Chinese workers and the first Transcontinental Railroad

Workers who built the first Transcontinental Railroad, by hand, in the late 1860s labored through grueling heat, biting winter cold, snow, attacks from Native American tribes, and long, long work days.   Learn how they did it with this excerpt from one of Trains’ newest DVD’s, Journey To Promontory, available from the Kalmbach Hobby Store. […]

Read More…

Tunnels on the first Transcontinental Railroad

Workers who built the first Transcontinental Railroad, by hand, in the late 1860s labored through grueling heat, biting winter cold, snow, attacks from Native American tribes, and long, long work days. Learn how they did it with this excerpt from one of Trains’ newest DVD’s, Journey To Promontory, available from the Kalmbach Hobby Store.  EXCERPT TRANSCRIPT: Dave Seidel, […]

Read More…

Amtrak rejects ceding Union Station control to Metra NEWSWIRE

Chicago_Hearing_Wronski

Amtrak’s Ray Lang speaks at Tuesday’s hearing in Chicago on commuter rail issues. To his left is Metra CEO Jim Derwinski. Others are Patricia Caslin of BNSF, John Friedmann of Norfolk Southern, and Mike Matteucci, regional director for Canadian National. Richard Wronski CHICAGO — Amtrak is rejecting a proposal to let Metra take over operations […]

Read More…

Canadian agency says CN violated service obligations to customers NEWSWIRE

CN_med_red

SEATTLE — A Canadian transportation regulator says Canadian National violated its obligation to serve customers by imposing limitations on shipments of wood pulp last year because of congestion on the rail network as western railroads worked to move grain harvests to ports. In a statement issued Tuesday, April 16, the Canadian Transportation Agency cleared Canadian […]

Read More…

Clinchfield 800 will move C&O 2716 to restoration NEWSWIRE

CRR800Wrinn

Clinchfield No. 800 will lead C&O 2716 to restoration. Trains: Jim Wrinn RAVENNA, Ky. — The move of a historic steam engine this summer across Central Kentucky will now be a reunion 40 years in the making between two famed locomotives. Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp., announced today that Clinchfield Railroad F7 No. 800 will lead […]

Read More…

Commuter rail group aims for more clout in Washington D.C. NEWSWIRE

CRC_Logo

WASHINGTON — Look no farther than positive train control to understand the motivation behind the formation of the Commuter Rail Coalition, an advocacy group for U.S. commuter rail agencies. The nation’s commuter railroads will spend $4.1 billion to implement PTC, an unfunded congressional mandate that has forced some transit agencies to delay needed repair or […]

Read More…

Metra board approves consultant contracts for railcar, locomotive purchases NEWSWIRE

Metra_Logo

CHICAGO — Metra’s board of directors on Wednesday approved contracts totaling $13.6 million to two consultants to assist the commuter rail agency in purchasing locomotives and coaches. One contract, for $10 million, was awarded to STV Inc. of Philadelphia, Pa., to provide quality assurance, engineering, and administrative assistance for Metra’s planned purchase of new commuter […]

Read More…