A northbound Brightline train rolls into Fort Lauderdale on May 12, 2018. The service, rebranded as Virgin Trains USA, filed a prospectus for an initial public offering on Friday. Bob Johnston Brightline Smart Class passengers enjoy onboard snacks on May 12, 2018, after the company launched its service to Miami. Friday’s initial public offering provided […]
Amtrak’s westbound California Zephyr passes the Highlands Metra station in Hinsdale, Ill., on July 7, 2018. Amtrak’s operating loss decreased in fiscal 2018. TRAINS: David Lassen WASHINGTON — Amtrak CEO Richard Anderson said his company posted “the best performance in Amtrak history” after the passenger railroad announced an operating loss of $168 million in fiscal […]
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Amtrak will close its Southern California reservation call center, eliminating 550 jobs, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reported. The closure was announced in a Wednesday email to employees. Operations will end on Jan. 18, with sale of the building to follow. The message to employees said operations would be consolidated with those at Amtrak’s […]
MINNEAPOLIS – The Federal Transit Administration has approved plans for the Twin Cities Metropolitan Council to begin construction on the Southwest Light Rail project, which would be the third light rail line to serve the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. On Wednesday FTA granted the Council what is known as a Letter of No Prejudice, a critical […]
Atlas Master Line HO scale Pullman 10-1-1 sleeper Price: $64.95 (undecorated, $54.95) Manufacturer Atlas Model RR Co. 378 Florence Ave. Hillside, NJ 07205 www.atlasrr.com Era: 1930 to 1950s Road names: Pullman; Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Chicago & North Western; Norfolk & Western; Northern Pacific; Pennsylvania RR; Southern Pacific; and Union Pacific. Also available undecorated. Comments: […]
Murals inside a restored Cincinnati Union Terminal. The art deco train station will have a grand re-opening for the public on Saturday, Nov. 17. David T. Rohdenburg CINCINNATI — One of the best known railroad landmarks in the Midwest, Cincinnati’s grand art deco masterpiece, Union Terminal, is re-opening this week after a 30-month, $228-million restoration […]
An interior image of Buffalo Central Terminal’s partly restored main concourse. Stephan M. Koenig BUFFALO, N.Y. — The art deco castle of a depot has needs aplenty, but with thousands of square feet to speak for and only $5 million extra, leaders responsible for Buffalo Central Terminal are being careful about how to spend a […]
Grand Central Terminal Mitch Goldman NEW YORK CITY — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority wants to buy Grand Central Terminal. The MTA proposes purchasing the Hudson and Harlem Lines as well as Grand Central Terminal for $35 million from Midtown Trackage Ventures LLC. The MTA’s board of directors briefly discussed the possible deal in a regular […]
WASHINGTON – Maybe Amtrak loves the Southwest Chief after all. Despite the recent dust-up over creating a “bus bridge” between Kansas and New Mexico, the passenger railroad is featuring the train on its 2019 wall calendar. The calendar photo shows a nine-car westbound No. 3 passing red rock mesas at Mesita, N.M., on the Laguna […]
A streetcar tests on the streets of El Paso earlier this year. The city’s streetcar system, brought back after being shut down in 1974, opened on Friday. El Paso Streetcar via Facebook EL PASO, Texas — After offering limited free operation during its grand opening weekend, the 4.8-mile El Paso Streetcar system begins full operation […]
Passenger car end details were pretty standard and most followed the pattern used on sleeping cars built by the Pullman Co. The car in the photo is Crystal Point, a Pullman 3-compartment, 2-drawing-room, observation lounge assigned to the Milwaukee Road’s Olympian Hiawatha in 1947. A number of details are visible that appear on most cars […]
The westbound Canadian is running 15 hours late on Oct. 14, 2018, as it meets its eastbound counterpart in this shot from the eastbound train. VIA Rail Canada has again adjusted the 2019 Canadian, addressing sightseeing and intermediate-stop issues. Bob Johnston A comparison of VIA’s current and 2019 schedules for the Canadian (click to enlarge). […]
