A Pacific Surfliner hugs the beach at Carpinteria, Calif., in 2013 Bob Johnston LOS ANGELES — Amtrak and the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency continue to expand the capacity of Pacific Surfliner service in response to the closure of U.S. Route 101, which severed the direct highway connection between Santa Barbara, Calif., and the rest of […]
Amtrak’s Seattle-to-Los Angeles Coast Starlight crosses a trestle at Goleta, Calif. Pacific Parlour cars used in the train’s consist will soon be removed from Amtrak service. Bob Johnston The Pacific Parlour Cars, which were built by Pullman-Standard for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway as hi-level lounge cars and have been a regular part […]
Dakota, Missouri Valley & Western SD60F No. 5544 leads a train at Falkirk, N.D., on Jan. 4. Erich Linser BISMARCK N.D. — Two Midwest railroads have acquired a handful of retired cowl locomotives from Canadian National. Following CNs decision to retire its fleet of 60 EMD SD60F locomotives in 2017, the 5500 series locomotives were […]
WEST CHESTER, Pa. — It’s been almost 32 years since the last SEPTA commuter train left West Chester, west of Philadelphia. Officials with the regional commuter agency say they’re considering restoration of service to the Chester County seat. A regional planning organization working with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Regional Transportation Authority estimates up to 2,000 people […]
WAUKESHA, Wis. — Trains Magazine of Waukesha, and Luckin Productions of Golden, Colo., have reached an agreement to produce a documentary for retail as well as public television called “Journey to Promontory, the story of the Transcontinental Railroad” and set for delivery in the fall of 2018 on the eve of the 150th anniversary in […]
Also in this issue TRAIN WATCHING 101, pg. 5 Your introduction to train-watching, locomotives, how railroads work, and more […]
CSX CEO James M. Foote CSX Corp. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jim Foote-era at CSX Transportation began with a rumble that emphatically signaled his commitment to following through on what the late CEO E. Hunter Harrison began. In a symbolic move, Foote’s first decision after being named chief executive in December was ordering the hump […]
Trains’ tour of Peru’s spectacular Ferrocarril Central Andino railroad goes high into the Andes via extreme railroading. Watch as our chartered train tackles switchbacks, bridges, and tunnels to reach the 15,0000-summit – one of the highest railroads in the world. Hold your breath as we pass through the final bore! Watch part 1 of the […]
Denny Ansbach, one of the founders of the California State Railroad Museum, reflects on the inception of the museum. Learn about the role Ronald Reagan played in the creation of one of North America’s top railroad museums. See how the museum has stood the test of time. […]
Florida East Coast CEO Nate Asplund Florida East Coast Railway ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Florida East Coast Railway’s new CEO is a railroad and transportation industry veteran. CEO Nate Asplund took over Jan. 1 from former chief Jim Hertwig, who retired as of Dec. 31, 2017. Before joining FEC, Asplund served as president and CEO […]
CSX Transportation’s Tod Echler, assistant vice president, engineering, speaks at Saturday’s session of the NRC conference in Los Angeles. TRAINS: David Lassen LOS ANGELES — It has been a year of change at CSX Transportation, with the arrival of CEO Hunter Harrison in March, his death in December, and the selection of James M. Foote […]
Sporting a red cab roof, Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 4-8-4 No. 5632 departs Chicago Union Station in spring 1962 with an excursion. The locomotive’s graphite smokebox and firebox are also readily apparent. Ed DeRouin, Barbara DeRouin collection Restored Denver & Rio Grande Western 2-8-0 No. 315 shows off its contrasting graphite smokebox. Martin E. Hansen […]
