Norfolk & Western No. 611 debuts for 2023

Two steam locomotives sitting side by side.

STRASBURG, Pa. — Norfolk & Western steam locomotive No. 611 debuted for its 2023 operating season last weekend with a series of events and excursions on the Strasburg Rail Road. The J-class 4-8-4 returned to the tourist railroad earlier this month after spending the beginning of the year as an exhibit at the next-door Railroad […]

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Maine legislature seeks to end confidentiality for rail shipment of hazardous materials

Derailed locomotives and freight cars

AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Legislature is considering a bill that would repeal an earlier act that created confidentiality for information about hazardous material transported on railroads. LD1937, sponsored by House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross (D-Portland) and co-sponsored by Sen. Richard A. Bennett (R-Portland), would repeal the bill passed in 2015. The Bangor Daily News, […]

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News photos: A PA arrives in Pa. (updated)

Blue and white locomotive with four gray and white diesels

SCRANTON, Pa. — Alco PA Nickel Plate 190 has arrived at its new home. Completing its cross-country journey from Portland, Ore., the locomotive is now in Scranton, handed over to new owner Genesee Valley Transportation by Norfolk Southern this evening. GVT and the Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad will restore the locomotive, which has an operable prime mover […]

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Genesee Valley Transportation provides viewing area for PA’s arrival

Men shaking hands in front of blue and white diesel locomotive

SCRANTON, Pa. — Genesee Valley Transportation and the Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad plan to provide a public viewing area for the arrival of Alco PA Nickel Plate 190, scheduled for today (Friday, May 19). GTV posted Thursday on its Facebook Page that the locomotive is expected to arrive about 5:30 p.m. and the viewing area will be […]

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Reading & Northern donates to Pittston, Pa., revitalization effort

Reading and Northern logo

PORT CLINTON, Pa. — The Reading & Northern Railroad will donate $10,000 to the Downtown Pittston Partnership, a nonprofit group advancing the revitalization of downtown Pittston, Pa., the railroad has announced. “I would like to thank the owners [the Muller family] and administration of the Reading & Northern Railroad for not only their significant capital […]

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New York MTA releases report on fare evasion, considers response

Two men looking at transit turnstile

NEW YORK — New subway fare gates and revised policies regarding activation of e-tickets on commuter trains are among proposals to address fare evasion across the Metropolitan Transportation Authority system, a problem estimated to have cost the MTA some $690 million in 2022. Those proposals come from a report included in the Final Report of […]

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The Virginia & Western Tidewater District layout in HO scale

An image of a model railroad trackplan

Facts & features Name: Virginia & Western RR, Tidewater DistrictScale: HO (1:87.1)Size: 1′-3″ x 17′-0″Theme: Waterfront industrial districtLocale: Mid-Atlantic tidewaterEra: 1948-54Style: ShelfMainline run: NoneMinimum radius: Cosmetic curvesMinimum turnout: No. 5Maximum grade: NoneBenchwork: Plywood on shelf bracketsHeight: 44″Roadbed: CorkTrack: Handlaid code 70Scenery: tabletopBackdrop: Painted 1⁄4″ plywoodControl: Digitrax DCC Download a PDF of this track plan! Buy […]

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Going big: the MTH Premier SD24

MTH Premier SD24 side view of cab with crew figure

The MTH Premier SD24 is a massive model of a historic locomotive more widely used than its initial owners list would indicate. Many units found second and third lives on other railroads after their initial stints. Like all of MTH’s newer offerings this wasn’t in a catalog. Instead, it was announced in 2022 as a […]

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Alco PA to be publicly displayed at Steamtown

Blue and white vintage diesel locomotive

SCRANTON, Pa. — Genesee Valley Transportation’s historic American Locomotive Co. PA-model “Nickel Plate Road 190” locomotive will be temporarily displayed at Steamtown National Historic Site after its long-anticipated arrival from the West Coast, according to GVT President Michael D.  Thomas. Over the weekend, National Park Service staff and Steamtown volunteers repositioned GVT’s Lackawanna No. 426, […]

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Registration opens for first courses at transportation organization’s North American Regional Training Center

Logo of the International Association of Public Transportation

NEWARK, N.J. — Registration has now opened for the first courses to be offered by the International Association of Public Transportation’s North American Regional Training Center. The training center is a partnership of the association, UITP; NJ Transit; and Rutgers University’s Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation, or CAIT, with classes to be held at […]

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