MARS notebook: CPKC’s blending of cultures

Man at podium

LOMBARD, Ill. — One final batch of notes from this week’s Midwest Association of Rail Shippers Winter Meeting, marking the organization’s 100th anniversary: Blending cultures Merging railroads can be difficult, simply as a matter of blending cultures. The Penn Central merger famously was hindered by the clashing views of longtime competitors Pennsylvania and New York […]

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News photo: Short line diesel’s paint scheme salutes Conrail

Blue switch engine reflected in water

GRANITE CITY, Ill. — Port Harbor Railroad SW1200 No. 9335 sits gleaming in fresh paint — a scheme reminiscent of its former Conrail livery — at America’s Central Port in Granite City on Wednesday, Jan. 10. The switcher was built by EMD in November 1957 for the Pennsylvania Railroad, went to Penn Central in 1968 […]

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CEOs believe conditions are better as next round of labor negotiations approach

Man in black coat and white shirt gesturing while speaking

LOMBARD, Ill. — A lot has happened since Class I railroads averted a strike in 2022. CEOs and other officials at the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers Winter Meeting were happy to point to progress in labor relations. Which is good, because — believe it or not — the whole national contract process is about […]

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Spaces to Places V | Planning a dramatic highway underpass, part 1

Gerry Leone’s Spaces to Places rolls on! He’s back to build out yet another section of his Bona Vista HO scale model railroad. But first he shares quick insights on how he finished of a small portion of scenery just outside the city limits of Westcott. Then he’s ‘Back on Track’ for laying down the rails […]

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Spaces to Places V | Planning a dramatic highway underpass, part 1

Gerry Leone’s Spaces to Places rolls on! He’s back to build out yet another section of his Bona Vista HO scale model railroad. But first he shares quick insights on how he finished of a small portion of scenery just outside the city limits of Westcott. Then he’s ‘Back on Track’ for laying down the rails […]

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MARS notebook: Dealing with the border

Woman at podium with Midwest Association of Rail Shippers banner in background

LOMBARD, Ill. — Notes from Day 1 of the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers Winter Meeting: Border battle Union Pacific found itself involved in headlines not of its own making in December when U.S. Customs and Border Protection shut down border rail gateways at Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas, quickly throwing U.S-Mexico rail traffic […]

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Amtrak announces another round of weather cancellations (corrected)

Passenger train leaves rooster tail of snow as it runs on three-track main line

CHICAGO — Amtrak has announced a significant number of cancellations beginning Thursday, Jan. 11, for long-distance and state-supported trains serving Chicago in anticipation of a major winter storm expected to hit the Midwest Friday and Saturday. The majority of cancellations are Friday and Saturday. Also affected are St. Louis-Kansas City trains and, on the West […]

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Amtrak thins out Northeast departures in response to winter storm forecast

Passenger train with electric locomotive on curve

WASHINGTON — As the next mix of high winds, rain, and snow moved up the East Coast, Amtrak cancelled frequencies for trains departing late today (Tuesday, Jan. 9) and early Wednesday but managed to preserve some service on all Northeast routes. This was the same scenario the company used earlier in the week when some […]

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Amtrak announces service changes, cancellations in advance of winter storm forecasts

Diesel with front caked with snow crosses diamond

NEW YORK — Amtrak has cancelled or modified service for a number of trains in the Northeast beginning on Saturday, and taken similar steps for services in and around the Midwest beginning Sunday, according to a service advisory posted this evening (Friday, Jan. 5) on the Amtrak website and the Amtrak Alerts feed on social […]

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Trains.com Video BONUS | Behind Spaces and Places

Master Model Railroader Gerry Leone has been one of Trains.com’s most recognized and most prolific contributors for many years running. From the pages of various Model Railroader magazines, special-issues, and books, to the numerous video series he’s hosted for Model Railroader Video Plus, Trains.com, Trains.com Video, and Model Railroader DVDs, you’ll find he’s all about […]

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