CHICAGO — One of the last industries still receiving freight rail service in downtown Chicago — and one that gave its neighborhood a distinct aroma — is calling it quits. Blommer Chocolate will close its factory at 600 W. Kinzie Street at the end of May because of the increasing costs of running a facility […]
CHICAGO — Amtrak will operate modified schedules for two Illinois Service trains to allow passengers to better view the solar eclipse coming up on April 8, the passenger operator has announced. On that day, Saluki train No. 391 will depart Chicago earlier, at 6:35 a.m., arriving at Carbondale, Ill., at 12:05 p.m. to reach the […]
CHICAGO — BNSF Railway CEO Katie Farmer and Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena are among those scheduled to speak at the annual meeting of the North American Rail Shippers, set for April 30-May 2 in Chicago. The meeting will be held at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk hotel, 301 E. North Water Street, and is […]
BARTLETT, Ill. — Canadian National’s business train makes a stop at Spaulding Junction in Chicago’s western suburbs to board officials and invited guests during a trip on Wednesday, March 20. The train was led by Wabtec AC44C6M No. 3309, the locomotive featuring the revived steam-era “wafer” logo [see “Canadian National revives …,” Trains News Wire, […]
Tucked away in a drawer, I discovered a “Model Railroad Equipment Buyer’s Guide 1965-66” booklet, published by Kalmbach Publishing. It contained a variety of books, tools, and yes, model trains. While the majority of the booklet focused on HO scale trains, page seven was a surprise. It contains several American Flyer train sets and scenic […]
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth (both D-Ill.) met with Canadian National Railway CEO Tracy Robinson on Tuesday to discuss the railroad’s involvement in the Chicago Hub Improvement Program, the plan to modernize Chicago Union Station and rail routes leading to the station. U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Chicago) also participated in the […]
CHICAGO — Passengers who drifted in to the westbound California Zephyr’s crowded Sightseer Lounge leaving Chicago on Tuesday found themselves in the middle of an Amtrak-sponsored onboard event commemorating the first runs of the original Burlington-Rio Grande-Western Pacific streamliner on March 20, 1949. They were treated to an informative lecture by Thomas Whitt, director and […]
PRINCETON, Ill. — Amtrak marked the 75th anniversary of the launch of the California Zephyr today (Tuesday, March 19) with ceremonies in Chicago, Princeton, and Galesburg, Ill., as well as onboard today’s westbound departure from Chicago. In Princeton, at least 50 people were on hand when the train arrived to sing “Happy Anniversary” for the […]
Pacifics and passenger diesels mingle outside Chicago & North Western’s Chicago Passenger Terminal during the afternoon rush hour in the early 1950s. Wallace W. Abbey photo […]
CINCINNATI — The city of Cincinnati’s sale of the Cincinnati Southern Railway to Norfolk Southern has been completed. Paul Muething, president of the Cincinnati Southern board of trustees, said in a statement available on the railway website that the board received the $1.6 billion payment from NS, plus $20 million in deferred transaction fees, on […]
WOODSTOCK, Ill. — Metra will hold an open house meeting in Woodstock on Thursday, March 21, to discuss plans for a new layover yard for the Union Pacific Northwest Line planned near the community in McHenry County, The meeting will be Thursday, March 21, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Woodstock Opera House […]
LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Department of Transportation has awarded $5 million to CSX Transportation to upgrade the railroad’s Detroit Livernois Intermodal Facility, the agency announced today (Friday, March 15). Improvements will include paving what is currently a dirt and gravel yard, which will help limit dust blown into surrounding neighborhoods. CSX is contributing $6.7 […]
