Agency pursuing Reading-Philadelphia passenger service picks consultant

Portion of map showing existing and proposed rail routes in the Northeast

READING, Pa. — The recently created agency to revive passenger rail service between Reading and Philadelphia has selected a consultant for the project. Patch.com reports the Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority voted to employ Washington, D.C., based Transportation for America as consultant, subject to review of the contract by the authority’s solicitor. Transportation Economics & […]

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SEPTA opens new station, introduces new Regional Rail schedules

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority logo

MIDDLETON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority has begun service to its newest Regional Rail Station, at the same time it has introduced new schedules. The new Wawa Station at 1490 W. Baltimore Pike in Media, Pa., is the southwestern endpoint of what is now the Media/Wawa line (formerly Media/Elwyn), and carries the […]

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Thomas T. Taber III, author and historian, dies at 93

Black and white photo of man in white shirt and tie

Thomas T. “Tom” Taber III, 93, of Muncy, Pa., author of numerous railroad books, died Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, at Hillside Senior Living Center in Montoursville, Pa. A Life Member of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society, he had been active in the organization since his childhood when he accompanied his father, Thomas T. Taber, […]

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News photos: Reading & Northern 4-8-4 sees freight action

Steam locomotive passing "North Reading Junction" sign with freight train

READING, Pa. — As promised, Reading & Northern’s restored Reading Co. T-1 4-8-4, No. 2102, saw action in freight service on Friday, Aug. 19, hauling a 28-car train (plus caboose) from Tamaqua to Reading after a light-engine move from Port Clinton, Pa., to Tamaqua. Photographer Gary Pancavage provides two shots of the action. […]

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Boston braces for ‘chaos’ as Orange Line shutdown begins

Man in high-visibility vest placing sign at rapid-transit station

BOSTON — With the 30-day closure of a primary rail rapid transit line set to begin this evening, the mayor of Boston has warned it will be “impossible to avoid chaos altogether.” The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Orange Line will close Friday at 9 p.m., leaving commuters to use a patchwork of commuter rail, other […]

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Pennsylvania RR class K4 4-6-2 from Bachmann

Screen capture from HO scale 4-6-2 video

Pennsylvania RR class K4 4-6-2 from Bachmann Senior Editor Cody Grivno hosts this Product Review video featuring the Pennsylvania RR (PRR) class K4 Pacific steam locomotive from Bachmann Trains. The 4-6-2 paid a visit to our Milwaukee, Racine & Troy staff layout, where it led a short train of heavyweight passenger cars. Details on the […]

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Pennsylvania RR class K4 4-6-2 from Bachmann

Screen capture from HO scale 4-6-2 video

Pennsylvania RR class K4 4-6-2 from Bachmann Senior Editor Cody Grivno hosts this Product Review video featuring the Pennsylvania RR (PRR) class K4 Pacific steam locomotive from Bachmann Trains. The 4-6-2 paid a visit to our Milwaukee, Racine & Troy staff layout, where it led a short train of heavyweight passenger cars. Details on the […]

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Bachmann Siemens ACS-64

Side view of gray electric locomotive

Siemens ACS-64 Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $459 Era: 2020s+ Manufacturer: Bachmann Trains, 1400 E. Erie Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19124; 215-533-1600; bachmanntrains.com Features: Dual-mode TCS WOWSound decoder Keep-Alive capacitor Light-emitting diode lighting, including flashing ditch lights and directional marker lights and headlights Voice-guided Audio Assist Die-cast metal frame Mappable light functions Selector switch for choice between […]

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Amtrak Acela II train set and separate-sale passenger cars

Model Railroader placeholder image

Amtrak Acela II Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Train set, $799; separate-sale cars, $139 Era: 2020s+ Manufacturer: Bachmann Trains, 1400 E. Erie Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19124; 215-533-1600; bachmanntrains.com Set features Powered (analog control with speaker) and non-powered (functioning lights) locomotives Additional locomotive features include die-cast metal chassis; working, directional light-emitting-diode (LED) headlights and marker lights; and […]

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Federal grants to fund 11 passenger infrastructure projects in eight states

Steel bridge across river under gray skies

WASHINGTON — A series of Northeast Corridor efforts to replace century-old infrastructure highlights 11 passenger-rail projects receiving more than $233 million in Federal Railroad Administration grant funding. The grants announced today (Thursday, Aug. 18) by the U.S. Department of Transportation are part of the Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair Program. The projects included […]

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Western Maryland Scenic schedules benefit for PRR No. 1361 restoration

Large steam locomotive with train at station

CUMBERLAND, Md. — The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad will hold a steam-powered fundraiser Oct. 14 to benefit restoration of the Railroaders Memorial Museum’s Pennsylvania Railroad K4s-class 4-6-2 steam locomotive No. 1361, based in Altoona, Pa. An evening dinner train will be pulled by WMSR’s ex-Chesapeake & Ohio Railway 2-6-6-2 engine No. 1309 (Baldwin, 1949), temporarily […]

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