News photos: CN marks 30th anniversary of privatization

Ten people standing in front of red CN banner with confetti falling

Canadian National Railway celebrated the 30th anniversary of its privatization on Tuesday (Nov. 17), with CEO Tracy Robinson and Shauneen Bruder, chair of the railroad’s board of directors, marking the event by ringing the opening bell at the Toronto Stock Exchange and the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange. CN raised Ca$2.25 billion […]

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The Erie’s Otisville tunnel

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The concrete west portal of Erie’s Otisville (N.Y.) tunnel — from which a Berkshire-powered freight emerges — is fairly simple, but with pilasters and the inscription “19–OTISVILLE–08” in embossed lettering overhead. Note the early installation of welded rail on the eastward track. Wayne Brumbaugh photo […]

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Train Guys Christmas Toy Train exhibit dates set for 2025

section of colorful layout

The Elizabethtown Public Library in Elizabethtown, Pa. has announced dates and times for the popular annual Train Guys Christmas Toy Train exhibit.  The display is 65 feet long by 18 feet wide and capable of running 20 trains simultaneously. It features 53 pushbuttons on the display’s perimeter, where visitors can activate trains and accessories. New […]

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SEPTA meets deadline for Silverliner IV inspections

Men working on roof of railcar

PHILADELPHIA — The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority has completed inspections of its Silverliner IV electric multiple-unit railcars, the agency says, but the amount of Regional Rail equipment available will remain significantly constrained until cars can be repaired. SEPTA originally faced an Oct. 31 deadline for inspection of the 233-car fleet following a series of fires, […]

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Chessie System freight at Keystone Viaduct

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An SD40 and GP9 hold back a westbound freight as they descend Sand Patch Grade a couple of miles west of Sand Patch, Pa., on the former Baltimore & Ohio. The bridge overhead carried the Western Maryland main line, which was rendered redundant when B&O and WM came under common Chessie System control. David Dudjak […]

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Owner of masonry firm receives more than seven-year sentence in Amtrak bribery case

Aerial view of large railroad station next to river

PHILADELPHIA — The owner of an Indiana masonry firm has been sentenced to 7½ years in prison for his part in a long-running case involving bribery and fraud in the renovation of Amtrak’s 30th Street Station in Philadelphia. Mark Snedden, 70, of Munster, Ind., was sentenced on Oct. 1 to 90 months in prison, a […]

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News photos: Reading & Northern introduces Semiquincentennial unit

Overhead view of red, white, and blue locomotive

PORT CLINTON, Pa. — The Reading & Northern Railroad has repainted one of its locomotives to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026. SD40-2 No. 3061, repainted and renumbered to No. 1776, was unveiled on Nov. 11, Veterans’ Day. The flag-based scheme, with its red-and-white striped long hood, blue cab, and 13 stars […]

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SEPTA cancellations to continue through Friday

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority logo

PHILADELPHIA — Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority Regional Rail service continues to be hammered by the effects of inspections of its Silverliner IV railcars, with the agency announcing plans to cancel 22 trains both today (Thursday, Nov. 13) and Friday, Nov. 14. The same trains will have been cancelled all five days this week. Set for […]

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NJ Transit board improves $917 million program to overhaul railcars

Electric locomotive with bilevel commuter cars

NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit will overhaul its existing fleet of 429 Multilevel railcars under a $917 million program approved today (Nov. 12, 2025) by the agency’s board of directors. The oldest of the Multilevel I and II cars, built by Bombardier, date to 2006. They will eventually be joined by 374 Multilevel III cars […]

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Cutover of Portal North Bridge could require six weeks of rail disruptions

View of bridge under construction with tugboat in foreground

KEARNY, N.J. — The cutover of traffic to the new Portal North Bridge on the Northeast Corridor in early 2026 could disrupt Amtrak and NJ Transit traffic for up to six weeks, according to NorthJersey.com. Some trains could be canceled or rerouted during that period. NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri said plans are being finalized […]

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News photos: Metro-North introduces locomotive honoring veterans (updated)

Red, white, and blue locomotive with labels for all branches of U.S. Armed Forces

NORTH WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.  — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Metro-North Railroad has introduced the eighth in its series of heritage locomotives, wrapping P32AC-DM No. 216 to honor U.S. veterans. The locomotive will be on display at Grand Central Terminal on Tuesday, Nov. 11 — Veterans Day — and Wednesday, Nov. 12. It will enter service […]

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SEPTA Regional Rail cancellations increase as Silverliner inspections continue

Electric multiple-unit railcars in shop building

PHILADELPHIA — The ongoing inspection process for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s fleet of Silverliner IV electrical multiple-unit cars has led to a significant increase in train cancellations as of today (Nov. 10, 2025). A SEPTA message posted on Sunday says Regional Rail service is “running with extremely limited vehicle availability” because of the inspections, […]

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