Work has resumed on Western Maryland Scenic No. 1309. Tishia Boggs CUMBERLAND, Md. – Restoration work has resumed on Western Maryland Scenic Railroad’s 2-6-6-2 No. 1309 after Trains magazine readers donated more than $100,000 to the effort to restore the last steam locomotive that Baldwin built for domestic service. Diversified Rail Services crews began work […]
East Broad Top crew member Daniel Gilliland waits for a signal to shove East Broad Top 2-8-2 No. 16 into a newly renovated workspace in the roundhouse on May 6 for asbestos abatement. EBT Foundation Inc. ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. — Despite limitations imposed because of the current pandemic, the East Broad Top Railroad has been […]
A Durango & Silverton train crosses the Animas River on its return from Silverton in October 2018. The D&S has pushed its planned opening back from May into June, and is facing questions on how to operate under social distancing requirements. TRAINS: David Lassen Monday morning rail news: — The Durango & Silverton has extended […]
The Grapevine Vintage Railroad, shown in 2017, will resume operations on Saturday. TRAINS: David Lassen Thursday afternoon rail news: — The Grapevine Vintage Railroad in Grapevine, Texas, will resume operations Saturday after closing in March because of the coronavirus pandemic. On Sunday, the railroad will offer four 1-hour Mother’s Day excursions, departing at 10 a.m., […]
Colorado’s Royal Gorge Route Railroad says it plans to resume operations on May 23. TRAINS: David Lassen COVID-19-related rail news for Thursday morning: — Colorado’s Royal Gorge Route Railroad, closed since mid-March, is tentatively planning to resume operations May 23 with three daily round trips. The railroad said in a Facebook post earlier this week […]
More Thursday morning rail news: — A federal judge has ruled against an attempt to block Maryland’s Purple Line light rail project on environmental grounds, finding that the Maryland Transit Administration “clearly demonstrated” the design for the 16-mile, $2-billion project “was the least evinromentally damaging practicable alternative.” The Engineering News-Record reports that U.S. District Judge […]
DURANGO, Colo. — The Durango & Silverton is expanding its locomotive roster, adding four diesels with the potential to be tourist attractions in their own right. The D&S has announced it is acquiring four of the White Pass & Yukon Railway’s distinctive Montreal Locomotive Works DL535C diesels, 1,200-hp C-C locomotives built in 1969 and 1971. […]
A Metro-North Waterbury Branch train arrives at the Bridgeport, Conn., station in August 2019. The state of Connecticut is expected to approve funding for new coaches for this and other commuter lines in the state. TRAINS: David Lassen More Tuesday morning rail news: — Connecticut is expected to approve $300 million in funding for new […]
Sunday rail news related to the coronavirus pandemic: — D.C. Metro will further reduce rail and bus service on Monday, with rail service ending at 9 p.m. and bus service ending at 11 p.m. Service will begin at 5 a.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. on weekends. In announcing the cuts, Metro said the decision […]
A new grant will fund placing the boiler back onto the wheels of Western Maryland Scenic No. 1309. Tishia Boggs CUMBERLAND, Md. — Western Maryland Scenic Railroad has received a John H. Emery Rail Heritage Trust grant for $10,000, which will pay to have two heavy duty cranes set the boiler of 2-6-6-2 No. 1309 […]
More Wednesday morning rail news: — Bombardier is suspending production at its Canadian rail and aircraft plants, sending 12,400 workers home on unpaid leave, the Canadian Press reports. The shutdown was to begin Tuesday evening and last through April 24. The Montreal-based company will idle 9,000 workers in Quebec, with the rest in Ontario, and […]
•Ten major transit agencies are requesting $25 billion in federal aid to offset financial losses because of the coronavirus pandemic, as they begin to dip into emergency cash reserves to continue operation. The Washington Post reports that the agencies, led by New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority, sent a letter to congressional leaders with the request, […]
