Pittsburgh pursues grant to replace light rail equipment

Gray light rail trainset

PITTSBURGH — The city’s transit agency has applied for a $100 million federal grant as part of its process to replace its current fleet of light rail vehicles, the Pittsburgh Union Progress reports. Pittsburgh Regional Transit is looking to replace its entire 81-car fleet of 53 cars built by Siemens AG in the 1980s, with […]

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Toronto near deal to sell Scarborough RT cars to Detroit

Blue rail rapid transit train

TORONTO — Toronto’s transit agency is preparing to sell the rolling stock from its defunct Scarborough Rapid Transit line to Detroit, the CBC reports. The Detroit Transportation Corp. has approved purchasing the equipment and parts for up to $1 million and would also cover the transportation costs, DTC General Manager Robert Cramer told the CBC. […]

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Structural failure of railcar led to CN derailment in U.S.-Canada tunnel, TSB says

Photo of derailed bathtub gondola car in tunnel, with notations on damage.

RICHMOND HILL, Ontario — A structural failure in a bathtub gondola car led to the June 2019 derailment of a Canadian National train in the tunnel between Sarnia, Ontario, and Port Huron, Mich., the Transportation Safety Board of Canada said in a report released Monday, Dec. 18. A total of 45 cars and a distributed-power […]

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Lionel’s perfect postwar train set

vintage toy train catalog art

Lionel’s perfect postwar train set The perfect postwar Lionel train set should have a great locomotive, exciting and attractive pieces of rolling stock, and maybe an operating accessory. There would be plenty of track, too. Which engine and cars would you choose if you were able to assemble a perfect outfit from the post-World War […]

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Maryland’s MTA creates website for updates on Baltimore light rail shutdown

Yellow and white light rail trainsets in yard

BALTIMORE — The Maryland Transit Administration has launched a web page to provide information on the ongoing suspension of light rail service, shut down since Dec. 8 because of issues with the railcar fleet. The page, available here, includes maps on the shuttle bus operation that is replacing the light rail service, and will provide […]

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Lionel’s separate-sale items and accessories for 1959

four colorful model boxcars

Lionel’s separate-sale items and accessories for 1959 Readers of our article on Super O and O-27 outfits cataloged in 1959 (September 2009 issue) will remember that the company experienced some earth-shaking changes in 1959. The turmoil started at the top, as Joshua Lionel Cowen sold control to Roy Cohn, his great-nephew. This confounding move by […]

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New York comptroller finds half of recommendations for LIRR on M9 contract were not implemented

Long Island Rail Road train arrives at station

ALBANY, N.Y. — In a follow-up to a 2022 report, the New York Office of the State Comptroller found the cost of a Long Island Rail Road order for M9 electric multiple-unit railcars manufactured by Kawasaki has continued to increase, while half of the recommendations made by the Comptroller’s office in the original report have […]

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Lionel O gauge outfit No. 2227W from 1954

Catalog art of Lionel set no. 2227W

  For toy train collectors looking to up their game to include more and collectible pieces without breaking the bank, consider Lionel’s 2227W from 1954. Set No. 2227W, which had a retail price of $69.50 ($795 in 2023 dollars), relied on an iconic A-A combination of Santa Fe F3 diesels as its motive power. The […]

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Rapido Trains UK Titfield Thunderbolt deluxe train pack

A train set and packaging

Available at www.rapidotrains.co.uk in 10 road numbers and several paint schemes. List price: £399.95 (approximately $496.00 as of this writing) Item no. 922001 Pluses Accurate models of the equipment used in the 1953 Ealing Studios film, DCC sound fitted locomotive, detailed interiors, free-rolling metal wheels, NEM coupler pockets, 3D printed figures representing the actors Minuses […]

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Baltimore light rail line shut down indefinitely

Red, yellow, and white light rail trainset

BALTIMORE — The Maryland Transit Administration is halting service on its light rail line in Baltimore because of mechanical issues requiring immediate repairs, officials said at a Thursday press conference. The service suspension is effective today (Friday, Dec. 8) and will be in effect indefinitely. The Baltimore Sun reports that MTA Administrator Holly Arnold said […]

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FRA proposes amendments to freight car safety rules

Logo for Federal Railroad Administration

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration on Thursday announced a proposal to amend its Freight Car Safety Standards to place restrictions on newly built freight cars placed in service in the U.S. to address concerns over foreign parts and technology — rules essentially aimed at  China, although the regulation does not say so explicitly. The […]

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