The E units from Burlington Route train 29, the Fast Mail from Chicago, prepare to couple to a baggage express car after setting out other cars at Council Bluffs. The steam and signal lines made it more time-consuming to switch head-end equipment. Wallace W. Abbey photo […]
WASHINGTON — The former head of Pennsylvania’s Republican Party has been nominated by President Donald Trump to fill the last remaining vacancy on Amtrak’s board of directors. But unlike those Trump advanced during his first term, this nominee has been actively involved in pushing for increased Amtrak service from an area the passenger operator currently […]
CHICAGO — Last year’s completion of the South Shore Line Double Track project — adding a second main line between Gary and Michigan City, Ind. — was a milestone that allowed the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District to significantly increase service and cut travel times. But the launch of those massively revamped operations did not […]
CHICAGO — Metra is having “great luck” with its fleet of SD70MACH locomotives, Chief Operating Officer Kevin McCann told the Sandhouse Rail Group today (Wednesday, March 12, 2025). McCann and Chief Engineering Officer Scott Schiemann updated those attending the Northwestern University Transportation Center event at Metra headquarters on a wide variety of projects and initiatives […]
CHICAGO — For most of Wednesday’s annual presentation to Northwestern University’s Sandhouse Rail Group, representatives of Metra and Northern Indiana Commuter Rail District, or South Shore Line, were able to highlight a string of positive accomplishments and coming attractions. But the tone changed dramatically as the session at Metra headquarters wound down, as someone asked […]
NEW YORK — Yet another proposal has emerged for New York’s Penn Station, this one calling for relocation of Madison Square Garden to allow for expansion of the station and creation of a major train hall and park. The New York Times reports the plan from the Grand Penn Community Alliance would build a new […]
CHICAGO — Metra has begun a rider survey over renaming its lines from their current names — which largely are derived from their historic operators — to one of two alphanumeric systems, one of which also uses color coding to a significant degree. The move is spurred by Metra’s upcoming operational takeover of the three […]
The City of Miami was a vibrant orange and palm green streamliner of the Illinois Central Railroad. Operating between 1940 and 1971, the train provided service from Chicago to Miami, and was powered by a single EMD E6 diesel locomotive. The first jaw-dropping feature of Lionel’s latest rendition of the set isn’t the locomotive itself, […]
OTTAWA, Ontario — Jonathan Goldbloom, a member of the VIA Rail Canada board since 2017, has been named as VIA’s board chairman effective April 12, 2025. Goldbloom’s five-year appointment as chairman was announced on Saturday, March 8, by Minister of Transport at Internal Trade Anita Anand. Goldbloom, of Montreal, is a partner at Avenue Strategic […]
SAN JOSE, Calif. — A strike by members of the Amalgamated Transit Union has shut down the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority as of 12:01 a.m. today (March 10). The union, which represents 1,500 VTA employees, including light rail and bus operators, dispatchers, and maintenance staff, had announced its intent to strike last week [see […]
NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen have reached tentative agreement on a new contract for the transit agency’s engineers, which could end a long-running dispute and avert a potential strike later this month. NorthJersey.com reports the deal was reached on Thursday, March 6, but it was announced today […]
To make their future construction efforts a bit easier, David and Bryson work to install the backdrop for the East Troy Industrial Park (ETIP) model railroad now! Don’t miss their tips and tricks for keeping this essential, scene-setting hardboard component in place along the back of the entire layout. Be sure to keep up with […]
