NEW YORK — The first full week of the Long Island Rail Road’s new schedule, offering more trains systemwide and full service to the new Grand Central Madison station, has gone less than smoothly, particularly for those still taking the LIRR to Penn Station. There are now fewer Penn trains than there had been when […]
WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board says it is “looking closely” at aluminum protective covers on tank cars involved in the East Palestine, Ohio, derailment, over concerns those covers melted on three of the cars, which may have hampered the performance of pressure relief devices. The issue occurred on three of the five cars […]
PORTLAND, Ore. — Genesee Valley Transportation has agreed to acquire the Alco PA locomotive restored by preservationist Doyle McCormack and will run the unit on main line passenger excursions, the short line company announced today. McCormack and GVT Rail President Michael D. Thomas finalized the agreement in a meeting Wednesday at the Oregon Rail Heritage […]
BOSTON — The family of a man dragged to his death by a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority train last year after his arm became caught in a closing door has sued the transit agency. The Boston Globe reports the family of Robinson Lalin, killed in the April 10, 2022, accident on the Red Line, alleges […]
WASHINGTON — The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority will re-press all the wheels on its 7000-series railcars to address a problem with wheel movement, a process that will take as much as three years and cost about $55 million. DC Metro made the announcement Tuesday, saying the plan was based on technical information released that […]
When created in 1976, lowering the flags of several once-proud but troubled Northeastern railroads, it was shockingly new. But that was 44 years ago. Moreover, it’s been more than two decades since Conrail itself became a fallen flag. Here is a photo of classic Conrail. The train is eastbound at Canaseraga, N.Y., 13 miles […]
The railroad with the largest 2-10-0 Decapod fleet should come as no surprise. Throughout most of its history, the Pennsylvania Railroad called itself “The Standard Railroad of the World,” and yet in so many ways it was anything but “standard.” From position-light signals along its right-of-way to Belpaire boilers for its steam locomotives to […]
Visiting the Strasburg Rail Road History of the Strasburg Rail Road Visiting the Strasburg Rail Road is on the top of many a railfan’s bucket list. The Strasburg Rail Road, based in Strasburg, Pa., is the oldest railroad in America. It was founded in 1832 and is still running under its original name. It is […]
It’s been more than a decade since Lou Sassi photographed my HO scale White River Division for a feature in the March 2009 Model Railroader. A lot has changed since then. The track plan has been altered to better view and photograph scenes. I also eliminated the duckunder. Now a point-to-point layout, there’s a yard […]
In December 2022, near Tamaqua, Pa., it’s no surprise the Reading & Northern Santa Trains are big business! Of course, the Reading & Northern is no stranger to giving the public what they want. The railroad does a brisk business with these runs with its Lehigh Gorge Scenic railway operation, based out of Jim Thorpe, […]
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — The City of Binghamton is moving to hire a firm to inspect at least 28 railroad bridges in the city, citing concerns increased by the recent Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. WBNG-TV reports that Mayor Jared Kraham said concerns about aesthetic and structural deficiencies predate the Feb. 3 derailment, but […]
MADISON, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s College of Engineering will offer three rail courses as part of its Interdisciplinary Professional Programs. The upcoming courses are: — Fundamentals of Railroad Bridge Inspection, April 18-20, offered in person or online. Those taking part will learn about the inspector’s responsibilities, compliance with regulations, training requirements, and types […]
