Serving Chicago Chicago & North Western’s sprawling freight house at Proviso was located away from the city of Chicago, taking advantage of the available space. Jack Delano photo, Library of Congress collection […]
Serving Chicago
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NS, CN, and KCS are hiring conductors to meet rising traffic demand
WASHINGTON – The chief executives of Norfolk Southern, Canadian National, and Kansas City Southern have told federal regulators that their railroads are hiring conductors to meet expected traffic demand as volume continues to rise. Surface Transportation Board Chairman Martin J. Oberman, responding to shipper complaints about rail service as traffic has rebounded from the pandemic, […]
Model railroad humor: Shortages
Woman: Remember the toilet paper shortages during the pandemic? Man: Yeah, and no flex track or rolling stock at the hobby store! […]
Digest: Work begins on Tehachapi Loop viewing platform
Tehachapi Loop viewing platform could open by mid-July Ground has been broken on a new viewing platform at California’s Tehachapi Loop, with completion expected by mid-July. The Tehachapi News reports the platform will end the need for those viewing trains at the loop to stand along a narrow shoulder of Woodford-Tehachapi Road, easing safety concerns. […]
Digest: MARC commuter trains to resume full schedule in August
After nine months of reduced service, full MARC schedule to resume Aug. 30 MARC commuter trains will resume full operations on Aug. 30, nine months after reducing service in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Baltimore Sun reports that Maryland Transit Adminstration officials announced the restoration of MARC and commuter bus service on Monday, while […]
Rocky Mountaineer, White Pass & Yukon adjust summer operating plans
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Despite uncertainty when the Canada-U.S. border will open, Rocky Mountaineer has confirmed it is moving ahead with limited operations on two of its three routes out of Vancouver in July and returning to a full schedule in August. Meanwhile, although Alaskan tour train operator White Pass & Yukon Route will begin […]
LA Metro breaks ground for Airport Metro Connector
LOS ANGELES — With a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, LA Metro marked the formal start of work on the almost $900 million Airport Metro Connector project, which will provide the long-sought direct service for the Metro light rail system to L.A. International Airport. The new facility connect Metro’s light rail system to L.A. International Airport’s […]
Rail Rangers educational programs to resume on South Shore trains
CHICAGO — Onboard educational programs will return to select South Shore Line off-peak commuter trains beginning July 1, following a 15-month pause because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The programs are offered by the Midwest Rail Rangers, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, two to three times per month on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. In addition to July […]
Preservation roundup: Steamtown increases hours, visitor services
Steamtown offering increased hours and features for summer Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, Pa., will begin increasing visitor services this week, with additional features to open on July 7. As of this Saturday, June 26, the park’s summer hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. go into effect, and the theater will open, allowing […]
‘Seatrain Georgia’
‘Seatrain Georgia’ The hull configuration of the Seatrain ships—three decks, each with four tracks (plus four tracks on the top deck)—is evident in this view of Seatrain Georgia being lengthened at Sun Shipbuilding in 1963. The vessel has been cut in two for installation of a new midsection. Hagley Museum & Library collection […]
News & Products for the week of June 24, 2021
Large scale freight cars Two-bay hopper with exterior posts. Chessie System (black and yellow with Chesapeake & Ohio reporting marks) and Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (Mineral Red with circle-cross herald in square and “Santa Fe” billboard lettering). One number per scheme. Removable coal load, plastic wheels, and hook-and-loop couplers. $73.99. PIKO America, 619-280-2800, piko-america.com […]
Peter Waldraff’s Hidden Epoxy River Railroad Gallery
Peter Waldraff has always prioritized saving space when building a layout. His interest in this modeling niche first started when he was 27, when he built his first N scale layout in a custom built, glass-covered coffee table in order to maximize what minimal room he had in his 1,200 square foot house. However, […]
