Missouri Pacific observation car No. 750. Museum of Transportation ST. LOUIS — The Museum of Transportation has unveiled its cosmetically restored Missouri Pacific observation car No. 750. Built in 1940 by American Car & Foundry, it was mainly used on MP’s Missouri River Eagle. The car boasted air conditioning, a public address system, private dining […]
Section: News Wire
Union Pacific steam guru Steve Lee to retire NEWSWIRE
Union Pacific steam program director Steve Lee. David Hoge CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Union Pacific steam program boss Steve Lee will retire at the end of this year after 22 years in his position. Lee has become synonymous with the program during his tenure. Lee went railroading in January 1972 as a student fireman on the […]
Ohio Governor-elect: “That train is dead” NEWSWIRE
COLUMBUS, Ohio – In his first news conference as governor-elect, John Kasich shot down the proposed passenger train corridor linking Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati. Kasich told reporters: “That train is dead. I said it during the campaign. It is dead. Passenger rail is not in Ohio’s future.” Kasich went on to say that he supports […]
Amtrak terminates William Crosbie, chief operating officer; abolishes position NEWSWIRE
WASHINGTON — Today Amtrak announced the elimination of the position of chief operating officer, saying in an internal advisory to employees that current COO Bill Crosbie “will be leaving Amtrak” today, Oct. 22. The directive added that operating vice presidents previously reporting to Crosbie would now report to president Joseph Boardman. “Bill has made important […]
Illinois city celebrates station upgrades NEWSWIRE
MATTOON, Ill. – A four-year, $3 million project to stabilize and then improve the three-story former railroad office building and passenger station in Mattoon was celebrated last week by Amtrak and Illinois DOT. Six daily Amtrak trains use the station, which is sited about 130 miles northeast of St. Louis. The Coles County Historical Society […]
Santa Fe Southern purchased by Australian high-tech company NEWSWIRE
Santa Fe Southern GP16 93 pauses at the Santa Fe, N.M., station. The railroad has two EMD road-switchers and several vintage railroad cars for its excursions to Lamy. Freight traffic has been limited to inbound loads of lumber, a beer distributor, and pipe for a natural gas line. David Lustig SANTA FE, N.M. – STI-Global, […]
South African steam locomotives scrapped following damage by thieves NEWSWIRE
Guards armed with shotguns keep scrap thieves at bay while locomotives are cut-up at an outdoor railroad museum near Johannesburg, South Africa Paul Ash The remains of once proud South African steam locomotives being recycled for scrap at an outdoor railroad museum near Johannesburg, South Africa. Paul Ash A priceless collection of steam locomotives has […]
Arizona museum gets electric locomotive delivery by truck NEWSWIRE
Black Mesa & Lake Powell E60 electric locomotive No. 6001 negotiates a turn in the road at Tuba City, Ariz. Arizona State Railroad Museum WILLIAMS, Ariz. — The Arizona State Railroad Museum has taken delivery of Black Mesa & Lake Powell E60C electric locomotive No. 6001. The locomotive arrived from the isolated, electrified coal-hauler via […]
Front-line news: Virginia & Truckee Railway derailment caught on camera NEWSWIRE
Virginia & Truckee 2-8-0 No. 29 approaches State Route 342 at Gold Hill, Nev., on Aug. 8, 2010. Moments later it derails. See the PDF slide show for the non-stop action! Diane McCombs Virginia & Truckee’s afternoon train from Eastgate to Virginia City, Nev., derailed and blocked the highway at Gold Hill, Nev., on Aug. […]
American Railway Explorer plan is scrapped NEWSWIRE
DENVER – The proposed American Railway Explorer luxury passenger train is being mothballed just three months after its announcement, the Denver Post has reported. Officials with Xanterra Parks and Resorts, the train’s owner, yesterday told contractors working on equipment refurbishment to cease work. Xanterra, one of billionaire Phil Anschutz’s holdings, couldn’t be reached for comment. […]
Burlington Northern icon Robert W. Downing dies NEWSWIRE
Robert W. Downing Burlington Northern SPOKANE, Wash. – Robert W. Downing, a railroad legend who helped shape today’s BNSF Railway during a career with its predecessor roads, died yesterday following surgery. He was 96 years old. Downing’s railroad career began with Pennsylvania Railroad during the Great Depression. When PRR laid him off, he took a […]
Bill Purdie, Southern’s steam master, dies NEWSWIRE
Southern Railway’s master mechanic-steam occupies the engineer’s seat of Tennessee Valley 630 during a 1980s excursion. Jim Wrinn ATLANTA – Bill Purdie, the beloved master mechanic for Southern Railway’s extensive steam locomotive excursions in the 1960s and 1970s, died yesterday evening. He was 95. Purdie joined Southern Railway as a helper in 1936 and progressed […]