Western Maryland Scenic No. 1309 set to return to operation in May

Steam locomotive under large cloud of smoke and steam

CUMBERLAND, Md. — Western Maryland Scenic Railroad 2-6-6-2 No. 1309 is slated to return to operation beginning May 3, powering “Frostburg Flyer” excursions on Saturday and Sundays, the railroad said in an email to customers on Tuesday (April 8, 2025). Plans also call for the locomotive, built by Baldwin in 1949 for the Chesapeake & […]

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Rinaldi, former Metro-North president, joins Gateway Development Commission

Woman at office desk

NEW YORK — Catherine Rinaldi, who retired at the end of March as president of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Metro-North Railroad, did not take long to return to a position in public transportation. Rinaldi was named Monday (April 7, 2025) as the first executive vice president for the Gateway Development Commission, the agency overseeing the […]

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Groundbreaking marks start of construction of new East Broad Top station at Saltillo (updated)

Four men digging into grass with shovels at groundbreaking event

SALTILLO, Pa. — The Friends of the East Broad Top and EBT Foundation broke ground today (April 5, 2025) for a new station at Saltillo, which will be virtually identical to the structure built in 1892 and torn down in 2004 after nearly 50 years of disuse. The project is part of the two organizations’ […]

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Truck driver cited in collision that derailed CSX train

CSX logo

FRIEDENS, Pa. — A truck driver whose vehicle struck and derailed a CSX train at a grade crossing has been cited by Pennsylvania state police for his role in March 10 accident. Bradley Mahan, 43, of Johnstown, Pa., was charged with driving at an unsafe speed, the Somerset Daily American reports. The accident report says […]

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Examination of Horizon corrosion issues continue: Analysis

Going-away shot of passenger train with two smooth-sided coaches in foreground

KANONA, N.Y. — Whether any of Amtrak’s 70-car Horizon fleet can ever return to active duty is still to be determined following extensive examination of ten vehicles at carbuilder Alstom’s 130,000-square-foot inspection and overhaul facility at Kanona in upstate New York. Meanwhile, the rapid deployment of Northeast Corridor Amfleet equipment to the Pacific Northwest means […]

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BNSF and NS team up with Pacific Northwest ports for faster intermodal service

intermodal train approaches curve with bluffs as backdrop

BNSF Railway, Norfolk Southern, and the Northwest Seaport Alliance have teamed up to offer faster international intermodal service to inland points from the ports in Seattle and Tacoma. The new service, they announced yesterday, will cut three days from existing transit times for traffic from the Pacific Northwest destined to and through Chicago. Port terminals […]

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New map introduced for New York City subways

Schematic-style subway map for New York City

NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has unveiled a redesigned version of its subway map, an instantly recognizable symbol of New York City and its transportation. The new design, the first since 1979, offers a more stylized, diagrammatic style than the more geographically accurate current version. The MTA says the white background, bold colors, […]

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Specially wrapped locomotive part of NJ Transit observance of Autism Acceptance Month

Blue electric locomotive with multicolored infinity sign on front and sides

NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit is recognizing Autism Acceptance month with events including wrapping one of its locomotives to promote acceptance, and featuring station announcements recorded by neurodiverse children. “NJ Transit is committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming transit system that reflects the diverse communities we serve,” NJ Transit Board Chair Fran O’Connor said […]

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Overnight dreams — Lunatrain targets the Northeast: Analysis

Rendering of one-person sleeping compartment on train

Second of two parts Two companies, Dreamstar Lines and Lunatrain, are seeking to revive U.S. interest in overnight train travel, noting the resurgence of such trips in Europe. Part one of this analysis (available here) looked at Dreamstar, which is focused on service between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Today, part two looks at Lunatrain, […]

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B&O Museum puts spotlight back on American Freedom Train 1

Red, white, and blue steam locomotive with flags in front of towering passenger station

Has any class of homebuilt, remanufactured mainline steam locomotive ever performed as brilliantly as the Reading T-1 4-8-4? Given the long lives of four from its illustrious class of 30 engines, I’d say no. I came to this conclusion during a recent visit to the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum, which has announced that ex-RDG […]

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Alstom signs seven-year contract extension for JFK AirTrain

Automated train on elevated right-of-way

NEW YORK — Alstom has signed a seven-year contract extension to continue to operate and maintain the AirTrain at New York’s JFK International Airport, the company announced. The contract with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is worth approximately $518 million. Alstom designed and built the AirTrain system and has been operating […]

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The 122-year-old Fore River RR thrives in Massachusetts

A black diesel locomotive surrounded by industrial buildings

The Fore River Railroad, a 2.5-mile short line in Quincy, Massachusetts, has defied the odds by surviving and thriving for 122 years. Originally established in 1903 to serve a new shipyard, the railroad was formally incorporated in 1919. Despite the shipyard’s closure in 1986, the Fore River Railroad continues to operate, thanks to a combination […]

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