SEATTLE — In its determination to cut costs in 2020 and 2021 as the COVID-19 pandemic sucker-punched its prized Northeast Corridor moneymakers, Amtrak management turned off the hiring pipeline while furloughing employees nationwide. But state-based decisions deferring resumption of regional round trips have exacerbated the situation, especially in efforts to hire operating personnel, as prospective […]
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Railroads measure key operating metrics through railcar velocities. Class I railroads gauge operating performance by how many miles a railcar travels in a day on its network, the average speed of regularly scheduled trains, and average terminal dwell times, among other metrics. It shares this data publicly with investors, shippers, and regulators. […]
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s contract operator of commuter rail service, Keolis, has announced the return of weekend CapeFLYERservice between Boston and Cape Cod. The seasonal service will begin its 10th summer of operation on Friday, May 29, and will operate through Labor Day weekend. The service is a partnership of the MBTA, […]
OTTAWA — Transport Canada has announced regulatory revisions to address issues involving runaway trains and equipment. Changes to the Canadian Rail Operating Rules and Locomotive Inspection and Safety Rules will set performance standards for locomotives equipped with rollaway protection, designed to automatically apply brakes when there is unintended movement; requirements before leaving a locomotive, such […]
WASHINGTON — Weekly U.S. rail traffic figures remain below 2021 levels, although the degree of decline continues to vary significantly from week to week. Statistics from the Association of American Railroads, for the week ending May 14, show overall traffic down 5.4% compared to the corresponding week a year earlier. This follows a 3.5% decline […]
MOBILE, Ala. — With the sound of shattering glass and a big splash of champagne, Genesee & Wyoming short line CG Railway on Wednesday christened one of its new rail ferries that can haul up to 135 freight cars across the Gulf of Mexico. Virginia Reeves, a 34-year G&W employee who works in corporate communications, […]
Q: In a recent Garden Railways e-mail there were 1:24 and 1:25 scale rules pictured. Are these available and from whom? –tinksdaddy, via email A: Scale rules for garden railways: Ten years ago, there were many manufacturers offering scale rulers – frequently referred to as rules – in a variety of the larger scales. […]
Canadian piggyback flatcar Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Single car, $54.95; six-pack, $329.70 Era: 1966-1976 (Canadian National), 1973-late 1980s (Canadian Pacific) Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada, 905-474-3314, rapidotrains.com Canadian piggyback flatcar features: Heavy die-cast metal center sill Photo-etched deck surface Upright and collapsed hitches Wire grab irons […]
Pacific Car & Foundry boxcar Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: single car, $54.95; six-pack, $329.70, six-pack Era: 1972 to present (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada, 905-474-3314, rapidotrains.com Pacific Car & Foundry boxcar features: Separate, factory-applied metal grab irons, uncoupling levers, and door […]
Canadian piggyback trailers Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $31.95 each Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada, 905-474-3314, rapidotrains.com 26-foot Can-Car Industries dry van features: Landing gear with two separate pieces to simulation in-motion or parked positions Separate, factory-applied mudflaps Detailed wheel and axle area Upright and collapsed hitches […]
BOSTON — Canadian National is taking a back-to-basics approach under new CEO Tracy Robinson. The first order of business is to improve the railway’s velocity, which since last fall has generally been running below 2020 and 2021 levels when measured by the average number of miles cars travel per day. “As we bring the schedule […]
DURANGO, Colo. — The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge temporarily suspended operations this week because of fire danger just eight days into its spring season, reflecting new operating rules the railroad agreed to as part of a settlement with the federal government earlier this year. The Durango Herald reports trains stopped running as of Sunday, […]
