‘Significant progress’ reported in Kansas City streetcar repairs

Workers pouring concrete between rails on street bridge

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — RideKC, operator of the Kansas City streetcar, reports “significant progress” in repairs to track damage that has shut down the system since July 4, and anticipates providing information on the return of service later this week. A Sunday update reported that weekend work on the Main Street bridge across Interstate 670 […]

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Troubleshooting a diesel locomotive

A photograph of two yellow and green SD40-2 diesel locomotives

In 1981, I was a locomotive engineer for the Chicago & North Western Railway based out of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and operating an interdivisional run to Sioux City, Iowa. I made this run many times, but one trip taught me a lesson about troubleshooting a diesel locomotive — and about railroading. Most of the trains […]

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Shay-It-Forward and the Silver Creek & Stephenson Charter

On June 25th, 2023, Trains Magazine sponsored their first photo special of the year at the Silver Creek and Stephenson Railroad in Freeport, Illinois. The event was timed to coincide with the Jim Wrinn Memorial Shay-It-Forward event at the Illinois Railway Museum. Let’s take a look at the weekend! […]

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Worker killed at Chicago-area CSX intermodal facility

CSX logo

BEDFORD PARK, Ill. — A contract worker was killed Saturday morning in an accident at the CSX Transportation intermodal facility at Bedford Park, the Chicago Tribune reports. Jacory Ceaser, 24, of Chicago’s Roseland neighborhood, was killed about 12:30 a.m. when crushed between two intermodal chassis, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. The death […]

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Spaces to Places IV | Detailing the Streets, part 5

The town of Westcott on this HO scale model railroad is approaching completion! But not before host Gerry Leone shares his insights for adding subtle, but very effective weathering effects to the roadways. Follow along to learn how to fade stripes, draw cracks, create potholes, install manhole covers, and much more! Want to see more […]

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Cincinnati Southern sale to go to voters in November

Map of rail line from Cincinnati, Ohio, to Chattanooga, Tenn.

CINCINNATI — Voters will have their say on the sale of the Cincinnati Southern Railway on Nov. 7. WXIX-TV reports that  Thursday, the railway board of trustees voted unanimously to place the proposed sale of the line from Cincinnati to Chattanooga, Tenn., on the ballot. If a majority of voters approve, the nation’s only municipally […]

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Trains announces photo charter with historic Minnesota Transportation Museum diesels

Green and orange diesel and matching passenger cars on bridge

OSCEOLA, Wis. — Trains Magazine has announced an exclusive photo charter to be held Sept. 11-12 at the Minnesota Transportation Museum’s Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway featuring three historic diesels. The tentative schedule for the two-day event includes a Sept. 11 passenger train with freshly painted Great Northern SDP40 No. 325 and Great Northern […]

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Tornadoes, weather warnings halt Metra, Amtrak on Wednesday evening (updated)

Commuter train with massive thunderstorm in distance

CHICAGO — Metra commuters suffered evening rush-hour delays, while Amtrak also halted operations for a time, because of tornado warnings and other severe weather warnings in the Chicago area. WMAQ-TV reports one tornado touched down at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, damaging some warehouses, and that the National Weather Service confirmed this morning (July 13) that […]

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Michigan approves legislation for grade crossing separation fund

Passenger train paralleling highway passes grade crossingWolverine No. 351 heads toward Kalamazoo and Chicago on July 7, 2020, west of Galesburg, Mich., on another 110 mph. portion of the Chicago-Detroit route

LANSING, Mich. — Michigan has enacted legislation creating a program within the state’s Department of Transportation to fund grade crossing separation projects. Michigan Public Radio reports the legislation prioritizes projects closer to locations such as schools, trauma treatment facilities, and manufacturing sites. It would require local governments to cover matching funds covering up to 20% […]

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