Nickel Plate yard at Frankfort, Ind.

20131014

Looking west at Frankfort, Ind., in 1944, we see the westbound yard with its east-end ladder angling off to the right, and in the distance the eastbound yard’s east ladder running the other way. Beyond the east yard ladder are the icing platform and the ice plant. Jay Williams photo […]

Read More…

Amtrak’s Chicago train wash open for business; other locations to follow

Train moving through small building across tracks

CHICAGO— The questions “what took so long?” and “when will the others be operational?” weren’t entirely answered Thursday, Oct. 23, when Trains was among those invited to observe, along with Amtrak president Roger Harris, the workings of the long-overdue train wash located near the south end of the company’s 16th Street coach yard. “Each one […]

Read More…

East Troy Industrial Park, Ep. 27 | Depot Platform Prep & Modeling a Hayfield

The guys focus on adding the depot platform and a farm field to theHO scale (1:87.1)East Troy Industrial project layout. David selects a diluted gray stain for the depot platform, and then demonstrates how to correct a scenery mistake. Cody works on the hayfield, sharing his intriguing technique for modeling windrows with yarn, and then […]

Read More…

NTSB investigating fatal grade-crossing accident in Elgin, Ill.

National Transportation Safety Board logo

ELGIN, Ill. — The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a fatal collision on Thursday in Elgin involving a Union Pacific locomotive and a landscaping company pickup truck, the agency announced on social media. One person was killed and two were injured in the collision at the State Street grade crossing in Elgin, the Daily […]

Read More…

Lake State Railway introduces locomotive to honor anniversary of American independence

White locomotive with red and blue striping

SAGINAW, Mich. — Lake State Railway has introduced a special paint scheme one of its SD70M locomotives to celebrate the upcoming 250th anniversary of American independence. SD70M No. 1776, unveiled earlier this month, wears a paint scheme designed by Travis Vongrey, a second-generation Lake State railroad and currently supervisor of yard operations. His design was […]

Read More…

A big paint job

Large black and grey steam locomotive in a park.

Two Union Pacific paint technicians from Jenks Shop in North Little Rock, Ark., spent 7 weeks in Omaha, Neb., repainting Big Boy No. 4023 displayed in Kenefick Park on the grounds of Lauritzen Gardens. The 4-8-8-4 along with DDA40X No. 6900 welcome travelers from their location above I-80. The project involved considerable sand blasting to […]

Read More…

News photos: First Airo trainset visits Chicago on cross-country trek

CHICAGO — Its trials completed at the Federal Railroad Administration’s Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, Colo., Amtrak’s first Siemens Airo trainset is now headed east to the company’s Philadelphia coach yard, where it will be based for Northeast Corridor testing and commissioning. That trip included a stop in Chicago today (Oct. 22, 2025). The train […]

Read More…

East Troy Industrial Park, Ep. 26 | Drybrushing & Static Grass Application

In this episode of the HO scale (1:87.1) East Troy Industrial Park project layout, Cody finishes the foundation retaining wall by adding drybrushed weathering effects. Meanwhile, David shares his techniques for applying tall grass on the embankments, using static grass and coarse turf materials. Be sure to keep up with the construction progress by linking into […]

Read More…

Construction work to alter Metra Electric, South Shore service on upcoming weekends

CHICAGO — Metra Electric will face modified operations on for three of the next four weekends, while South Shore Line operations in to Chicago will also face disruptions on two weekends to accommodate construction work related to South Shore’s coming expansion of service. Plans for the service outages include: — On the weekends of Oct. […]

Read More…

First CSX train crosses Chicago’s Forest Hill Flyover, major CREATE project

Aerial view of intermodal train on rail bridge, with two diamond crossings visible at ground level

CHICAGO — One of the major pieces of Chicago’s CREATE program marked a milestone on Wednesday, Oct. 15, as the first CSX Transportation train crossed the Forest Hill Flyover on the city’s South Side. The new structure separates CSX’s main line from tracks used by Metra, the Belt Railway of Chicago, and Norfolk Southern. The […]

Read More…