Grand Canyon No. 4960 concludes 2024 steam season

Steam powered passenger train running across a desert-like landscape

WILLIAMS, Ariz. — The conclusion of the Grand Canyon Railway’s 2024 steam season was a fall finish as 2-8-2 No. 4960 made its Oct. 5 round trip between Williams and Grand Canyon National Park. Railway Chief Mechanical Officer Eric Hadder said the locomotive did well with no significant problems. He also noted that No. 4960’s […]

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EBT reopens more track; chairman confirms full-restoration goal

Steam engine with train on curve next to park

ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa.— As East Broad Top trains last weekend christened 1.3  miles of restored mainline track that had lain dormant since 1956, EBT Foundation Chairman Henry Posner reiterated the nonprofit group’s resolve to rebuild the tourist line another 18 miles up to the coal-mining region that gave the narrow gauge line its reason for […]

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Canadian appeals court gives CN Toronto-area intermodal facility the go-ahead

Rendering of proposed rail yard

OTTAWA, Ontario — Canada’s Federal Court of Appeals has overturned a lower-court ruling blocking Canadian National Railway’s development of a Toronto-area intermodal facility, allowing construction of the terminal to move forward. The Canadian Press reports that a three-judge panel ruled on Friday that the federal government’s decision to allow construction of the facility in Milton, […]

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Recalling a Vermont railfan event

green and yellow locomotive in front of covered bridge

Vermont railfan event About 80 “train catchers” boarded coaches behind Rutland No. 405 that Saturday. Some carried cameras, some notebooks, some with a buddy, some came alone. What did all of us have in common? Trains. I call us “train catchers” because like dream catchers, we anticipate a safe journey provided by our engine. We […]

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Santa Fe No. 2926 showcased at New Mexico Railroad Days

Steam locomotive in rail yard with modern diesels

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The second annual New Mexico Railroad Days, Sept. 28 and 29, marked the first public use of the Rail Yards’ south-end property in Downtown Albuquerque. What hasn’t changed was the drawing card of Santa Fe 4-8-4 No. 2926, as it made its second visit of the year to the facility [See “Santa […]

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How Amtrak’s long-distance capacity affects pricing: Analysis

Train kicking up dust near sunset

WASHINGTON — It’s more expensive than ever to get into a bedroom or roomette on Amtrak’s overnight long-distance trains — if the accommodations are available at all on the preferred travel date. Coach passengers also endure high prices and sellouts when their destination is served by a once-daily, limited-capacity train that has an especially busy […]

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Metra O’Hare shuttle sees minimal use during Democratic convention

View of three-car train from atop building

CHICAGO — Only about 2,400 people rode Metra’s shuttle service between O’Hare International Airport and Chicago Union Station during the special service operated in August during the Democratic National Convention, the commuter operator says. That’s only about 120 per day during the Aug. 11-30 operation. Still, Metra would like to make the service permanent. Metra […]

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Fantasy locomotives

Green and yellow locomotives on freight train

The model railroad industry has featured fantasy-painted locomotives for years. These are locomotive models painted for railroads that never actually owned them. Think Canadian National GP60Ms, Burlington Northern ES44ACs or Monon SD70ACes — designs the railroad either never purchased (Canadiana National), or for which the railroad wasn’t in existence at the time the locomotives were […]

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Denver commuter rail operators vote to join Teamsters

Denver_ALine_Lassen

DENVER — Workers for the contract operator of the Denver-area commuter rail system have voted to organize with Teamsters Local 17, the union announced Friday. Denver Transit Operators holds a 29-year contract to operate the Regional Transportation District’s commuter rail system, which operations from Denver Union Station and includes the A Line to Denver International […]

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