Digest: California governor calls for additional $11 billion in transportation spending

Metro_Crenshaw_1

California governor seeks additional $11 billion for transportation projects California Gov. Gavin Newsom, aided by the presence of a projected budget surplus of more than $75 billion, is proposing to add $11 billion for transportation to the state budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year. The additional funds — which would bring the total transportation budget […]

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East Broad Top notebook: Damaged bridge replaced as part of rebuilding of main line

Diesel lcomotive with ballast cars on small bridge

ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. – Rebuilding the main line of the East Broad Top Railroad continues at a rapid pace, with a damaged bridge replacement and significant ballast work completed this week. The historic narrow gauge line in central Pennsylvania, a National Historic Landmark, was dormant from 2011 to 2020, when it was bought by the […]

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Memorial Day weekend open house will show Mark Twain Zephyr progress

Multicolored seats in round-end observation car

TREGO, Wis. — The Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad will open its doors on Memorial Day weekend to give visitors a look at its ongoing renovation process for the Mark Twain Zephyr, the articulated Burlington Lines streamliner being brought back to life after more than 60 years of storage, inactivity, and deterioration. The open house will […]

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Trains to sponsor two-day photo event featuring Durango & Silverton No. 493

Steam locomotive in yard

DURANGO, Colo. — On Sept. 2 and 3, Trains Magazine will sponsor Extra 493, a two-day event on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad that will be the first photo freight charter for the K37 steam locomotive brought back to life in 2020. Visiting narrow gauge 4-6-0 Southern Pacific No.  18 also will make […]

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Tavern-lounge, display cars see progress as ‘Mark Twain Zephyr’ work continues (with video)

Man inside passenger car inspecting woodwork

TREGO, Wis. — The Effie Dean — the “extra car” the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad acquired with its purchase of the Mark Twain Zephyr trainset — is currently receiving attention as the railroad’s work to restore the train continues. On Friday, workers were installing a wall in the Effie Dean as part of work to […]

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N&W No. 611 to return to Strasburg Rail Road

Streamlined steam locomotive

ROANOKE, Va.  — Norfolk & Western Class J 4-8-4 No. 611 will again return to Pennsylvania’s Strasburg Rail Road for excursions and other special events, the Virginia Museum of Transportation and Strasburg have announced. The Strasburg visit will begin later this month and continue through October 2021. Events will include opportunities to ride behind the […]

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Digest: East Broad Top receives $100,000 grant for Colgate Grove rehabilitation

Picnic area in trees with covered seating areas

Allegheny Foundation grant will aid East Broad Top rehab of picnic area Pittsburgh’s Allegheny Foundation has awarded a $100,000 grant to the East Broad Top Foundation to support rehabilitation of the Colgate Picnic Grove, the turnaround point for EBT steam excursions since 1961. The wye at Colgate Grove originated as a spur serving a clay […]

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Big Boy restoration at Steamtown complete, locomotive returns to public display

Steam locomotive on curve with people watching

SCRANTON, Pa. – Following a nearly two-year renovation, Union Pacific Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive No. 4012 has been returned to public display at Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton. During a several-hour procedure on Wednesday, the locomotive and tender were moved from a location outside the park’s paint shop, spun separately on the turntable, reunited, […]

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Digest: LA Metro releases $8 billion budget for fiscal 2022

LA Metro light rail train on curving bridge

LA Metro budget will restore service to pre-pandemic levels LA Metro has released an $8 billion budget for fiscal 2022 including restoration of rail and bus service to pre-pandemic levels and the start of testing for two projects: the 8.5-mile Crenshaw/LAX light rail line, also known as the K line, and the 1.9-mile Regional Connector, […]

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East Broad Top to resume operations June 11

Red-and-green center-cab diesel purring cars of passengers

ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. — Regularly scheduled passenger service at the East Broad Top Railroad is set to resume June 11, the first time the railroad has operated regularly since 2011, according to the nonprofit EBT Foundation Inc., owner of the historic narrow gauge line in central Pennsylvania. One-hour, diesel-powered excursions will take place on alternate […]

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Digest: DC Metro extends hours for sporting events

WMATA logo

DC Metro to extend service for those attending sporting events Beginning Tuesday, April 27, DC Metro will extend its service hours up to 30 minutes beyond normal closing time to serve passengers attending sporting events involving the area’s six professional sports teams, if the games run longer than expected. The “flex” schedule will waive fees […]

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Digest: C&NW historical society archives coming to Illinois Railway Museum

Illinois Railway Museum logo

Chicago & North Western Historical Society archives bound for IRM The archives of the Chicago & North Western Historical Society are bound for the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Ill. The archives will be located at a new building, to be formally known as the C&NWHS Archives Research Center, to be located on the museum’s […]

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