KCS returning to historic diesel colors NEWSWIRE

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City Southern source confirmed to Trains News Wire on Friday that the railroad’s new EMD SD70ACe locomotives that are on order will be painted in a variation of the railroad’s historic red, yellow, and Brunswick (extremely dark) green passenger-train livery. A version of those colors is worn by KCS’s […]

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Ohio Central uses LS&I 2-8-0 in freight service NEWSWIRE

Ohio Central 2-8-0 No. 33 leading freight

Ohio Central 2-8-0 No. 33 is running like gangbusters on the point of a coal train at Adams Mills, Ohio, on Dec. 13, 2006. The former Lake Superior & Ishpeming locomotive pulled the train (including three shut-down diesels) from Coshocton to Trinway, Ohio. John B. Corns COSHOCTON, Ohio – Ohio Central Rail System used its […]

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Funeral services held for Marc S. Balkin NEWSWIRE

HACKENSACK, N.J. – Funeral services were held in Hackensack today for well-known video producer Marc S. Balkin, 58, who died of pneumonia on Dec. 3 while hospitalized. Balkin headed up his own video production company, Mark I Video, which produced railroad videos primarily of steam locomotives. Balkin was known for innovative production techniques, being among […]

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Wurst is best on Amtrak NEWSWIRE

NEW YORK – Dining on Amtrak trains is sometimes wonderful and sometimes it’s awful. However, according to the New York Times Magazine, one Amtrak food item is winning universal praise: bratwurst. The hickory-smoked pork sausage is seasoned with onion, garlic, and spices and isn’t emulsified like many other brats, so “you get more meat flavor,” […]

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Great Northern “Hustle Muscle” SD45 repainted NEWSWIRE

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Great Northern Railway Historical Society recently completed a project to repaint Great Northern SD45 No. 400, the “Hustle Muscle.” Built in May 1966, No. 400 was the first production SD45 built by Electro-Motive Division; it received the Hustle Muscle moniker by GN when the company purchased the unit. It continued […]

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Former RailAmerica executive back in railroading

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Gary O. Marino, co-founder and former chairman, president, and CEO of RailAmerica, Inc. has formed Patriot Rail Corp. to acquire short-line and regional freight railroads. The new company last week announced its first acquisition, the 118-mile Tennessee Southern Railroad. The TSRR, based in Mt. Pleasant, Tenn., operates in middle Tennessee and […]

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A Star is born: Nashville commuter trains to begin Sept. 18

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Nashville is set to become the 18th North American metropolitan area to be served by commuter trains (vs. light-rail/trolley and/or heavy-rail/subway) with the inaugural run on Monday, Sept. 18, of the Music City Star. Tickets will be available on-line starting next week, and commuters who plan to purchase monthly tickets should act […]

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Gloves come off in DM&E, Mayo Clinic dispute

WASHINGTON and SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The fight between the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern and the Mayo Clinic over DM&E’s effort to expand into Wyoming’s Powder River Basin and route coal trains through Mayo’s home city of Rochester, Minn., grew testy as each side made accusations about the other Thursday. At a news conference at […]

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Appalachian & Ohio switching parent companies

GRAFTON, W.Va. – Employees of Watco Companies Inc. were notified in an internal memo on April 20 that CSX has asked the Appalachian & Ohio Railroad – featured in the May 2006 issue of TRAINS Magazine – to turn over operations to Four Rivers Transportation Inc. Watco, based in Kansas, had been negotiating – unsuccessfully, […]

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