An A-B-B-A set of Santa Fe FT diesels leads a westbound freight just below famous Tehachapi Loop in 1949. This train met an eastbound Southern Pacific freight at Walong siding on the Loop itself; steam from the SP train’s cab-forward helper is visible in the distance. Linn H. Westcott photo […]
STOCKTON, Calif. — The San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority has made official its rebrand of Amtrak’s San Joaquins as Gold Runner trains. The move came on Monday, Nov. 3, and was effective immediately. Trains.com had previously reported plans for the move as part of a report on other changes for San Joaquins and Capitol Corridor […]
KENVIL, N.J. — The non-profit organization behind the annual Operation Toy Train project has announced the donation of a boxcar to support Toys for Tots collections in New Jersey, as well as the detailed 2025 schedule for Operation Toy Train. TOYX Inc. has received a boxcar from Genesee & Wyoming’s Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway, […]
LOS ANGELES — Commuter rail operator Metrolink will offer additional service on Monday, Nov. 3, for the Los Angeles Dodgers’ World Series victory parade, the agency announced today (Sunday, Nov. 2). LA Metro is also providing special service, including Dodger Stadium Express buses to the ticketed celebration at the stadium; those buses will be free […]
LOS ANGELES — Metrolink has rolled out the use of smart crossing technology — which avoids unnecessary delays at grade crossings near stations — with its introduction at two crossings near its Baldwin Park station. The Wireless Crossing Nearside Station Stop technology communicates with positive train control to prevent crossing gates from lowering as a […]
With Mt. Shasta rising in the background, a Baldwin road-switcher works the Southern Pacific yard at Dunsmuir, Calif., in the 1950s. Mac LeFebre photo […]
You never know where change will lead you. What started out as an attempt to fine-tune my existing HO scale layout ended with a new house and a 2,600 square-foot, four-deck model railroad – the Sunset Valley Oregon System (SVOS). I started my previous Sunset Valley (SV) layout in 1959 and worked on it for […]
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed into law a bill prohibiting state agencies from reselling or otherwise transferring older diesel-powered rail equipment after it has been decommissioned by a public agency. SB 30 was introduced last December by Sen. Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) in response to Caltrain’s sale of retired equipment for […]
WILMINGTON, Calif. — Pacific Harbor Line has entered into an agreement with Michigan-based startup Remora, which is developing carbon capture technology for freight rail and trucking. The railroad, which serves the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, is also an investor in Remora, and Peter Gilbertson, CEO of PHL’s parent company, Anacostia Rail Holdings, […]
LOS ANGELES — Authorities have arrested Adeel Shams, founder of popular sneaker resale platform CoolKicks, after discovering more than $500,000 in stolen Nike goods during a raid at the company’s Santa Monica warehouse. Police said the merchandise — including 2,100 pairs of shoes and 150 cartons of apparel, some unreleased — had been stolen from an […]
LOS ANGELES — Seven passengers and a crew member were injured today (Oct. 8, 2025) when a Metrolink Ventura County Line train struck a stationary train as it arrived at Los Angeles Union Station. The Los Angeles Daily News reports the collision occurred about 7:30 a.m. and involved inbound train No. 104. The stationary train […]
WASHINGTON — Brightline West is seeking a $6 billion government loan to address increased construction costs for its planned route between Southern California and Las Vegas, Nev. A Department of Transportation document indicates the company behind the project, DesertXpress Enterprises, LLC, applied for the loan under the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, which dates […]
