WASHINGTON — Anything can, and generally does, happen to impede trains on Amtrak’s network. On Sunday, Nov. 17, for instance, Norfolk Southern emergency repairs to an elderly drawbridge south of Chicago delayed the Miami-bound Floridian (and two trains headed to Michigan) more than 2 hours, 20 minutes. The setback was typical of timekeeping hiccups the […]
SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — Registration is now open for the 2025 Winter Meeting of the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers, which is scheduled to include BNSF Railway CEO Katie Farmer and Surface Transportation Board Chairman Robert E. Primus as featured speakers. The event moves this year from its longtime home in Lombard, Ill., to a new […]
Minneapolis & St. Louis GE 44-tonner 149 stands beside the weathered depot at Roland, Iowa, (population 700) in September 1950. William F. Armstrong photo […]
Illinois Terminal locomotives included steam, electric, and diesel over its existence. The Illinois Terminal was an electric interurban line serving western Illinois down to the St. Louis area. In the mid-1950s the railroad abandoned its electric operations, moving to all-diesel operation — the last steam ran in 1950, and dieselization had begun with […]
DeKALB, Ill. — The DeKalb City Council has authorized a state grant to pay for a new study on extending Metra service to the city, Shaw News reports. The $400,000 technical assistance grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation will build on an earlier feasibility study completed in 2023 that addressed financial benefits and potential […]
WASHINGTON — Three projects with a rail component were among 31 port improvement projects receiving a total of $580 million from the Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration in grant awards announced today (Friday, Nov. 15). Funding comes from the Port Infrastructure Development Program, which received $2.25 billion under the Bipartisan Infrastruture Law. “Modernizing America’s port […]
WASHINGTON — Short line railroads across the United States will be able to lay more welded rail, replace more crossties, add sidings and build bridges as a result of $2.4 billion in funding through the Federal Railroad Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety (CRISI) grant program for fiscal years 2023-2024 [see “FRA awards $2.4 billion […]
Locomotives in the scrapyard Sitting switchers The switcher is a rapidly-dying species on American railroads. Pushed out of yard duties on the Class I railroads by demoted road units (like ex-BNSF No. 2224, at top), they soon became most noticeable on industrial sites, switching cars for grain elevators and warehouse complexes. However, the proliferation of […]
CHICAGO — Metra’s board of directors on Wednesday approved a $1.135 billion operating budget that maintains current fares, as well as a $366.4 million capital spending plan to continue improvements to bridges, stations, and rolling stock. The budget, about 4.1% higher than that for 2024, includes projections that ridership will increase by about 7%. It […]
OWOSSO, Mich. — The norm for most operating steam locomotives around this time is to call it a season and begin receiving routine maintenance in preparation for the new year. For Pere Marquette 2-8-4 No. 1225, the Berkshire-type is still in the midst of its 2024 season, having completed fall excursions in late October and […]
Facts and features Name: Milwaukee, Racine & TroyScale: HO (1:87.1)Size: 28′-3″ x 54′-9″Prototype: freelanced bridge lineLocale: southeastern WisconsinEra: 1980s and 1990sStyle: walk-inMainline run: approximately 200 feetMinimum radius: 36″Minimum turnout: No. 6 (main), No. 4 (spurs)Maximum grade: 3% eastbound, 1.5% westbound (5.5% on ramp)Benchwork: 1 x 4 open gridHeight: 493∕4” to 671∕2“Roadbed: cork on 3∕4” plywoodTrack: […]
CHICAGO — On Sunday, Nov. 10, the first “official” Floridians departed from Chicago and Miami, ushering in some noteworthy — if not all positive — changes to Amtrak’s intercity rail network east of Chicago. After one day, it remains to be seen whether operational issues can be rectified to keep the reconstituted 1,944-mile service close […]
