EnterTRAINment Junction: Remembering a Legendary Layout

Colorful large-scale steam train passes by a depot

Original article published in Garden Railway’s Dec. 2019 issue by Bill Mefford; edited and updated for Trains.com by Lucas Iverson. For many model railroaders and garden railway enthusiasts, a trip to the Greater Cincinnati Tri-State area was on the bucket list. That’s because it was the home to EnterTRAINment Junction, which boasted the biggest indoor […]

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Florida’s SunRail moves to local funding

Commuter train at station

ORLANDO — The SunRail commuter service, funded and operated by Florida’s Department of Transportation since its opening in 2014, is locally funded as of Jan. 1. Spectrum News reports the local members of the governing Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission — Volusia, Seminole, Orange, and Osceola counties, and the city of Orlando — authorized the […]

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Columbia, S.C., receives federal funding for grade-separation project

Aerial view of downtown Columbia, S.C.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The city of Columbia will receive $204 million in federal funding for a downtown grade-crossing separation project, the Columbia Post & Courier reports. The newspaper was informed of the grant by U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.). The funding will be used to eliminate grade crossings on Assembly Street, a major downtown thoroughfare […]

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Exhibition of paintings, photos by longtime Trains contributor Ron Flanary is set

Painting of passenger train with steam locomotive

BIG STONE GAP, Va. – A  three-week exhibition of railroad watercolors and photographs by author and Trains contributor Ron Flanary is scheduled to begin Jan. 17 on the campus of Mountain Empire Community College. Titled “The Tracks of my Years,” the display of 30 pieces consists of about two-thirds photos and one-third paintings, all made […]

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Amtrak announces more storm cancellations, West Coast disruptions for track work (additional update)

Passenger train on curve

WASHINGTON — Amtrak has announced a new set of weather-related train cancellations, this time in connection with a storm expected to hit Texas and the South beginning tonight (Wednesday, Jan. 8). A relatively small number of trains today through Friday, Jan. 10, are affected. On the Pacific Coast, Coast Starlight and Pacific Surfliner cancellations are […]

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CSX coal train derails in Virginia (updated)

CSX logo

BREMO BLUFF, Va. — No injuries have been reported after a derailment involving a CSX coal train early today (Jan. 7, 2025), the Fluvanna County Sheriff’s Office reported. The sheriff’s office said in a press release that “multiple cars” have overturned in the incident reported at approximately 4:53 a.m. Also responding were the Fluvanna Volunteer […]

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Amtrak Gulf Coast service to receive $21 million grant (updated)

Man speaking to crowd in front of Amtrak train

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration will award a $21.1 million grant for the return of Amtrak Gulf Coast service, U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) announced today (Jan. 6, 2025). The funding will support operating costs for the planned twice-daily round trips between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala. Funds will come from the FRA’s Restoration […]

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Railroads open 2025 dealing with heavy snow, ice from Great Plains to Northeast (update)

Map of U.S. snowfall in band from Kansas to the Atlantic seaboard

CHICAGO — Railroads are navigating the start of the New Year with a far-reaching winter weather system that resulted in measurable snowfalls from central Kansas to Maryland’s eastern seaboard. Kansas City received more than 12 inches of snow over the weekend and 6 to 12 inches of snow fell across much of central Illinois, Indiana, […]

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Amtrak announces extensive storm-related cancellations (updated)

Passenger train leaves rooster tail of snow as it runs on three-track main line

WASHINGTON — Amtrak has announced an extensive list of train cancellations as of today (Saturday, Jan. 4), extending into Tuesday, Jan. 7. Operations from coast to coast are affected as a result of the winter storm currently moving through the center of the country. The cancellations began with Friday’s scheduled departure of the eastbound Southwest […]

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Ten cars of NS train derail in Roanoke

Derailed freight cars in twliight

ROANOKE, Va. — Ten cars of a Norfolk Southern train derailed shortly after departing Roanoke today (Friday, Jan. 3, 2025), WSLS-TV reports. No injuries were reported and no leaks occurred that would pose an injury to the public, a railroad representative told the station. At least one tank car was involved, but firefighters say no […]

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Four members of Delray Beach fire department placed on leave following Brightline collision

Image of fire truck on grade crossing from locomotive

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — Four members of the Delray Beach Fire Rescue Department have been placed on administrative leave while an investigation is conducted into the Dec. 28, 2024, incident that saw one of the department’s ladder trucks hit by a Brightline train. Also, the department said today (Jan. 3, 2025) that the three firefighters […]

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Delray Beach fire chief says department will ‘learn and grow’ from train collision

Image of fire truck on grade crossing from locomotive

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — The fire chief in Delray Beach has pledged that the collision between one of the city’s fire trucks and a Brightline passenger train will be “a moment from which we will learn and grow.” In a post today (Dec. 31, 2024) on the Delray Beach Fire Rescue Facebook page, Fire Chief […]

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