BOSTON — MBTA announced Thursday that it would not extend its contract with commuter rail operator Keolis beyond 2022. The announcement comes after months of complaints lodged at the operator for poor performances, particularly during winter, and losing millions of dollars. Keolis was first awarded the eight-year, $2.7 billion to operate MBTA’s commuter rail operations […]
CHICAGO — If you have yet to see this video posted to Facebook from Chicago’s ABC affiliate, please don’t throw a shoe at your screen. Someone with ABC posted a video recording of Metra crews standing near a diamond with one rail lit on fire. ABC’s original caption was: “WINTER IN CHICAGO! Setting the tracks […]
New Providence & Worcester logo Genesee & Wyoming DARIEN, Conn. — The “i”s are dotted, the “t”s are crossed and the Providence & Worcester Railroad now has a new logo to mark its entry into the Genesee & Wyoming family of railroads. The Surface Transportation Board granted authority for G&W to buy the Class III […]
Norden, Calif. Google Maps ROSEVILLE, Calif. — While snow and zero visibility shut down numerous highways, Union Pacific and Amtrak soldiered on over California’s Donner Pass this week. But now flooding is the threat as the forecast calls for heavy rain, some of it on several feet of snow. “In preparation of the coming weather […]
Join Assistant Editor Brian Schmidt for a look at BNSF Railway’s famed “Racetrack,” the former Chicago, Burlington & Quincy main line between Chicago and Aurora, Ill. You’ll see fast freights along with Amtrak and Metra passenger moves along the triple-track speedway at the Naperville and Route 59 stations. For more Chicago railroading, be sure to […]
Extra tall fences (seen on the overpass in the background) often protect electrified lines from road debris. Michael S. Murray Q I have driven over the Northeast Corridor and have seen guardrails on the bridge get higher over the tracks themselves. Why is that? – Dan Wescott, Louisburg, N.C. A The primary reason higher barriers […]
Trains Magazine 2016 Index trains_2016_index […]
A Dakota Southern SD7 sits on rebuilt track at Chamberlain, S.D. Pat Malone CHAMBERLAIN, S.D. — A shortline railroad is boosting its grain business after reopening more than 40 miles of main line in South Dakota. The Dakota Southern started hauling unit grain trains to the Wheat Growers Cooperative in Kennebec, S.D., earlier this harvest […]
An on-time eastbound Empire Builder pauses at Minot, N.D., for servicing on Aug. 20, 2014. Bob Johnston RUGBY, N.D. — Snow and ice are burying much of North Dakota this week, but Amtrak’s Empire Builder soldiers on. While national TV news and published reports recounted how thousands of flights were cancelled, trucks jackknifed all over […]
Union Pacific 4-8-4 Northern-type No. 844 pictured at LaSalle, Colo., in 2009. The famed locomotive made a triumphant come back in 2016 after repairs and a 1,472-day overhaul. Bruce A. Daugherty WAUKESHA, Wis. — When Union Pacific 4-8-4 No. 844 returned to the rails under its own power this year, we were reminded of what […]
FULL SCREEN John Bjorklund, collection of Center for Railroad Photography and Art A Burlington Northern commuter train arrives at Chicago Union Station in July 1971, as seen from Roosevelt Road. FULL SCREEN John Bjorklund, collection of Center for Railroad Photography and Art A Burlington Northern commuter train arrives at west suburban Riverside, Ill., in July […]
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