In December 2022, near Tamaqua, Pa., it’s no surprise the Reading & Northern Santa Trains are big business! Of course, the Reading & Northern is no stranger to giving the public what they want. The railroad does a brisk business with these runs with its Lehigh Gorge Scenic railway operation, based out of Jim Thorpe, […]
BRADENTON, Fla. — Seven cars of a Seminole Gulf Railway train — two of them carrying propane — derailed this morning, Tuesday, Feb. 28, near Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, the Bradenton Herald reports. One of the propane cars was among six cars that ended up on their side; the other five cars were carrying sheetrock. The other […]
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — The City of Binghamton is moving to hire a firm to inspect at least 28 railroad bridges in the city, citing concerns increased by the recent Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. WBNG-TV reports that Mayor Jared Kraham said concerns about aesthetic and structural deficiencies predate the Feb. 3 derailment, but […]
VOLGA, W.Va. — Allegheny Metallurgical Coal, a new company to be served by both CSX Transportation and Appalachian & Ohio, moved its first train of high-grade metallurgical coal earlier this month. The company, located along U.S. Route 119 between Buckhannon, in Upshur County, and Philippi, in Barbour County, moved the first train Feb. 8. Its […]
SALT LAKE CITY — The company planning to build Uinta Basin Railway will seek $1.9 billion in private activity bonds to help finance construction of the 88-mile railroad in Utah, with the help of the government agency supporting the project, the Colorado Sun news site reports. Those funds would cover 70% of the cost of […]
Leaving Orbisonia, Pa., on a rainy day in February 2023, EBT steam locomotive No. 16 leads its first passenger train in nearly 67 years! To the delight of the East Broad Top Foundation, the new entity tasked with bringing this 2-8-2 back to life, No. 16 completed successful test runs in preparation for their Winter […]
LYONS, N.Y. — The board of supervisors in Wayne County, N.Y., is set to consider potential transfer of ownership of the county-owned rail lines operated by the Ontario Midland Railroad at a meeting today (Thursday, Feb. 23), the Finger Lakes Times reports. The county owns 52 miles of rail line in two segments that are […]
Newly restored Santa Maria Valley 2-6-2 number 205 is under steam at the Albany and Eastern Railroad shops as the crew readies the locomotive for a photo charter the following day. We’ll follow the 205 as she is pressed into revenue freight service for a day, March 17, 2022. The Albany and Eastern operates 64 […]
PORT CLINTON, Pa. — Reading & Northern will expand its passenger excursion operations in May, launching regular weekend operations between the new Wilkes Barre-Scranton Regional Station in Pittston, Pa., and Jim Thorpe, Pa. The all-day, round-trip excursions will depart Pittston at 9 a.m., making intermediate stops at Penobscot (Mountain Top) and White Haven en route […]
OLIVE TOWNSHIP, Mich. — The Friends of the Coopersville & Marne Railway Co., a non-profit heritage rail operation, on Monday accepted the donation a GE 125-ton center cab diesel locomotive from Michigan power company Consumers Energy at its West Olive facility Built in 1979, the locomotive was repowered in approximately 2010 with two 600-hp Caterpillar […]
PARADISE, Pa. — The nation’s oldest short line, the 4½-mile-long Strasburg Rail Road in southeast Pennsylvania, last week opened a $3.3 million, six-track yard to handle its growing freight business. Situated at Leaman Place Junction along Amtrak’s double-track electrified Keystone Corridor, the 7-acre site and interchange lies just off U.S. 30, the Lincoln Highway. Freight […]
RICHLAND, Wash. — The Port of Benton has hired Washington short line operator Columbia Rail to operate the 16-mile railroad at the industrial facilities on land that once hosted the Manhattan Project nuclear weapon program. The Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business reports that the port commission has approved a 24-month agreement under which Columbia Rail […]
