critical component in modern railroading due to their role in enhancing efficiency, […]

Read More…

Workbench ideas

Color photo of workbench with assorted tools.

Q: Since Model Railroader has moved to a new location, have you given any thought to a video or magazine series on building a workbench? I’ve got to build a new one to fit my new train room and am looking for ideas. — Jim Burns A: Thanks for writing in, Jim. Our workshop space […]

Read More…