OWOSSO, Mich. — The norm for most operating steam locomotives around this time is to call it a season and begin receiving routine maintenance in preparation for the new year. For Pere Marquette 2-8-4 No. 1225, the Berkshire-type is still in the midst of its 2024 season, having completed fall excursions in late October and […]
What happened to the caboose? Many factors helped seal their fate, and the demise of the caboose has been mourned in many places, including in the pages of Trains, which bid farewell in a special issue in August 1990. But the caboose hasn’t disappeared. Even today, you can find a few cabooses still at work. […]
ARLINGTON, Va. — The National Carriers Conference Committee — the bargaining group for most U.S. Class I railroads — has reached tentative agreements with two unions, the organization has announced. The agreements with the Transportation Communications Union and Brotherhood of Railway Carmen are on behalf of NCCC railroads that had not already reached agreements with […]
“The legacy of Dirt the railroad cat continues,” is just one of many Dirt-related articles that highlights the importance of animals in railroading and how they can make an everlasting impact on those around them. Dirt, also known as Nevada Northern Railway’s Boss Shop Cat, died on Jan.10, 2023. With the anniversary of his […]
WAYCROSS, Ga. — If there’s one dot on the CSX system map that’s more important than any other, it’s Waycross, Ga., the home of Rice Yard. CSX’s largest and busiest hump yard sits at the junction of the railroad’s main corridors to Chicago, New York, Florida, and New Orleans. And with CSX expecting a wave […]
HYATTSVILLE, Md. — The city of Hyattsville and CSX have reached a $310,000 settlement agreement over costs stemming from a 2023 derailment that spilled plastic pellets in the community, the Hyattsville Life & Times reports. A locomotive and 16 cars derailed in the Sept. 23, 2023, incident near the intersection of U.S. Route 1 and […]
“Less is more,” as the saying goes from the article, How to lubricate your O and S gauge trains. The same applies to regularly lubricating postwar equipment that has stood the test of time. Rolling stock — ranging from freight cars to cabooses — is no exception. Oiling around Lubricating postwar rolling stock will involve […]
NEW YORK — Amtrak operations between New York’s Penn Station and New Haven, Conn., remains suspended to begin today (Wednesday, Nov. 13) as a result of Tuesday electrical fires in the Bronx. Service was suspended as of Tuesday afternoon because of a pair of fires, one involving a transformer fire at a warehouse and another […]
LOS ANGELES — AAA members now have a new benefit in Southern California: discounts on Metrolink commuter rail tickets. As of Tuesday, Nov. 12, current members of the AAA Auto Club of Southern California will be eligible for a 20% discount on round-trip Metrolink tickets. Members will need to log into their AAA account to […]
BOSTON — Five days of service suspensions for maintenance work on the Red Line have resulted in the removal of five speed restrictions, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has announced, leaving just four slow orders on the entire MBTA rail transit system. Service was shut down between Broadway and North Quincy Nov. 5-10, as well […]
CHICAGO — Railcar builder FreightCar America posted a loss of $107 million, or $3.57 per share, in the third quarter and revenue of $113.3 million on deliveries of 961 railcars, compared to revenue of $61.9 million on 503 railcar deliveries in the third quarter of 2023, up 83% and 91%, respectively. Shares of FCA fell […]
Q: I’m building a retaining wall using Woodland Scenics’ cut stone castings and want to attach them to extruded-foam insulation board. What is the best glue to use for this project? — Alan Cox A: The Woodland Scenics cut stone retaining walls are Hydrocal castings, so you’re going to want an adhesive that will work […]
