California to fund improvements for ‘San Joaquins’, ACE, ‘Pacific Surfliner’ NEWSWIRE

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A southbound Pacific Surfliner nears the end of its trip to San Diego on Jan. 6, 2016. TRAINS: David Lassen SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The state of California has announced grants to help improve and expand passenger rail service to Sacramento, and on Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service between San Diego and San Luis Obispo, Calif. The Valley […]

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Amtrak to eliminate 15 station agents on long-distance routes NEWSWIRE

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The Crescent stops at Meridian, Miss., a station that is about to lose its agent. Bob Johnston WASHINGTON — In another cost-cutting move, “made jointly by the operating divisions and the Long Distance Service Line,” says spokesman Marc Magliari, Amtrak will eliminate ticket agents at 15 stations serving seven long distance routes as early as […]

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Altamont Corridor Express orders Charger locomotives NEWSWIRE

Charger_Milwaukee_Lassen

A Siemens Charger locomotive leads a northbound Amtrak Hiawatha into Milwaukee. Altamont Corridor Express has become the latest agency to order Chargers. TRAINS: David Lassen STOCKTON, Calif. — The San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission has ordered four Siemens Charger locomotives for use on the Altamont Corridor Express commuter service. The first of the locomotives, to […]

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New station approved for Metra’s UP Northwest line NEWSWIRE

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CARY, Ill. — Metra’s board has approved plans for a new station for this community on the commuter railroad’s Union Pacific Northwest Line, the Chicago Tribune reports. The new station will solve a long-standing flaw with the building it will replace. Currently, the station is on the opposite side of the tracks from where passengers […]

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Trains Presents: Inside Brightline’s new trains

Man in a bright yellow vest walking down the aisle inside of a passenger car

Join us at Brightline’s Workshop B in West Palm Beach, Fla., for a look inside one of its new Siemens-built passenger trains. You’ll tour the cab and the engine room, and see the coaches before the first paying passenger ever stepped on board! Only from Trains Magazine! Read more about Brightline from passenger correspondent Bob […]

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Trains Presents: Inside Brightline’s new trains

Man in a bright yellow vest walking down the aisle inside of a passenger car

Join us at Brightline’s Workshop B in West Palm Beach, Fla., for a look inside one of its new Siemens-built passenger trains. You’ll tour the cab and the engine room, and see the coaches before the first paying passenger ever stepped on board! Only from Trains Magazine! Read more about Brightline from passenger correspondent Bob […]

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Private car owners disappointed by new Amtrak policies NEWSWIRE

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Private cars bring up the rear on the westbound California Zephyr at Hinsdale, Ill. TRAINS: David Lassen WASHINGTON — Some private car owners say Amtrak’s new tariff rates and restrictions will make business more challenging and expensive, but at least they now have a written policy to work with. Amtrak announced an increase in tariffs […]

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Metra details $85 million in improvements for 2018 NEWSWIRE

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CHICAGO — Thirty stations will be improved, 92,000 railroad ties will be replaced and 15 bridges will be rehabbed as part of Metra’s 2018 construction program, the commuter rail agency has announced. All total, nearly $85 million has been allocated for the program covering Metra’s 11 lines serving northeast Illinois, with work beginning this month […]

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Custom HO scale Aerotrain – 1950s movie and how it was made

Model of aerotrain locomotive

A 1950s-style documentary of my HO scale Aerotrain locomotive and observation car. Now a fully DCC and sound operational locomotive, it started out as a 1960s Bowser “toy” shell. Except for the shell, all parts came from other HO and O gauge part sources and many were custom made. Though not my best work at […]

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Custom HO scale Aerotrain – 1950s movie and how it was made

Model of aerotrain locomotive

A 1950s-style documentary of my HO scale Aerotrain locomotive and observation car. Now a fully DCC and sound operational locomotive, it started out as a 1960s Bowser “toy” shell. Except for the shell, all parts came from other HO and O gauge part sources and many were custom made. Though not my best work at […]

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Updated: Cold-meal service coming to ‘Capitol,’ ‘Lake Shore Limited’ NEWSWIRE

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The westbound Capitol Limited passes through Goshen, Ind., on March 24, 2018. The train is one of two which will offer cold-meal service for sleeping car passengers beginning June 1. TRAINS: David Lassen WASHINGTON — For sleeping car passengers on two Amtrak routes between Chicago and the East Coast, it appears dining innovation is a […]

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UPDATED: New Amtrak guidelines add details on private-car, special-train moves NEWSWIRE

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Two private cars bring up the rear on the westbound California Zephyr at Hinsdale, Ill, on June 24, 2016. TRAINS: David Lassen WASHINGTON — New Amtrak guidelines on special trains and private cars issued Wednesday provide a few exceptions from its original plan — to only allow private car moves between a train’s originating and […]

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