As the Russian military adjusts its strategy and goals following the failure of its original invasion of Ukraine that began Feb. 24, it has increased strategic attacks on the network of national rail operator Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ) in the west of the country, largely through missile strikes. The Ukraine war is the first since World War […]
CHICAGO — The “Last Pullman Car,” Amtrak Superliner George M. Pullman, and a locomotive simulator from Norfolk Southern have been added to the upcoming Pullman Railroad Days, to be held May 14-15 at the Pullman National Monument and hosted by the Historic Pullman Foundation, the monument’s non-profit partner. The Superliner, the last car built by […]
LEANDER, Texas — Voters in Leander will decide Saturday whether to end a 37-year relationship with Austin-area transit agency Capital Metro in a Saturday election, which could halt commuter rail service to the community. Leander is the northernmost stop on the CapMetro Red Line, a 32-mile, nine-station system served by Stadler Rail diesel multiple-unit trainsets. […]
American Z Line May 2022 Scale: Z (1:220) Price: Contact manufacturer Era: Northern Pacific Electro-Motive Division F7A and F7B, 1944 to 1970; Atlantic Coast Line, mid-1940s to 1967 Manufacturer: American Z Line, 6142 Northcliff Blvd., Dublin, OH 43016, 614-764-1703 Electro-Motive Division F7A and F7B diesel locomotive features: 7mm can motor Dual flywheels Directional light-emitting-diode lighting […]
Spring TCA York 2022 notes from the field. CTT Editor Hal Miller visits the April 28-30 Eastern Division of the Train Collectors Association event in York, Pa. He checks out the O, S, and Standard gauge trains and talks to some of the personalities at the show, including YouTubers Chris’s Trains & Things, Sid’s Trains, […]
Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $52.95 Era: 1979 to present (era varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Tangent Scale Models, P.O. Box 6514, Asheville, NC 28816, 828-412-3886 Pullman-Standard 4,750-cubic-foot capacity three-bay covered hopper features: Kadee scale couplers See-through etched metal running boards and crossover platforms 100-ton Barber S-2 trucks with prototype-specific rotating bearing caps and separate […]
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte Western Railroad, the newest short line of Jaguar Transport Holdings, began operations Monday, May 2, as contract operator on 13 miles of track owned by the North Carolina Department of Transportation. “We are excited for the opportunity to establish our first operation in North Carolina and the southeastern US,” Jaguar CEO […]
WASHINGTON — In theory, any organization’s board of directors must possess enough expertise in the business it oversees to analyze and pass judgement on whether management’s policies fulfill the organization’s goals. In Amtrak’s reauthorizing Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act enacted last November, Congress was clear it now requires board members exercising such oversight to possess […]
WAPELLA, Ill. — Short line Illinois Terminal Belt Railroad has added to its fleet of former Illinois Central Gulf Paducah rebuilds with the addition of Midwest Locomotive Leasing (MWLX) No. 602, a former GATX Rail Locomotive Group diesel built as Illinois Central Railroad No. 9130 in January 1956. The 65-year-old locomotive was rebuilt as ICG […]
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota’s state Senate has blocked efforts to launch passenger rail service between the Twin Cities and Duluth, passing a budget amendment by a senator who said the idea was “like asking us to spend money on buggy whips.” Minnesota Public Radio reports the amendment by Sen. David Osmek (R-Mound, Minn.) prohibits […]
MONTREAL — The province of Quebec and city of Montreal will take over a controversial light rail project after the province’s pension-fund manager withdrew from the project, and will make major revisions to what had been a proposed C$10 billion, 20-mile system. The Montreal Gazette reports Quebec Premier Francois Legault and Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante […]
BOSTON — A system meant to prevent trains from moving when a door is obstructed failed, leading to the death of a passenger on a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority rapid-transit train in April, according to a preliminary report released Monday by the National Transportation Safety Board. The Boston Herald identifies the victim as 39-year-old Robinson […]
